Sainsbury’s has cut its transport costs and improved driver productivity using special software to streamline its delivery operations. The innovative solution from Paragon Software Systems is being rolled out across Sainsbury’s national distribution network. The Paragon system has been integrated with Isotrak telematics to capture real-time data such as vehicle location and driver tachograph outputs.
Paragon software has underpinned the efficiency of daily deliveries from Sainsbury’s 19 distribution centres to 527 supermarkets and 276 smaller stores, as well as the allocation of tractors, trailers, rigids and drivers to routes for over three years. Building on Sainsbury’s long-term reliance on Paragon’s efficient routes and schedules, the unique new system integrates planning and telematics to dramatically enhance the accuracy and execution of each day’s complex transport plans.
Using Paragon’s Fleet Controller system to integrate Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimiser with Isotrak’s Active Transport Management System (ATMS), Sainsbury’s has been able to introduce unprecedented levels of certainty and control into the operation.
“Uncertainties are a fact of life for any transport operation so we build contingencies into our schedules, but they add costs,” says Darren Jones, Sainsbury’s Head of Logistics Strategy. “The more uncertainty that can be eliminated, the greater the control over costs.” By using Fleet Controller to monitor the execution of the delivery schedule and Isotrak’s ATMS to capture real-time data such as vehicle location and driver tachograph outputs, Sainsbury’s gets accurate data with real value. When vehicle turnaround time at stores emerged as a critical factor, for instance, the planned contingency was cut by a consistent 15 per cent by setting store targets.
But there’s more to it than this, as Darren Jones explains: “Fleet Controller is looking forward all the time, making sure pre-set parameters such as delivery windows are met. If any criteria look like being breached, it will re-spin the schedule to avoid the breach.” The implications of this are significant. Paragon can reallocate upcoming trips when it’s clear drivers will return late or early, for example, maintaining exceptionally high driver and vehicle use levels. “As a result we are improving driver productivity significantly at the depots using the new integrated system,” concludes Darren Jones.
“We are delighted with the success of this implementation for Sainsbury’s,” says Paragon Managing Director William Salter. “It required extensive two-way integration between Paragon and Isotrak but it was well worth the development effort. Plans for large, multi-shifted operations like this can unravel during the day, losing some of their original efficiency, but Sainsbury’s can now rework and optimise plans throughout their execution.”
Paragon Software Systems
Jane Geary
Tel: 01306 732600
E: j.geary@paragonrouting.com
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