The silent force behind smart logistics

How an Alkmaar IT specialist drives modern warehouse and sorting solutions

Logistics is no longer just about boxes and shoving boxes - behind the scenes, smart software increasingly determines the difference between chaos and control. Alkmaar-based Hexapole Automatisering has been providing customized software for complex logistics systems - often invisible, but crucial - since 1994. "We are a specialized player with a strong reputation in the sector, and our software is often the indispensable link that keeps systems running efficiently and reliably," says CEO Bas Bloemink.

Bloemink has been with Hexapole since 2004. What began as a graduate internship in business computer science grew into a deep involvement with the company. "After my internship, I was immediately taken to clients by one of the founders. He was the gray eminence, I was the young dog who got to solve it. From then on, the Hexapole DNA was in my blood."

In 2015, following the departure of the then director, Bloemink was given the opportunity to take over. "I had no idea what I was saying 'yes' to. My LinkedIn had three connections and commerce was new territory. But I just started doing it: networking clubs, pitching, learning. That's how the first new clients came in."

Logistics as a common thread

Although Hexapole has a broad orientation - from municipal waste collection to steel fabrication - logistics runs like a common thread through the company. "Our first projects in 1994 were already logistics. Machine builders often didn't have their own software department. We wrote the controls for their machines."

That role as a software specialist in logistics projects has remained. "We are purely a software company that provides the intelligence that controls everything - from PLC layer to WCS level." In distribution centers, where speed and reliability are crucial, we provide the software control that ensures an optimally functioning system. Hexapole works closely with hardware partners such as Dynamic Logistic Systems (DLS) and FarmaSort/Collo-X. "They supply steel, switch boxes and cabling. We provide the software and integration with upstream systems. Together we form a fully integrated solution for the customer."

Integrations are key

What are the most important software trends in logistics? Bloemink says that is crystal clear: integrations. "It used to be that a machine received a simple job and returned a result. Now customers want real-time insight into capacity utilization, status and performance. Our software communicates directly with the WMS or ERP system, making the whole system smarter."

24/7 support is also a focus. "In distribution centers, you have to be able to trust that everything keeps running. We provide monitoring and support along with that, so we can intervene proactively. And that with a team of 25 people."

Everything in-house

Where many software companies lean on standard packages, Hexapole radically opts for customization. "We build everything ourselves. Of course we have built up a library of reusable modules over thirty years, but the basis is 100% developed in-house. This allows us to really adapt systems to the customer, not the other way around."

This results in strong customer relationships. For example, Hexapole developed a fully customized container management system together with Spaarnelanden in Haarlem - including route optimization for waste collection and gritting trucks. "We develop together with the customer, from management to floor staff. Everyone who has to work with it is involved in the development. As a result, it really works."

We also add value in the healthcare sector: for example, we developed the complete software control of an AMR project for a university medical center in the Netherlands.

Growth through collaboration

The future? That, according to Bloemink, lies in collaboration. "We don't necessarily want to serve only end customers. We are mainly looking for more machine builders like DLS and FarmaSort, with whom we can build complete solutions as partners."

Our customers are now located throughout Europe, from Scandinavia to Southern Europe. The open attitude, broad expertise and proven track record make Hexapole an attractive partner for companies that want to make a difference in logistics with smart software.