Using route optimization to meet the demands of your customers

Building consumer loyalty in 2022 is a particularly volatile notion. Consumer expectations and standards have seen a meteoric rise over the last decade with the increased shift to eCommerce and highly customizable consumer experiences. Consumers are becoming more sensitive to things like shipping time and environmental sustainability. In fact, nearly 34% of UK retail consumers report making buying decisions with the sustainability efforts of the selling company in mind and almost 42% of consumers indicate that lack of shipping windows has caused them to abandon their carts. Companies must keep up with these expectations, and the easiest way to do so is optimizing their own shipping routes. With intelligently optimized shipping routes, companies can reduce carbon footprint as well as achieve cost reductions and improved efficiencies in their shipping and delivery operations.

When considering the life cycle of a package, many overlook the complexity that goes into fulfilling any single order. The logistics process is incredibly complicated, and even Amazon is susceptible to inefficiencies. In the modern era, many of these inefficiencies come in the delivery phase of the package life cycle. As noted above, environmental inefficiencies are rampant. Any time a company is transporting packages, be it by truck, plane or boat, there is an environmental impact.

A truck delivering 100 packages might have to make 100 different stops, and this can become costly for the operator. When considering how to manage this type of complexity, route optimization technology may be the answer. A truck delivering 100 packages to 100 locations at random will experience significantly more inefficiency than a truck delivering 100 packages to 100 locations in a well planned manner.

Consider how DHL assigns delivery routes. Drivers are assigned to specially designed routes rather than simply covering a delivery area. Using software, routes are optimized daily based on a variety of delivery and environmental considerations to allow drivers to maximize the number of packages delivered during their shift. The benefits of this are multifaceted. Without route optimization software, drivers are unable to achieve desired efficiency and would otherwise be unable to provide accurate, proactive notifications such as “your package is on the way.” Further, businesses would experience increased employee and fuel costs, vehicle wear and tear and most importantly, decreased consumer satisfaction. However, when operating through an intelligently optimized dispatch and routing system, drivers are able to achieve maximum delivery efficiency while also being able to provide a predictable and enjoyable experience for the end consumer.

Shippers and logistics service providers seek out the most effective ways to maintain a competitive advantage by being able to continually introduce new service levels at the lowest possible cost. Route optimization is a widely recognized opportunity and means to achieve this goal.

Companies are turning to route optimization software like FarEye’s Intelligent Delivery Execution Platform to optimize their route selection. FarEye uses collected data from drivers to determine what the most efficient and optimal route is to deliver all packages in a given area. Companies do not have to guess about how slight route alterations would impact overall efficiency, rather they can use data to visualize how their operations will be affected. This is where leaders across all industries find their competitive advantages.