Transforming Global Logistics by Migrating to a Custom Mendix ERP in 10 months
Whether you’re an individual ordering goods online or a business moving products across continents, reliable shipping solutions are essential. Enter CARU Containers, a vital player in the global logistics ecosystem.
Founded in 2000, CARU has become a leading provider of shipping container sales and rentals, serving industries such as logistics, construction, and defense. With operations in over 70 countries, the company sells more than 125,000 containers annually, and continues to grow at an impressive rate.
CARU’s success is built on a foundation of efficiency, innovation, and exceptional customer service, cementing its role as a key enabler of global trade.
Business Needs
As a global leader in sale and rental of shipping containers, CARU has ever-growing global ambitions and a drive to stay ahead of the competition, especially in today’s fast-paced logistics industry that is rapidly digitalizing.
To continue their upward trajectory and support increasingly complex global logistics, CARU needed a modern, scalable digital infrastructure that could evolve alongside their business.
“As the industry moves faster and goes more digital, we need a system that grows with us,” shared CARU’s COO, Carlo Zaalberg.
In 2022, they began exploring low-code development platforms to build a digital highway between their legacy system, CRM, and external systems.
CARU initially selected OutSystems, but after two years of development they found that a different low-code platform was needed to achieve the results they were looking for.
CARU changed its’ IT team, with Zaalberg stepping in, and created their new ERP system Nova with Mendix and The Orange Force.
“I wanted to salvage what worked from the past three years and transition to a platform that suited us even better. That’s when we partnered with The Orange Force and Mendix. Each brought deep technical competence, transparency, and trust,” Zaalberg explained.
This move brought CARU the reduced system complexity and accelerated progress it was aiming for.
“Many businesses still underestimate low code’s potential, often seeing it as more suitable for smaller tools or add-ons,” Zaalberg said.
Improved Custom-built ERP System
In order to achieve CARU’s goals, a migration of their ERP system to Mendix was critical. This process was done meticulously and consciously making sure the renewed custom-built ERP system called Nova, was not just a replica of the previous system.
Data migration was handled by The Orange Force with precision. Only active, essential data was brought into the new system, while historical information remains accessible via Power BI. This pragmatic approach ensured a smooth go-live strategy and performance stability.
“We’re no longer reacting to problems. We’re shaping our future,” said Zaalberg. “Mendix, combined with The Orange Force’s hands-on partnership, gave us exactly what we needed, a system that works the way our people work.”
In order to create a system that fits the needs of the people that work with it every day CARU employees based in the Netherlands, the United States, Canada and Brazil were asked for their input.
“Our salespeople create sales, rental and transport orders, sometimes all connected to each other,” Van Nes explained.
The current version of Nova incorporates the key functionality that worked well in the legacy system. It also introduces several enhancements that were prioritized during development through quick and close feedback from test users.
“With the new system, we have hundreds of custom views tailored to different roles, from sales to maintenance, that mirror how the business operates day-to-day,” said Operations Project Manager, Andrew Berlanga.
“Improving speed and responsiveness is one of the most noticeable wins, especially for those handling inventory and sales management tasks,” he added.
People-First Change Management
For the CARU team, using Mendix wasn’t just about adopting new technology. It meant rethinking how the entire organization approached digital transformation.
Some of the key tactics the team put in place to facilitate new ways of working included:
- More frequent and consistent touchpoints between business and IT, including weekly demos, email updates, and open feedback sessions.
- Enlisting a team with diverse perspectives, from a range of IT backgrounds, nationalities, and genders, to foster new ideas and more inclusive collaboration.
- Keeping the same core development team in place from project start to finish, which increased trust, ownership, and understanding.
- Rallying business users around the development of Nova and making them feel more invested in the project’s success.
Berlanga stepped in as the voice of the people and stressed the importance of promoting internal engagement across departments.
Flexibility, Speed and Future-Readiness Ready to Go Live
Since working with Mendix and The Orange Force, CARU Containers is already reaping the rewards of its strategic shift.
Just 10 months after initiating development, the company is firmly on track for an August 2025 go-live of its new custom ERP system, an achievement that reflects both the speed and precision of its transformation approach.
The new system lays a robust foundation for what’s next. Already, CARU is exploring exciting expansions that leverage Mendix’s flexibility. A customer portal, seamless web shop integration, and real-time container tracking are all in development. Beyond digital storefronts, automation and AI are on the horizon.
From predictive maintenance to smarter workflows, CARU sees significant opportunities to boost efficiency across its global operations. Still, the focus remains on getting the foundation right – starting with an ERP system designed around how their people actually work.
“By working with partners like Mendix and The Orange Force, we’re confident we can move in sync, delivering real value all around. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” he concluded.