News » 10.09.2025 - NL: Flower auction groups switch to order picking
Royal FloraHolland is redesigning its logistics and IT and will work in a consistent way across all hubs. Step by step, the organization is moving from distribution to order picking and ultimately to delivery in time slots. In Rijnsburg, Eelde and Naaldwijk, all flowers and plants are now order picked. In Aalsmeer, since last year, all plants have also been included. For flowers in Aalsmeer, Royal FloraHolland took the first step in spring with order picking of auction groups of chrysanthemums. From Thursday, 18 September 2025, many other auction groups will also switch to order picking.
On 18 September, the following auction groups will switch to order picking. From clock A03: 340 Lisianthus va 70 - 5+, 342 Lisianthus tot 70 - 5, 126 snapdragon group, 127 Aconitum, and 107 Sorted/Over/B1. From clock A12: 121 Phlox group, 185 Woodland, 730 Gerbera mini water, 740 Gerbera mini box, 735 Gerbera Novelties, 760 Gerbera bl box, and 750 Gerbera bl water.
A second round will take place on Thursday, 25 September, with additional auction groups in Aalsmeer switching to order picking. From clock A03: 152 Berry shrubs and 142 Astilbe. From clock A12: 78 Dahlia and 277 Deco green cooled.
This change brings several operational shifts and opportunities. For growers, the auction order for the auction groups will no longer depend on the logistics set-up thanks to order picking. The auction order will be determined by random grower lots (by administration number) from 18 September 2025. Growers will also gain more options to influence the auction order of their products and may transport multiple auction groups on a single trolley. For buyers, purchased products will still be received before the end of the process, but the order of delivery may differ. Because the auction order no longer dictates logistical processing, products from the above auction groups may arrive in a different sequence.
All stakeholders are asked to help keep the order picking process running smoothly by following the supply rules. Doing so avoids unnecessary errors in the order picking process and helps buyers identify products properly.
From 1 September, Select Delivery—delivery in time slots—will also be available for the flowers that are in order picking arrangements in Aalsmeer. Buyers can choose from the following time slots via the time slot screen in Floriday per buyer card for clock and Auction Presales: 6:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (Auction Presales, 1.47 euros per transaction); 6:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (0.25 euros per transaction on Mondays/first working day); 6:00 a.m.–13:00 p.m. (standard costs); and 11:00 a.m.–15:00 p.m. (0.50 euros discount per transaction on Mondays/first working day)*. If no choice is made, products will be delivered in the standard 6:00–13:00 time slot. If time slot choices have already been made for Aalsmeer flowers, the new auction groups will be delivered within the chosen time slots.
Royal FloraHolland will continue to make the switch to order picking with care. The organization will test, learn and optimize before taking each next step, because even in times of change, reliable service comes first. This approach will bring the organization closer to a single logistics operation and system at all hubs.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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