October 2011 – GIRO is pleased to announce that its new client, PostLogistics – a Swiss Post company, has purchased and implemented its GeoRoute route creation and management software. The Swiss postal operator chose the solution for its flexibility and powerful optimization algorithms. In addition to automating route creation, GeoRoute will enable Swiss Post to generate a fixed delivery sequence for national-level parcel delivery.
Using representative workload information collected in the field to create balanced territories and applying GeoRoute’s powerful optimizers to determine the most efficient delivery sequence, PostLogistics will be able to improve its current method of creating and modifying parcel routes. The company anticipates a significant increase in efficiency using GeoRoute to reorganize its entire parcel delivery operations, which is serviced using more than 1,000 vehicles.
The GeoRoute solution will take into account information provided by PostLogistics’ existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to help determine service requirements and the delivery time required for each service point to be used in the target solution.
The "territory" module and new workload evaluation methods incorporated in GeoRoute to produce a fixed delivery sequence will help support PostLogistics in its transformation program. The company will also be able to examine parcel routes using key performance indicators (KPIs) and make modifications as required based on volume fluctuation.
The new GeoRoute software will allow PostLogistics to create and store multiple scenarios that can be quickly and easily implemented when a modification to regular service is required. PostLogistics will improve its ability to manage route planning, which involves multiple product types that can have different time window constraints and specific contractual requirements.
“We are happy to have chosen GeoRoute, particularly since the initial installation of the software produced the results we were hoping for,” said Jean-Maurice Constantin, Manager of Parcel Delivery at PostLogistics. “The integration of various product types and different time periods in route modelling enables us to take into account the specificities of our organization and provides solutions that are in line with the current reality. What’s more, the ability to integrate with other systems currently used by our company is a major advantage, particularly in terms of acceptance and production time.
GeoRoute functionalities allow us to:
“Swiss Post’s purchase of GeoRoute is a testimony to the software’s ability to successfully meet the company’s parcel planning and scheduling needs,” said Serge Galarneau, GIRO’s Director of Routing. “Collaboration between Swiss Post and GIRO has resulted in the addition of a new GeoRoute functionality for evaluating the delivery sequence of parcel routes, which is one of many reasons we consider Swiss Post to be an important long-term partner.”
The first implementation phase of GeoRoute is now complete and covers medium and long-term planning requirements using the “territory” module.
PostLogistics plans to fulfill its short-term planning and management requirements in the next installation phase using GeoRoute’s sequencing server and Web modules. The software’s sequencing server receives parcel orders directly from order-taking systems and automatically sequences routes several hours prior to delivery. Phase two of the implementation project – installation of the GeoRoute sequencing server and Web modules – is slated to be evaluated in 2012.
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About PostLogistics – Swiss Post
PostLogistics, a Swiss Post company, is active in CEP (courier, express, parcel) markets, merchandise and storage, and international and night logistics. With a workforce of 5,320 employees, the company generates 1,478 million Swiss francs, for an operating profit of 164 million Swiss francs. PostLogistics plays a leading role in its markets and distinguishes itself from the competition with a consistent and impeccable quality of service.
