www.truckandtrack.com Autumn 2025 Truck and Track 31 INTERMODAL TRANSPORT SOFTWARE Optimisation for ultimate efficiency Such complexity in route planning can mean the costs pile up: more orders and more locations mean more trucks, more drivers, more miles and more fuel…or does it? Many retailers and wholesalers are now using route optimisation software to further increase efficiency in planning and keep costs low. Using advanced route optimisation technology, these tools can work out the optimal route for any set of deliveries. So, compared to manual planning (or even basic planning tools), it can reduce the number of resources you need and the miles driven regardless of how complex the delivery network is. You can also use route optimisation tools to factor in other business objectives, such as: ■ Faster time to customer ■ Restricted routes ■ Lower CO2 emissions ■ Driver constrictions ■ Cross-border regulations ■ Electric vehicle battery life ■ Delivery time windows ■ Reverse logistics By having better control over this part of the delivery process, not only can you keep a handle on costs, but you can also deliver a much better customer service. A great example of this is optimising for specific time windows. Allowing customers to choose a two- or three-hour delivery window adds an extra level of complexity to planning. However, advanced route optimisation software can efficiently account for these preferences. The benefit is a better customer experience, as it enables recipients to plan around the delivery rather than wait at home all day. It also reduces the chances of missed deliveries, which can be costly for retailers and delivery companies. Execute to perfection Once the routes have been optimised, the only thing left is to get the parcels to the customers. Even with perfect planning, there’s no guarantee everything will run smoothly. Unexpected roadworks, high volumes of traffic or forced rerouting can disrupt any well-designed route. Although you can’t always control the situation, you can act to minimise any impact, but only if you know that it’s happening. That’s where real-time transport visibility software comes in. Tools that track deliveries with live locations can quickly alert you to any potential problems. Coupling this with route optimisation software means that, in some situations, you can reroute the delivery without causing any delays. If that’s not possible, customers will receive a notification with a new, more accurate, ETA based on live traffic information. This can help them to reduce any negative impact on their side because of the delay. Another added benefit of connecting your real-time transport management system with route optimisation is that the model can factor in traffic data from historic trips to learn how to adapt routes to avoid commonly occurring delays in future. Another important element of the execution part of the delivery process is documentation. This is necessary to ensure the right parcel has been delivered to the right person, that the retailer gets paid quickly and that, if the customer needs to make a claim about a damaged or incorrect delivery, they can do so easily. Traditionally this has required physical paperwork, however this is slow and prone to human error. Instead, many real-time transport visibility tools enable digital documentation and include features such as electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) with sign-on-glass technology that the driver can access via a mobile app. These documents are automatically saved in the cloud for central office to process immediately. Again, this is just another way that automation can help streamline your delivery processes and make sure you stay in control. End-to-end tools to improve your delivery processes Maintaining control over your operations means keeping track of multiple complex processes at different stages of the delivery, in planning, optimisation and execution. There are many tools available to help you, however to ensure you’re really in control, it makes sense to find one that helps you manage all stages in one place. Using technology that can integrate easily with different tools to help you create a single point of control will help you increase efficiency, improve customer service and save time and money. At PTV Logistics, we understand the unique challenges businesses face, big or small. Our route optimisation solutions are developed to support you, helping you streamline operations and reduce costs while improving service quality and environmental impact. Whatever your business needs, we’re here to help you find the right solution that fits. Explore how our route optimisation technology can transform your logistics operations at www.ptvlogistics.com. PTV Logistics is a global leader in software solutions for route planning, optimisation, real-time transport visibility and delivery management. By automating and streamlining logistics operations, our software solutions empower logistics companies to cut transportation costs, save time, and reduce CO₂ emissions. Backed by more than 40 years of experience and record-breaking algorithms, PTV Logistics consistently transforms the theoretical savings potential of automated route planning into real-world results for customers globally. www.ptvlogistics.com
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