The end goal of any business is selling and delivering products to match consumer expectations. These expectations, however, constantly change, requiring retailers to be flexible and adaptable in turn. This is why routed delivery strategies are important for retailer success.
Simply defined, routed deliveries optimize logistics channels to create the best in quality, speed and efficiency of last mile product transport to the consumer. A successful routed delivery strategy relies on single drop-off points, pre-scheduled routes and dedicated tracks to optimize delivery operations. And when properly applied, routed deliveries can help improve retailer and business efficiencies.
Here’s how the process can boost your delivery effectiveness:
Resource Optimization
As noted above, a routed delivery strategy provides the best models and start-to-finish path to get the product to your customer. It also helps you optimize each aspect of your supply chain for greater performance.
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This is because the process of routed delivery takes into account all of the components of your supply chain, including available delivery vehicles and labor, management, traffic and other components. The end result is data that helps implement drop-off or pre-scheduled delivery plans.
For instance, the data tells you what drivers and vehicles are available and most efficient for same-day deliveries, single drop-offs or multi-stop routes. It also helps you design plans to determine workforce capacity and how to manage it effectively, and it helps you balance resources and allocate properly for each route.
Considering issues including vehicle capacity, transportation costs (such as fuel and maintenance) and workforce availability helps make your routed delivery strategies efficient and successful.
Customer Service Improvement
Routed deliveries rely on software and automated technology. This in turn helps guarantee a better customer experience through each delivery channel.
Geofencing, Google Maps, Distance Matrix and other transportation-oriented software delivers real-time information about traffic, distance and timing. This data is used to provide real-time reports, both to you and your customers, about the location and estimated time of arrival of each delivery vehicle. Customers can better arrange their schedules in anticipation of the drivers’ exact arrival.
How does this optimize efficiency? It does so by providing information across the logistical chain to ensure the prioritization of customer needs. It generates new schedules with real-time traffic information. It also offers vehicle availability for specific timelines and delivery requirements.
The end result is ongoing maintenance of efficient operations and increased customer loyalty for your business.
Ongoing Supervision
Great last-mile delivery results rely on ongoing supervision throughout the supply chain. Though routed deliveries are optimized with technology, the human factor keeps an eye out for glitches and delays throughout the process.
The information and data required for a successful routed delivery can support the supervision process and delivery policies. For example, routes that prove to have frequent traffic congestion and delays could include an ETA flexibility clause. At the same time, your same-day or next-day delivery options can be supported with route specification details. This information adds clarity to all points along the supply chain.
Cost Reductions
When developed and applied properly, your routed delivery strategy helps you manage, analyze and improve delivery schedules and policies. Workforce and vehicle capacity reports mean you can avoid overworking your staff and trucks. Specific route data means less fuel is wasted from trucks idling in traffic jams caused by rush hours or accidents. The less time your trucks are on the road due to delays, the less you spend on maintenance or even impromptu hires to make up for any lag.
The result is a reduction in transportation costs and confusion from having multiple vehicles driving the same route. This allows better optimization of your resources, saving you time and energy while improving efficiencies.
Maximize Efficiencies with a Routed Delivery Focus
If you need help in devising an efficient and successful routed delivery strategy, consider working with an experienced delivery partner. They can help you with a customized approach that meets your needs, utilizes unique avenues of additional capacity, all while ensuring the experience meets maximum customer satisfaction.
Jay Sackos is a VP at Dolly. He is an experienced supply chain sales professional dedicated to exchanging value through creative, client-centric solutions. Sackos is a natural leader who empowers teammates through clear communication and collaborative objective setting while fostering accountability. A people person who loves big ideas, Sackos constantly works to uncover opportunities and solve problems for those he works with.
