LOGISTICS W
hilst maximising volume density, reducing miles travelled and fuel costs are the most immediate and desired outcomes. The primary goal of optimisation is to improve
service objectives.
Workplace accidents often come with a huge physical and psychological cost for the victim and their family, and any employee or employer found to have contributed through their negligent attitude to workplace safety can expect to receive a stiff penalty. A core element of this process is also optimising the driver experience. Recruiting and retaining drivers remains a perennial problem for logistics companies and, with experienced drivers able to deliver upwards of 50 percent more parcels than newcomers, companies can customer satisfaction by actively exploring ways and retention.
Andrew Nowell, director at Trimble explores the power of route optimisation to future-proof operations, gain a competitive edge and pave the way for sustainable growth.
SIGNIFICANT EFFICIENCY GAINS Parcel delivery is a stressful occupation. expectations and fears regarding safety, navigating unfamiliar roads to deliver upwards of 150 parcels in one shift is a challenge. With the ever increasingly ecommerce-fuelled demand, managing, planning and altering these complex driver routes manually is time intensive hugely frustrating for drivers.
Logistics companies are using increasingly sophisticated route optimisation technology that moves beyond simply reducing travel distances. It also includes factors such as capacity and driver availability, staying ahead or being able to This model is enabling parcel companies improving customer satisfaction. There is, however, a balance to strike between squeezing job that is simply not sustainable. With the continued pressure on driver recruitment and retention, logistics companies are now exploring and driver experience.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Onboarding a new driver takes time and money. New drivers take time to learn a new area and become productive. Whether it is recruiting temporary staff to cover peak season or simply managing the high levels of staff churn within the industry, logistics companies have to build in driver experience into the route optimisation process. Many opt to split routes for less
ROUTE OPTIMISATION FOR PROFIT, PRODUCTIVITY
AND DRIVER SAFETY For logistics businesses, utilising route planning and optimisation tools can be the difference between having a satisfied customer or not.
to the cost to serve. Improving the experience for less experienced drivers is key to increasing retention, ensuring they become productive more quickly and minimising the operational overhead associated with managing new recruits.
Predictable journeys that provide drivers with consistency is a key factor. Routes will obviously vary day to day but a good working experience that ensures consistent drive times and parcel about achieving work/life balance goals, which will boost both morale and retention. To achieve this, companies need to be able to consider far more than distance. The ability to factor in the frequency of turns, even the side of the street process needs also to consider the weather forecast to factor in the 3-5 mile per hour raining, for example.
Companies also need to provide drivers with clarity. A highly intuitive User Interface (UI) Systems combine voice, colours, different mapping visualisations, including a view of the road or a satellite view, as well as simple arrows to show the next turn. Critically, guidance is provided well ahead of the next move, to
reinforce driver safety and avoid any risk of a dangerous, late manoeuvre.
OVERCOMING ANXIETY ON THE ROAD Every aspect of the driving experience can now be factored into route optimisation. Routes can consider threats to driver safety, for example, by avoiding known high risk roads especially for late night shifts at peak season. They can include access to fuelling stations and rest stops, with dynamic re-optimisation of routes driver rest times to ensure compliance and safety.
This aspect of route optimisation is becoming Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). ITS is a cutting-edge infrastructure, composed of smart devices and sensors strategically placed
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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024/25 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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