From technology to teamwork: the heart of bol
As the largest retail tech platform in the Netherlands and Belgium, bol shows in ‘From bol to bell’ how technology and teamwork meet in the logistical heart of the company. For example, you’ll learn why some products come in a box and why others don’t. By offering a transparent look behind the scenes, the video answers a frequently asked customer question: how bol manages to deliver so quickly, every single day. And how thousands of orders are processed smoothly, even during the busiest time of the year.

At every stage of the process, humans and machines complement each other. For instance, in the control room of the bol fulfilment center in Waalwijk, where colleagues steer and fine-tune the daily operation through screens and systems almost like a Formula 1 team. Or automated robot carts that quickly locate the right products, transport them to employees, and recover energy when braking. Smart data shortens walking routes, and intelligent packaging machines cut boxes to the exact size needed. Together, people and technology make possible what bol promises every day: delivering orders quickly, reliably, and as responsibly as possible.

Smart, responsible and scalable
Bol processes not only its own orders, but also those of more than 45,000 selling partners. Many partners use bol’s logistics services. Together, bol and its partners ensure that millions of orders find their way to nearly 14 million customers in the Netherlands and Belgium every month.

That scale requires innovation at every level. Bol now uses 25 packaging machines to automate the packing of items. For multi-item orders, bol has used the world’s first multi-pack machine since 2021. It scans the dimensions of products of all shapes and sizes and folds a custom-fit box around them, reducing cardboard, air, and CO₂. Packaging machines for single-item orders are also becoming more sustainable, using less cardboard and glue, resulting in a 28% CO₂ reduction per package.

And of course, the energy supply has been considered: with 13,000 solar panels on the roof and electricity from nearby wind turbines, a large part of the distribution center runs on renewable energy.

Ready for the holiday peak together
The video is released ahead of the busiest time of the year: the holiday peak. A period in which more than 500,000 parcels a day leave bol’s fulfilment center in Waalwijk, gifts that need to reach customers in the Netherlands and Belgium on time. With this video, bol shows that it is well-prepared for the logistical challenge and takes viewers along for the ride.