“I was able to grow alongside 4flow.”

Lars Stolletz joined 4flow in July 2001 and has helped shape the company since its earliest days. Having started out in software development, Lars is now a product manager responsible for the 4flow TORO software solution. In this interview, Lars talks about the 4flow moments that have stayed with him, what inspires him about his work, and how AI is shaping the future of supply chain optimization.

Can you tell us a little about your journey at 4flow?
When I started at 4flow in 2001, the company was still small and had that special start-up vibe. I have always been passionate about optimization – that is, about solving complex logistical puzzles with mathematics. At 4flow, I was able to use this to develop optimization algorithms for supply chain issues. I programmed, managed customer projects and quickly took on a lot of responsibility. I was able to grow alongside 4flow. I am now responsible for our software solution 4flow TORO as a product manager.

What does 4flow TORO do and what excites you about your day-to-day work?
Basically, 4flow TORO pursues a simple but crucial idea: Intervene early in material requirements planning to intelligently bundle materials before transportation is even considered. This saves our customers money and significantly simplifies the planning process.

What I particularly appreciate about my role as product manager is the diversity and constant interaction with people. I am, so to speak, the link between worlds: I talk to developers, sales and project management, who all have their own unique perspectives. I find it very enriching to understand and bring together these different points of view. It’s the human component that makes my work so exciting and distinguishes 4flow as a company.

You have been with 4flow for quite some time. What do you think makes 4flow successful?
For me, our strength clearly lies in the fact that we offer everything in one place. Our business lines –  consulting, software and managed services – all benefit from one another. When we develop a new software product, we can draw on our experience in consulting. At the same time, we receive direct feedback from its application in 4PL (fourth-party logistics) projects and can adapt our solutions directly to real-world needs. This close exchange enables us to respond quickly to challenges in the market. Our research department, 4flow research, also supports us to identify trends early on so we can design suitable solutions.

What do you currently see as the most important trend in the supply chain industry?
AI is, of course, a big topic everywhere. It will make us more efficient in many tasks. These include forecasting, data cleansing and error detection. During optimization, AI can help select the best algorithm and the appropriate parameters for a specific customer problem, which makes us faster and helps us achieve even better results. It can then support us in converting and presenting data through reports and analyses. Nevertheless, human intelligence will continue to be of central importance in developing the core optimization algorithms. This requires bright minds who work together with AI to tackle logistical challenges. I find that particularly exciting.

Looking back on your time at 4flow, do you have a favorite moment?
A special milestone for 4flow and for me personally was the launch of our development site in Budapest. I was involved in the recruiting process at the time and got to know many of the new colleagues. It was exciting to see how we became more international as a company. I love getting to know different cultures and traveling.

That sounds exciting. Do you have a favorite travel destination?
My favorite travel destination is the whole world. I have set myself the goal of visiting all World Heritage Sites that were designated before 2010. The idea came from wanting to solve an optimization problem in my private life: What is the shortest route to connect all these sites, taking into account travel times and climatic conditions? I have now visited 156 of them, so there are still a few left. I am currently building an app to document my travels and plan my next destinations.