Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe
Central Fleet Management System for Scheduling and Coordination
Industry: Logistics & Transportation
Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe (BSB), based in Konstanz, operates passenger and tourist transport on Lake Constance with a modern fleet.
As a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Konstanz, BSB serves hundreds of thousands of passengers annually. To improve coordination across scheduling, staffing, and ship deployment, a centralized fleet management system was developed – replacing manual processes and enabling real-time oversight of daily operations.
Status quo
Previously, BSB relied on spreadsheets and multiple tools to coordinate schedules, crew assignments, and ship operations.
Information was fragmented, and short-notice changes required high manual effort. There was no single platform to manage the entire daily workflow across harbor operations and onboard activities. The need for an integrated, accessible, and efficient system was clear.
The challenge
The solution needed to unify ship scheduling, route management, and crew planning into a single application.
It had to operate reliably both online and offline, with seamless use at terminals and on vessels. Key requirements included user roles, mobile compatibility, system resilience, and integration with BSB’s existing back-office infrastructure. Usability and clarity for dispatchers and crew were critical for acceptance and operational success.
The solution
A modular application was built using Microsoft technologies, including WinForms, DevExpress XAF, and SQL Server.
The solution combines scheduling, crew availability, and ship assignments in one interface. Role-based access ensures clear task distribution. Data is synchronized with central systems and remains available offline for onboard use. The system is expandable and designed for seasonal planning and daily dispatch operations alike.
The result
The Fleet Management System (RMS) improves transparency, speeds up coordination, and simplifies operational workflows.
Crew deployment, route updates, and ship schedules are managed in one tool. Cost savings have been achieved through better planning and less manual overhead. The system helps BSB respond faster to changes and provides a solid digital base for further service enhancements and environmental initiatives.
Technical
Highlights
Even complex projects can be summarised in clear technical terms. Key figures and distinctive features provide insight into the concrete implementation – measurable, tangible, and transparent.
- Unified scheduling and crew assignment interface
- Real-time crew availability check
- Built with WinForms and DevExpress XAF
- MS SQL Server back end for performance
- Offline mode for onboard use
- Integrated with office planning tools
CONVOTIS covered not only all current requirements in the project but also the system can be further expanded as needed. The new software, therefore, grows with us and is thus a good investment in the future. We especially appreciate the transparency that CONVOTIS provides. It allows us to see at a glance which services are provided for which department. Additionally, it was important to us that the employees accept the new system. And that was the case. Already in the few months of the test operation, the employees were full of praise for the new system. We look forward to the further expansion of this flexible solution, dear CONVOTIS team.
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