In Geneva, a historic transport player accelerates its digital transformation

Geneva-based M. Ducret SA announces the integration of the Nereva platform into the organisation of its construction-site transport. After more than a year of use in beta, the company confirms that the solution meets the operational requirements of short-distance transport in the construction sector, in particular for truck rotations and skip transport. The company's removals business is not concerned.

A historic player in Lake Geneva transport

Founded in Geneva in 1934, M. Ducret SA is one of the historic transport players in the Lake Geneva region. The company contributed for a year to the development of the Nereva platform as part of an operational beta phase run on its construction-site transport activities.

A modernised organisation

With Nereva, the company modernises the organisation of its logistics operations by relying on a centralised digital system. Transport missions are planned directly in the platform and drivers receive their instructions on their phone. Operations teams can follow progress and adjust missions in real time as sites evolve.

Delivery notes are generated automatically and the data required for invoicing is structured as soon as missions are carried out. Accessible in the cloud, the platform requires no specific IT installation and makes it possible to coordinate the logistics flows linked to truck rotations while ensuring continuous traceability of operations.

Fewer calls, more visibility

This digitisation greatly reduces phone exchanges between teams and automates part of the administrative tasks. Transport information is brought together in a single environment, which makes it easier to plan missions, monitor truck rotations and adjust operations over the course of the day. Teams thus have a clearer, more structured view of all transport in progress.

This better visibility also improves coordination between the various parties involved in site operations. Dispatchers, drivers and site managers share the same operational information, which strengthens responsiveness to the unexpected and makes the daily organisation of transport easier.

Better used resources, lower emissions

By structuring information flows and synchronising operational players, this digitalisation optimises the use of transport resources, reduces empty runs and limits waiting times on sites. It thus helps improve the overall efficiency of operations while contributing to the reduction of transport-related CO2 emissions.

Nicolas Ducret, managing director of M. Ducret SA, explains:

For a long time, our organisation relied almost entirely on the telephone. At certain periods we could reach up to 500 calls a day simply to manage the constant adjustments of sites and coordinate truck rotations. Behind these calls are above all our dispatch teams and our drivers, who constantly have to deal with the unexpected, emergencies and last-minute changes. It is demanding work, often under pressure, and we knew we had to find a healthier, more structured way to organise this logistics.

When Nereva offered us the chance to take part in the beta phase of their software, we immediately saw the opportunity to contribute to the development of a tool designed for the reality of our trade. This collaboration allowed us to progressively improve our organisation and to put in place today a clearer system, better suited to the reality of our operations.

I am convinced that transport for construction sites must evolve to remain attractive for those who work in it every day. Our drivers, our dispatch teams, our partners and our customers deserve more transparent and better structured organisations.

Many transport companies live the same realities as we do. We are sometimes competitors, sometimes partners, but we share the same constraints and the same challenges, and above all the same passion for our trade. That is why I am convinced that carriers must take the initiative to evolve their methods. If we do not do it ourselves, construction companies will naturally end up setting up their own systems to obtain the visibility and traceability they need on their sites.

Philippe Flaccavento, co-founder and CEO of Nereva, adds:

The fact that a company like M. Ducret SA, active since 1934 and with almost a century of experience, has chosen to integrate Nereva at the heart of the organisation of its construction-site transport is a particularly strong signal for us. Moving from the role of beta tester to that of operational user confirms that site-related flows, in particular truck rotations and skip management, require digital tools capable of running fast, frequent and highly variable operations.

Nereva was designed to meet these operational realities by bringing more visibility, coordination and traceability to the daily organisation of transport. Operational use by M. Ducret SA now confirms that the solution is ready for the Swiss market.

About M. Ducret SA

Founded in Geneva in 1934, M. Ducret SA is a family business active in removals, construction-site transport and materials recycling. The company works in particular in the transport and removal of excavated material, skip rotations on construction sites, and the recovery of materials from construction activities. It supports private individuals and professionals with transport and logistics solutions tailored to their needs.