Aorta, the beating heart of operations

AORTA is a tailor-made application developed by Inetum, in use since 2005 and continuously enhanced with new technologies and best practices. It manages all relevant data within EcoWerf’s operational scope, from personal data of 400,000 citizens to container information, billing, recycling park access, and waste statistics. It also serves as a communication channel for financial reporting between EcoWerf and external authorities. Designed with user-friendliness and sustainability in mind, AORTA is the stable foundation EcoWerf relies on daily.

Everything begins and ends in AORTA, which continues to evolve. Soon, another intermunicipal organization will launch DifTar in its municipalities, with EcoWerf providing back-office support and Inetum facilitating the expansion through Managed Services, from data import to a smooth service rollout.

Through the web application ‘My EcoWerf,’ citizens can monitor their waste production, view graphs, and adjust their behavior. They can see how much residual and organic waste they produce and compare themselves to reference households or other municipalities. This promotes awareness and prevention. As Jerome Jansen, Head of Logistics at EcoWerf, puts it: "We don’t just collect data—we give it back to the citizens. This allows people to track their consumption and costs, and benefit from it. In doing so, we empower citizens to manage waste more consciously and sustainably."

Municipalities and other authorized bodies use DiftarWeb to submit information and access reports. Depending on their role, government entities have access to specific parts of the system. Municipalities, for example, can report changes such as relocations, ensuring uninterrupted service while awaiting updates in the national registry, which can sometimes be delayed. 

Mobility App: smart planning on wheels

The Mobility app was developed to streamline driver scheduling and has a significant impact on operations. It’s a task management system used by dispatchers to prepare daily assignments, currently around 17,000 per year. It also supports workforce planning, accounting for absences and leave, ensuring each task is executed on the correct day.

The app consists of two parts: a back-office for dispatchers and a mobile interface on truck onboard computers. The mobile interface is designed for ease of use, with large buttons, minimal keyboard input, and intuitive navigation, allowing drivers to stay focused on the road.

The Mobility app supports all types of collections, from household pickups to underground containers, glass bins, and public trash cans. Task sequences are optimized in the back-office and sent to the mobile device. The app logs who drove what, when, with which truck, and how many kilometers and hours were spent, crucial data for tracking and reporting.

Managed Services, the silent force behind EcoWerf’s digital operations

Inetum supports EcoWerf through Managed Services, covering incident handling, functional support, and new developments. 

A dedicated Inetum team ensures continuous knowledge building and sharing, enabling fast and effective support. "That’s worth its weight in gold," says Jerome. "With one central contact and a fixed team that builds and shares knowledge about EcoWerf, we can respond quickly and effectively. This guarantees stable and reliable continuity in our collaboration and service delivery."

Digital impact across the board

The impact of digital support is felt at every level. For citizens, it means better service through portals and apps, with ease of use, transparency, and budget control at the core. The ‘polluter pays’ principle encourages conscious sorting and supports sustainable waste management and cost savings.

For society, the results are tangible: EcoWerf, together with IOK, achieved the lowest residual waste figures in Flanders, with just 88 kg per resident in 2024. Alongside IOK Waste Management, which also uses AORTA’s foundation, EcoWerf outperforms the Flemish targets. This directly impacts sustainability and the circular economy, while also supporting sustainable mobility and prevention. Inetum is a pillar in this societal transition.

For employees, digital support means efficient planning and fewer errors thanks to route guidance. Cartrack provides real-time vehicle visibility and route optimization, allowing drivers to focus on safe driving. The dual approach, digital support and paper maps as backup, ensures reliability and flexibility. Not only dispatchers and drivers benefit, but also finance, customer service, and other internal departments.

And of course, external partners like municipalities and government agencies are embedded in the digital ecosystem. Smooth data exchange and reporting enable them to fulfill their roles efficiently, with direct impact on service and policy.

For EcoWerf as an organization, the partnership with Inetum offers strategic support, continuity, and innovation. Inetum provides the digital backbone and acts as a trusted advisor, deeply familiar with EcoWerf and bringing expertise from other clients. The collaboration lays a solid foundation for further digital transformation and modernization, with technology as an enabler of societal and operational impact.

Looking ahead

EcoWerf shows how a visionary public organization with the right digital solutions can make a difference for citizens, employees, and the planet. Looking forward, as Jerome Jansen puts it: "There’s no going back. Technology is crucial for the future of our sector. It supports people. Inetum helps us secure knowledge and experience. That has an impact on every aspect of society."