Creating and managing collaborative networks 

Altimedes accompanies organisations and companies which wish to achieve a common goal with other companies and/or knowledge institutions and/or public authorities.

The benefits Altimedes offers during the formation:

• Quick scan of collaborative opportunities

• Use of a “neutral” party as catalyst

• Speed in the formation of the collaborative network

• In-depth knowledge of success factors

• Avoidance of pitfalls in the later process

Altimedes has developed generic models in order to permit the collaboration of parties which, in addition to a common goal, can also have divergent interests. This knowledge and experience constitute a significant added value for the continuity of collaborative networks and the achievement of its objectives.

Our expertise is largely based on the development and successful implementation of several vertical and horizontal supply chain collaboration and integration projects between leading retailers such as Carrefour and Delhaize in Belgium and Ahold in the Netherlands and several of their largest suppliers and between several leading FMCGs manufacturers.

We use the theoretical concepts and handbooks developed by leading knowledge institutes such as TNO and the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands and benefit from our large network and extensive contacts with organisations such as ECR Europe, GS1, Transumo and with national and European authorities.

Many collaborative logistics network initiatives failed in the past because of several process management errors or/and because of conflicts between the participating parties about the allocation of costs and benefits between the participants.  

With our extensive knowledge and large experience with complex collaborative projects we can help as well retailers, manufacturers, logistics service providers as other kind of organisations to develop successful networks. 

Our services include:

• Development of corporate strategy and value chain objectives

• Quick scan of collaborative opportunities

• (Initial) target group selection and approach of other parties

• Feasibility studies

• Data warehousing (black box approach if necessary)

• Development and calculation of best options

• Define optimal configuration

• Risk analysis and fall back alternatives

• Activity Based Costing and Key Performance Indicators

• Definition and acceptance process of a “fair” allocation of costs and benefits

• Implementation and evaluation of pilots

• Selection of service providers

• Total process management

Business development consolidation strategies for Logistics Service Providers

For logistics service providers we develop business development strategies that focus on a proactive approach of a selected group of shippers with high potential synergies. Service providers can benefit a lot and realise strong growth by adopting our integration and consolidation approach in terms of target group selection, intelligent pricing strategies and the most optimal sequence in which offers are made to shippers.