Grocery distributor Blakemore Logistics has implemented a dynamic routing and scheduling solution from Paragon Software Systems resulting in a one million kilometre reduction in delivery miles.
The switch from fixed route planning has other benefits too, including lower overall emissions and a 10% reduction in the fleet, which now only requires 140 vehicles to service 978 SPAR stores across England and Wales.
Blakemore Logistics, which forms part of the A.F. Blakemore & Son group of companies, decided to extend its use of Paragon transport optimisation software from pure fixed route planning use to full dynamic daily route optimisation.
At the same time it also included Paragon Route Execution enabling it to integrate its Blue Tree Systems R:COM Fleet Management System with its route planning and allow the logistics team to compare actual delivery activities against the optimised plan.
This allows the company to alert customers of delivery ETAs using text messages and communicate with drivers. The system also provides timed reporting with updated ETAs for customer services and management teams so that they can monitor and manage delivery performance.
Logistics Manager, Marc Deakin said: “Our delivery volumes can fluctuate by as much as 30% on a weekly basis. This dynamic system enables us to effectively accommodate these changes more efficiently whilst achieving significant benefits.
“Corporate responsibility and minimising our environmental impact is paramount and is a key value of our family business. When we made the decision to change from a fixed to a dynamic planning approach we decided that we were going to commit fully to Paragon technology and we are enjoying the results.”
Marc added: “We are leading the wholesale and convenience market in implementing dynamic planning and we are very proud of our achievements so far. We also know we can build on our successes. This is definitely the modern way to manage wholesale distribution because staying with a fixed routing approach means you will always have an element of waste due to overcapacity in the plan and in resourcing.”
The company is also using route management functionality within Route Execution with the unique Tachomaster Link module. This enables the electronic tachograph data to upload directly into Resource Manager, which has eliminated the need for keying in the information.
A.F. Blakemore uses route management functionality to improve the process of managing drivers and vehicles. This integrates with its transport planning system enabling the schedules to match specific driver shifts to available vehicles. It also enables the logistics team to monitor historical performance in relation to drivers’ hours regulations, such as the European Working Time Directive.
NOTES TO EDITOR:
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd was founded in 1917 and is a family-owned food & drink retail, wholesale and distribution business, based at Long Acres Industrial Estate in Willenhall, West Midlands.
Peter Blakemore is the third generation of the Blakemore family to lead the company, which currently employs more than 7,500 people and has a turnover in excess of £1.1 billion.
A.F. Blakemore consists of eight divisions:
- Blakemore Retail, which consists of 324 retail SPAR stores
- Blakemore Trade Partners, which serves 654 SPAR stores throughout the Meridian & Welsh Guild
- Blakemore Logistics, which distributes to 978 SPAR stores across the Meridian & Welsh Guild
- Blakemore Wholesale, which operates 13 cash & carry and delivered depots nationwide
- Blakemore Foodservice, which delivers multi-temperature orders to catering outlets nationwide from its two depots based in Walsall, West Midlands and Wakefield, West Yorkshire
- Blakemore Fresh Foods, which delivers fresh meat from a modern cutting plant and temperature-controlled storage facility at Hilton Cross, Staffordshire
- Blakemore Design & Shopfitting, which is A.F. Blakemore’s own shop fitting division, based at the Long Acres Industrial Estate
- Heart Distribution, a unique distribution operation set up especially to aid small, local producers with getting their products to market
