Honda Motor Europe Logistics modernises supply chain with Delaware

Apr 02, 2025

While the automotive industry is undergoing a full transformation with numerous challenges for European players, IT service provider Delaware has secured a major client contract. Over the next five years, they will migrate all legacy systems of Honda Motor Europe Logistics, currently spread across different silos, to a large, integrated SAP system. Honda, which has its European logistics hub in Ghent, is resolutely focusing on a future-proof supply chain to be ready for the electric automotive industry of tomorrow.

From left to right: Nico Claeys, Erik Chabot, Jonathan de Brouwer, Glenn Huybrechts

Honda Motor Europe Logistics in Ghent is Honda's logistics hub for all of Europe, including the complete supply chain for spare parts. Each year, more than a million products – cars, motorcycles, outboard motors, lawnmowers, etc. – pass through the supply chain, which will undergo a radical transformation in the coming years. Honda's spare parts supply chain comprehensively manages the logistics process, spanning from initial supplier orders to final customer delivery across Europe. This transformative project represents an enormous long-term effort, engaging more than 100 Delaware employees and impacting approximately 1,000 Honda employees across Europe, as well as around 7,000 European sales points.

Our legacy systems are currently organised in separate silos. Spare parts, car accessories, motorcycle accessories, industrial motors for power products, OEM components... Each product family has its own processes. To build a future-proof supply chain, we wanted to start from scratch and harmonise all systems for Honda Motor Europe Logistics.

Erik Chabot, Logistics Director at Honda Motor Europe Logistics.

A unified platform for a changing industry

This transformation promises not only significant efficiency gains by consolidating multiple systems and processes but is also crucial to unlocking new potential and positioning Honda at the forefront of the automotive industry's evolution.

"Our sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Take the aftermarket, for instance: historically focused on servicing combustion engines for over a century, it is now rapidly shifting towards sophisticated software solutions for electric vehicles. The sales process and the dealer's role are being completely redefined. If we don't proactively prepare our systems and logistics processes today, we risk being left behind tomorrow," Erik Chabot emphasises.

4 people walking outside the Honda offices

A strategic long-term relationship

Honda sought a strategic partner who could not only provide innovative solutions but also successfully manage the entire implementation. They selected Delaware as their ideal collaborator.

"The pre-sales trajectory, which spanned nine months, was an intensive process that provided us with profound insights into Honda's complex operational landscape," says Jonathan de Brouwer, partner at Delaware. "Our extensive expertise in the automotive sector – which has become one of our most important industries over the past decade – is a critical differentiator. This includes our vast experience working directly with automotive manufacturers and managing comprehensive supply chain ecosystems. We are committed to building strategic, long-term partnerships where our clients become ambassadors. Our approach goes beyond individual client relationships, bringing clients together to create meaningful connections in the industry. We are exceptionally proud to welcome Honda Motor Europe Logistics to our portfolio. While the project's scope and timeline are ambitious, our team is equally determined to deliver exceptional results."

"At Honda, we were looking for a strategic partner with deep industry expertise and a profound understanding of our complex business landscape, who formed a good cultural fit for our organisation at the European level. Additionally, we wanted a partner who commits to a long-term collaborative relationship. Those elements, along with the passion and drive of the dedicated automotive team at Delaware, plus their references in the sector, were decisive for us," confirms Erik Chabot. "What truly sets Delaware apart is their ability to speak our language – both literally and metaphorically."

"Passion and good communication are the cornerstones of our approach," explains Glenn Huybrechts, program manager at Delaware. "We've already deployed over fifty specialised consultants on-site, who engage in continuous, detailed coordination with Honda's teams. Our dedicated automotive experts don't just recognise critical processes – they understand both the immediate and strategic challenges facing Honda's business. This approach fosters a truly constructive and mutually respectful collaboration that goes beyond traditional consulting relationships."

Detailed roadmap

The comprehensive project encompasses six aspects, for which a detailed roadmap has been drawn up:

Logistics (units, spare parts, accessories)
Aftermarket: spare parts & accessories sales
Supply and planning
Administration and customs (stock and import duties)
Master data and data migration
System architecture and security.

"The first four projects are already in the conceptual design phase. The next phases are creating blueprints and realising the new processes at each location. It's just like open-heart surgery: everything must continue to work at all times," concludes Nico Claeys, program manager at Honda Motor Europe Logistics.

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