“Berkman goes beyond just moving containers.”
By Wilant van Gils
Seventeen years-that’s how long we’ve been partnering with DRESZ. Over that time, we’ve seen them grow into an innovative product developer in the consumer electronics & accessories, candles, lighting & fragrance, and cooling & heating sectors. But how does DRESZ view our long-standing partnership? Wilant van Gils, logistics manager at DRESZ, is happy to share his experience. “Building a reliable supply chain is essential for us, and Berkman plays a crucial role in that.”
Growing together
“Seventeen years ago, when DRESZ was just starting out, we mainly imported elastic book covers and phone cases,” Wilant explains. “Founders Sjors and Sabrina reached out to freight forwarders to arrange container shipments from Asia. Back then, it was mostly LCL (Less than Container Load) or partial shipments-no large volumes yet. But Berkman was the only forwarder that took them seriously, no matter the size of the shipments. They made sure everything was transported under fair terms. Since then, we’ve continued working with Berkman.”
Door-to-door import service
“Berkman handles all our container bookings, managing the entire import process from Asia, door to door. We coordinate with their agency in China, where our suppliers book the freight. Once we receive a booking confirmation, Berkman takes care of the transportation. We make sure they get the necessary documents in time to ensure smooth customs clearance. Berkman also provides us with the container unloading schedule, so we always know when to expect our shipments. For us, creating a reliable supply chain is critical, and Berkman is a key part of that.”
The dashboard: more insight, transparency and convenience
“Recently, Berkman has been working on digitalization, including the introduction of a dashboard. We’ve been using it for six months now, and it’s made our process much more transparent and organized. Before, we relied on emails for tracking information. Now, it’s all available at our fingertips in one integrated system.”
The dashboard offers even more features. Wilant notes that DRESZ is working to maximize its potential. “We’re planning to create an API link with our system to make data exchange between the two even easier. We also want to send our purchase orders through the dashboard, allowing Berkman to help plan shipments earlier in the process. Plus, we’ll be uploading our service level agreements (SLAs) to outline specific action points for our suppliers. With Berkman’s dashboard, all of this is possible.”
More than shipments: advice and market insights
DRESZ doesn’t just rely on Berkman for moving shipments, Wilant adds. “When unexpected situations arise-like Brexit or the current crisis in the Red Sea-Berkman really proves their value by thinking ahead with us. They quickly gain the knowledge needed to provide proactive advice. For example, during the COVID period, when shipping rates were sky-high, we were exploring what was still feasible. Even then, Berkman was ready with honest, helpful guidance.”
“We’re currently still focused on the Chinese market, but Berkman could be instrumental in helping us explore new markets and suppliers. They have staff in Vietnam, for instance, who attend trade fairs there. Berkman looks beyond just moving containers, and I really appreciate that.”
Short lines of communication and personal contact
“Would I recommend working with Berkman? Absolutely,” Wilant says. “The communication is always pleasant and personal. We have fixed contacts who handle our planning, so we’re always dealing with the same people. That consistency works really well for us. And just because we have a dashboard doesn’t mean everything has to go through it-we can always pick up the phone and call them.”
“At Berkman, the coffee is always ready, they make time for you, and the lines of communication are short. If there’s ever an issue, we talk it through and move on. Nothing ever remains unresolved for long, which makes working with them so pleasant. The same goes for their overseas agencies-we never hear complaints from our suppliers. Their rates are also competitive, and everything runs smoothly. We’re very satisfied, but that’s probably no surprise-otherwise, we wouldn’t still be working together after seventeen years.”
Want to learn more?
Curious how we can make your imports from Asia smoother, simpler, and more transparent? Find out more about our services here.
