Parcelforce Worldwide, the UK’s leading provider of time-guaranteed express deliveries, has used Paragon Software Systems’ routing and scheduling software to re-plan its nationwide fixed route operation. As a result of the re-routing process Parcelforce Worldwide has cut planning time by 90% and increased driver productivity by 20% throughout its 2,000-vehicle operation.
Parcelforce Worldwide has used Paragon’s routing and scheduling software to re-route its entire UK express distribution operation, producing plans for the daily delivery of 150,000 parcels. With manual re-routing previously taking up to ten weeks per depot, Parcelforce has been able to cut planning time by 90% and secured other operation-wide savings as a result of using Paragon’s software solutions.
Running on a Windows operating platform, the Paragon system holds details of historical delivery patterns at postcode level, vehicle capacities, work standards and driver shift information. Using digital mapping with highly developed scheduling functionality designed specifically for optimising road-based transport operations, the Paragon software is used to calculate the most effective delivery sequences for the regular routes to be operated.
As a result of introducing the new Paragon routes Parcelforce Worldwide is experiencing significant benefits in the form of increased driver productivity, with a reported increase of 20% taking utilisation from 70% to 90% throughout the operation. “Improving driver productivity by 20% has enabled us to reduce both the number of drivers and the number of vehicles we need to use to achieve the same, if not higher, levels of service,” says Eddie McBride of Parcelforce Worldwide. “Our work with Paragon really has delivered in a big way and everyone involved is very happy with the results.”
“Manual fixed route re-planning can be a lengthy process – especially when you have a nationwide distribution network,” comments William Salter, Paragon’s Managing Director. “The Parcelforce situation, where significant time and efficiency savings have been made, is another example of how Paragon’s routing and scheduling software can be used to help transport managers speed up the planning process, at the same time as improving accuracy, routing reliability and overall efficiency throughout logistics operations.”
