PHOENIX Healthcare Distribution is using advanced vehicle routing software from Paragon Software Systems to manage its time-critical deliveries of medicines and medical supplies to pharmacies, GP surgeries and hospitals located throughout the UK.
Having initially used Paragon’s vehicle routing software for strategic planning, PHOENIX is now also using the system to produce operational routes and schedules from start to finish in minutes.
“Paragon is a high-speed transport planning system that allows us to turn customer orders into routes within minutes of their arrival. This is essential as the delivery window for the types of product we deliver is extremely narrow. The software automates the process of producing accurate, feasible routes enabling us to keep to tight delivery deadlines,” says Paul Wilkinson, National Transport Manager, PHOENIX Healthcare Distribution.
“Manual planning under these circumstances would not be possible. You need a high-tech system that will rapidly generate the routes, so that product can be despatched virtually immediately – this is where Paragon comes into its own,” says Paul Wilkinson.
“We’ve been using Paragon’s vehicle routing software for several years for strategic planning and modelling fixed routes for our entire UK-wide operation, so we were familiar with the software. It is a powerful and easy to use system that enables us to maximise the use of our resources while minimising our transportation costs,” he adds.
PHOENIX operates a fleet of 450 vans from 15 strategically placed local depots that service pharmacies, GPs and hospitals throughout the UK. One of the company’s major business objectives is total customer satisfaction, using the platform of “All Business is Local.” The individual wholesale depots provide local service that customers require, with the support of the company’s central corporate services. The company has a programme of continual investment within its warehouses and logistic functions to ensure that a high level of service is delivered combined with cost leadership.
