Isotrak delivers new level of transport efficiency

20 August 2010, 1:00pm

Wilkinsons has selected Isotrak's Active Transport Management System (ATMS) to improve customer service and efficiency in its distribution fleet managed by Canute.

Isotrak's ATMS proved itself the ideal choice for this challenge after demonstrating a clear financial saving in Isotrak's unique Transport Efficiency Analysis (TEA) phase. Trials of TEA were to build a true business case with Wilkinsons based on performance of the trial units, and conservatively model the ability to provide benefits across the entire Wilkinsons fleet.

ATMS provides enhanced, automated visibility of vehicle movement and location and integrates seamlessly with existing customer planning systems, alerting managers if issues occur. This will enable Wilkinsons to set new standards of proactivity in managing its operational performance and maximising the accuracy of planned deliveries.

ATMS will roll out across Wilkinsons' tractor units working between its 338 stores and two Distribution Centers (DCs) at Worksop and Magor. The implementation planning is in progress, with vehicle tracking and driver communications soon to be underway with the facilities of resource planning and the creation of plan vs actual performance data due to be completed by October.

ATMS will enable Wilkinsons to execute and organise drivers' working hours and monitor and produce management reports from collated data in an available format which was not previously accessible to the company.

Highlight benefits include:

- Enabling Wilkinsons stores to view live, inbound load ETA information.

- Reducing workload via the fixed in-cab data terminal with intuitive driver-centric operation to confirm correct trailer ID’s prior to departure and act as the control for a full voice communications facility. (It also removes the need to press a dock button on departure.)

- Tracking tractors and trailers individually to improve asset utilisation, and enable full Delivery on Time (DoT) reporting per trip – even with contracted 3PL tractors.

- Improving safety and legality through minute-by-minute monitoring of vehicle road status and automatic appraisal of driver compliance with all relevant working time legislation.

- Improving driver debriefs and productivity thanks to provision of more comprehensive trip data, comparing planned with actual performance.

- Simplified and enhanced reporting, including unified DoT and turnaround statistics, proactively supplied to all key Wilkinsons stakeholders by email.

- Secure, intuitive “anytime, anyplace� access to the system for all managers thanks to the web browser interface.

- Improved frequency, quality and transparency of tracking based on map displays and graphical representations.

Isotrak's managed solution is easy to use and extremely well supported. Wilkinsons will benefit from a combination of locally available support staff, plus a 24/7 telephone helpdesk staffed by Isotrak's own transport and technology experts.

Driving down carbon emissions, lifting up driver support

ATMS will also help Wilkinsons reduce its carbon footprint by eliminating unnecessary mileage and enhancing the way it provides assistance to drivers. ATMS accurately observes, records and models every aspect of their vehicle fleet performance resulting in improved efficiency.

Isotrak's two-way in-cab data terminal, meanwhile, removes unnecessary administrative burdens from drivers, providing a simple way to receive job details and confirm drop-offs.

Craig Sears-Black, Isotrak's VP Business Development, said: "Transport efficiency is our passion at Isotrak and we've relished working with Wilkinsons to demonstrate that potential saving in the TEA phase. Just as ATMS helps transport managers see a bigger picture of their fleet performance, we in turn see the bigger picture of our customers' transport management needs. We're confident that Wilkinsons will reap immediate benefits from its newly-acquired ability to plan, benchmark, monitor and continually improve its service performance".

Simon Lowe, Head of Supply Chain at Wilkinsons, added: "The efficiency with which we operate our distribution and retail business and therefore serve our customers is an essential ingredient of our success. ATMS will provide complete consistency in our approach to transport management and with the link to Paragon aims to make the very best use of the resources we have. The advantages of an integrated plan can be seen not only in vehicle, driver and labour efficiency, but also in the environmental benefits it offers in reducing unnecessary road miles."

Geo: International