CEVA Logistics’ home delivery business has boosted customer service levels thanks to an innovative fully integrated IT solution from Paragon Software Systems.
Paragon’s route optimisation software integrates seamlessly with CEVA’s home delivery system, to tightly manage its resources and maximise visibility of orders against deliveries. This has delivered efficiencies in resource management enabling CEVA to give customers a realistic time of delivery 48 hours beforehand to ensure they are available to receive their goods.
“Paragon maximises the use of our resources, allowing us to plan highly efficient routes and utilise our staff and vehicles effectively. We are making more deliveries with fewer vehicles. In addition the system is extremely easy to use compared to other packages and requires minimal training for our planners to become fully conversant in its use,” says Tony Percival, Senior General Manager, CEVA Logistics.
With the integrated system, CEVA has been able to improve its success rate of on-time/first-time deliveries by 5 per cent. “The Paragon route optimisation software provides us with the detail we need to be able to provide our customers with the best level of home delivery service possible – and this means making their deliveries on time, every time. Being able to accurately plan the deliveries and forewarn customers of the delivery window means that we maintain our service levels. The biggest obstacle to failed deliveries is the absence of the customer – with Paragon we can give them 48 hours notice and this has proven key to improving our success rate,” says Tony Percival.
CEVA Logistics provides home delivery services for a range of products from specialist food and medical supplies to furniture. The company’s customers include major multiples and high street retailers, and with a number of regional depots placed strategically across the UK, CEVA provides a nationwide multi-user network.
Tony Percival comments that Paragon route optimisation software provides the additional benefit of allowing the planners to ‘smooth’ the loads between the regional depots. “If a delivery needs to cross from one depot’s territory into another our planners coordinate the loads with the adjoining region’s depot. This allows us to smooth the whole process, transferring goods between each region as part of one continuous plan. This allows us to keep the goods moving from one region to another preventing potential bottlenecks,” he concludes.
