Paragon Software Systems, Inc., a leader in vehicle routing and scheduling optimization solutions, helps retailers plan their transportation schedules to meet their seasonal delivery peaks. With the upcoming holiday season rapidly approaching, retailers need to ensure they are able to meet and manage customer demands. This puts a huge responsibility on the shoulders of transportation planners to manage these increased order volumes in the most cost effective way. Using Paragon software, clients can prepare for this holiday rush.
“Retailers are gearing up for the holiday rush, and with the improved economy, retailers can expect greater than normal delivery requirements,” said William Salter, CEO of Paragon Software Systems. “Retailers need to have a strategic plan in place to eliminate the danger of paying too much for quick turnaround deliveries due to last minute orders or peak demand. By modeling potential peak scenarios, retailers can identify the required fleet resources needed to meet this demand, ensuring they have the right size and mix of delivery vehicles available in their arsenal to meet customer delivery schedules.”
Using Paragon software, companies can model different “what-if” scenarios to optimize holiday delivery routes and schedules. Using the software to analyze a typical week of delivery routes and then running comparisons to test alternative options, such as truck sizes, driver shifts, DC locations or time window options, retailers can quickly find out which models will give the best transportation cost savings. Modeling scenarios can also determine the optimal number of drivers and vehicles required across the week, number of drivers needed per shift, fleet size and fleet mix needed per week, etc. For each scenario, the software calculates optimized routes and schedules, and outputs the total fleet resources, miles, drivers’ hours, CO2 emissions and transportation costs so that retailers can make optimal, cost-based decisions.
“Our clients are well-prepared to smooth the ups and downs of the holiday rush, eliminating the need to pay the cost of expedited shipments because they can meet their customer’s delivery deadlines at lower costs,” added William Salter. “Even if there is an unexpected high volume of last minute shoppers, by strategically planning for these types of peaks, retailers will be prepared to handle them for the optimal cost.”
