Topps Tiles has introduced Descartes Systems Group’s cloud-based route planning and optimisation solution as it works to maintain customer services while reducing costs, especially high transportation costs.
The UK tile retailer has decreased the average kilometres driven per delivery route by 2% by deploying the Descartes’ software, and had gained a better understanding of the potential impact of changes to its delivery strategies.
“With over 300 stores nationwide, we’re continuously evaluating how to maintain a high degree of customer service while reducing operational costs, especially today’s high transportation costs,” said Simon Macdonald, national transport manager, Topps Tiles.
“Working with Descartes, we’ve replaced manual, spreadsheet-based processes with automated route planning to optimise the volume of tiles being delivered at any given time, as well as the routes our vehicles are travelling. Descartes’ strategic route modelling capabilities are also enabling us to model delivery scenarios and make more informed strategic decisions, which would have been nearly impossible with traditional resource-intensive analytical methods.”
Part of its Routing, Mobile and Telematics suite, Descartes’ route planning and optimisation solution is designed to help brands, retailers and logistics providers reduce costs with more agile and efficient routing. It also works to improve fleet resource management by generating additional delivery capacity and become more sustainable through the reduction of their CO2 footprint and their use of paper across the route network.
The strategic route modelling capabilities allow companies to understand and optimise their delivery and customer service strategies before having to execute them. Descartes’ mobile application helps drivers perform their daily routes, keeps managers aware of the progress and provides an accurate estimated-time-of-arrival (ETA) to notify customers of their deliveries. Proof of delivery (POD) capabilities support customer service excellence and order accuracy through real-time mobile communication.
“Topps Tiles’ long-term success is based upon its ability to continually provide customers with a superior shopping experience while offering cost competitive pricing,” added Pól Sweeney, VP fleet sales in Europe at Descartes. “We’re delighted to help Topps Tiles minimise its operational costs today through our route planning and optimisation solution and in the future with our strategic route modelling capabilities.”
