Case Study

Logistics Route Planning: Case Study

In this case study, we look at how we worked with our client Transvalair on gaining total oversight of their delivery operations

Caroline Hassett

Dec 5, 2022 • 6 min read

Transvalair

Transvalair is a Worldwide Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions provider. They go the extra mile to deliver cargo safely and on time to almost anywhere in the world. Their services include everything from packing, documentation, import handling and warehousing. Their 2-man home delivery service, Duo Delivers, is a firm that is dedicated to providing their customers with the very best experience. Their service is specifically aimed towards Commercial Retailers, Manufacturers & E-Commerce. Their extensive modern warehouse and logistics solutions enable them to work in full conjunction with their customers’ business needs. Duo Delivers differs from other 2 Man carriers in how they look after their clients.

SmartRoutes worked closely with the team at Transvalair offering consultative services in the early stages of implementation to ensure they got the most out of the product for their home delivery service.

What we will take at look at in this case study:

Challenges faced by Transvalair
Transvalair’s goals
The Solution
The Outcome
The Results

Challenges faced by Transvalair

Before SmartRoutes, the team at Transvalair were using another 3rd party software to assist them with deliveries. At the time they believed the software could do with being upgraded and they sought after a more updated version of technology. Key challenges included:

Inaccessible customer support, with long delays in response times.
Limited adaptability and scalability of the existing technology.
Inefficient warehouse and delivery route management.

Transvalair’s goals

Transvalair set out to:

Gain complete oversight of delivery operations.
Automate delivery route planning.
Enable customer control over booking delivery slots via SMS.
Implement a labeling system for better warehouse organization.
Offer a tracking portal access for customerso keep themselves updated on order status.
Ensure quick, responsive support.

The SmartRoutes Solution

Delivery Management

SmartRoutes total delivery management solution has helped the team control their delivery costs and improve operations. By giving them visibility and control over the entire delivery operation, they have been able to make data driven decisions.

Delivery management has helped improve the level of organization in the warehouses by having orders planned in advance. In doing so, the warehouse workers can now separate orders based on location and returns. They can also ensure that their delivery vehicles are at capacity before leaving the warehouse and packed in the order they will be delivered. The team has found it helpful that they can plan all delivery operations from one platform. Everyone on the team from drivers to office staff have found the platform simple to use.

Route Planning & Optimization

SmartRoutes Route Planning & Optimization Software has helped the team at Transvalair to automate route planning. To plan a route with SmartRoutes, the team can upload addresses directly into the SmartRoutes app or upload bulk addresses using Excel or Google Sheets. Then, at the click of a button, their routes are planned and optimized while taking into account given parameters for vehicles such as time windows and vehicle constraints.

The warehouse team can print run sheets and labels directly from the platform. This allows the team to pack the delivery vans more accurately. They use the map feature to help determine groups of orders and then also group them based on postcodes. [The team plans to start using SmartRoutes’ Zone Management feature shortly which will further automate their processes].

By ensuring that the delivery vehicles are leaving the depots fully loaded, this reduces the time drivers spend on the road per delivery, leading to lower fuel usages and reduced fuel costs - all while maximizing the amount of deliveries drivers can make per day! Well organized routes also help to avoid missed deliveries and deadlines, improving the relationship with the customer and increasing the chance for repeat business.

Route Planning Screen on the SmartRoutes desktop app — Route Planning Screen

Fleet Tracking

SmartRoutes Fleet Tracking Software has allowed them to visualize their delivery fleet with a live map and manage & adjust routes in real time. They have given their own customers logins so that they can track the progress of deliveries made and pull their own reports from the system. This has made the team much more efficient in their delivery operations by implementing a data-driven model of fleet management. It has resulted in the fleet becoming more productive and it has maximized the fleet's time while out making deliveries. It has given them complete oversight of their delivery operations.

Proof of Delivery

SmartRoutes proof of delivery software has been successful for the team. They use both electronic signatures and photos depending on the requirements set out by their own clients. They’ve given customers access to this part of the platform so they can download Proof of Delivery (POD) documents themselves. Some customers won’t accept invoices without a POD, so it’s a key feature for the team—and it needs to be both accurate and easy to use.

Delivery Driver app

The Delivery Driver App gives drivers all the info they need to complete their deliveries. Routes are planned automatically and sent straight to their phones, so they just tap ‘start route’ and go. The team finds it really easy to use, with little to no training needed—both for internal staff and for onboarding their own customers.

The team can capture Proof of Delivery (POD) directly through the app—customers can sign electronically, and drivers can take a quick photo of the delivery. GPS tracking shows where drivers are in real time, helping the team monitor progress, spot delays, and make improvements. Communication is smooth too: the admin team can send updates to customers, and drivers can reach out if needed. Drivers can also add notes when extra details are required, like explaining why a delivery couldn’t be completed.

SmartRoutes Delivery Driver App — Delivery Driver App

Customer Portal

The customer portal has been a game changer for the Transvalair team, saving them a lot of manual work. Before using SmartRoutes, they had to send notifications manually using custom lists—which often led to errors and missed messages. Now, they can quickly select which customers to notify, and those customers get an SMS with a link to the portal. From there, they can confirm their delivery time or choose a new one. This has led to more on-time deliveries and fewer missed ones. Customers now get accurate ETAs, which has improved their overall delivery experience—and made them more likely to order again. The SMS system has also boosted response rates by making the process easier for everyone.

“We needed a modern solution, one making use of new technology available on market. Our system users vary from Drivers, Warehouse, Planning, Finance and Customer Service team, it was essential for us to have a user interface that was easy to use and intuitive with minimum training requirements from IT. SmartRoutes provided just that and is continuously getting better. Our teams favorite feature at present is the Online Customer Delivery Booking Portal. We send our customers a proposed delivery date by SMS/E-Mail with a link to confirm or select a delivery date of their choice. The system then gets updated immediately with the customers choice and our team has instant visibility of this change. This feature has saved our team hours of manual work on mail merge and keeping track of customers' responses. Our clients are very happy that they have full visibility of their orders and can pull their own reports from the system. The support team are always quick to respond to our queries and the software takes little to no training for new members of staff.”

- Roberto Bejar, Transvalair