CIO Ron Linssen Replaces ERP Complexity with Low-Code Applications at Europe's Largest Tyre Distributor

Why It Matters

The shift reduces reliance on aging ERP and COBOL talent, accelerating digital maturity in a low‑margin, high‑volume sector. Standardised low‑code platforms also enable faster innovation and cost efficiencies across the European tyre distribution market.

Key Takeaways

• Five ERPs replaced by low‑code apps
• OutSystems chosen over Mendix for backend capabilities
• 100 modules managed; partner switch improved delivery
• Big‑bang rollout starts 2026, aims for standardisation
• Pricing engine handles minute‑by‑minute tyre price changes

Pulse Analysis

The tyre distribution industry has long wrestled with fragmented ERP landscapes, where legacy systems like COBOL‑based platforms coexist with ad‑hoc spreadsheets. Such environments hinder real‑time visibility, inflate maintenance costs, and expose firms to compliance risk, especially when margins are razor‑thin. Low‑code development platforms have emerged as a pragmatic alternative, offering rapid application delivery without the need for extensive custom coding. By abstracting much of the underlying infrastructure, low‑code tools allow businesses to re‑engineer core processes while preserving continuity for customers still reliant on legacy data‑exchange methods such as FTP.

At Global Automotive Group, CIO Ron Linssen leveraged OutSystems after a failed Mendix pilot, assembling a portfolio of 100 modular applications that replace five separate ERPs across eight countries. A strategic partner with deep low‑code experience was brought in to overcome implementation friction, and the company chose a big‑bang migration slated for July 2026. The new suite integrates master data, purchasing, sales, e‑commerce, EDI, warehouse and transport functions with an off‑the‑shelf finance ledger, promising uniform workflows, reduced IT overhead, and the retirement of the legacy pricing engine’s COBOL codebase.

The initiative signals a broader shift for mid‑market distributors seeking to modernise without massive SAP or Oracle projects. By standardising on a single low‑code platform, firms can accelerate time‑to‑value, mitigate the talent shortage in legacy languages, and maintain service levels for customers still on legacy interfaces. Linssen’s experience underscores the importance of partner selection, change‑management, and realistic expectations around developer mindset. As more European distributors adopt similar strategies, the competitive landscape will reward those who can combine agility with cost discipline in a traditionally low‑margin sector.