Month: January 2019

Logistics operations are increasingly turning to integrated technology solutions to overcome a host of transport planning pressures, while at the same time the driver and general skills shortage continues to weigh on the supply chain sector. These were two of the key findings from Paragon Software Systems’ annual UK customer survey, which was completed by more than 100 industry professionals. It found that almost all respondents (97%) are using some type of telematics solution and almost half (45%) are interfacing this technology with their routing and scheduling software.

Meanwhile, the lack of drivers and other skilled workers remains the biggest challenge facing the industry for the third year running according to over half of the survey’s respondents (55%). This represents a 20% increase when compared to last year’s results (46%) and a significant 62% rise from 2017 (34%), suggesting a growing concern amongst businesses within the marketplace. Other notable issues highlighted were rising transport costs (13%), Brexit (12%), and urban transport restrictions (7%).

The 2019 survey results showed that technology is now playing a critical role within road transport to gain added visibility and control. Most fleets are now using vehicle tracking (95%) with over half (52%) also utilising electronic proof of delivery. Other popular solutions include 3G/4G vehicle cameras (40%), live temperature monitoring (25%) and workforce management apps (20%). Transport operations integrating these systems with their routing and scheduling software are doing so to take advantage of real-world data that supports real-time performance monitoring and continuous improvement.

Demand for more accurate time windows (44%) was again pinpointed as the biggest transport planning pressure followed by the ability to compare planned routes with what is actually happening on the road (39%) and the need to maximise the utilisation of available drivers (34%). Meanwhile, almost three-quarters of the respondents said they have had to adapt their service in the past year to meet changing customer demand. In particular, the provision of tighter time windows (31%); ETA on the day of delivery (28%); more frequent communications (22%); and proof of delivery (20%) were the most cited changes.

With transport planning becoming increasingly complicated, almost half of respondents (49%) stated that their planning resource had changed in the past 12 months, with 22% becoming more centralised and 16% growing their team. A large proportion (78%) felt they would significantly or slightly benefit from having greater automation in the transport office, while a number (9%) had already taken steps to fully automate their operation.

William Salter, Managing Director of Paragon Software Systems commented: “The results of our survey suggest the road transport sector faces another tough year with a number of continuing challenges that are compounded by the current economic and political uncertainty. As a result, logistics operations are looking to integrated technology solutions that deliver real benefits in terms of better resource utilisation, improved customer communications and real-time visibility of fleet performance.”

Major Australian retail company Coles has selected Witron to deliver two new ambient distribution centres as part of a supply chain modernisation program that will improve availability for customers while lowering costs. The DCs will be located in the states of Queensland and New South Wales.

In seeking a partner for the project, Coles had regard to Witron’s track record of delivering 54 similar projects with global retailers including E. Leclerc, Kroger, Target (US), Supervalu, Sobeys, Edeka, Mercadona, Migros, Meijer, Inex and Coop Norway.

Coles operates more than 2,500 retail outlets across Australia including supermarkets, liquor stores and fuel and convenience stores. More than 21 million customers per week shop in-store or online at Coles, generating sales of more than 39 billion Australian dollars over the 12 months to the end of June 2018 (equivalent to approx. 24.5 billion euros).

The two distribution centres will respectively supply a full range of ambient grocery lines to more than 240 Coles supermarkets in New South Wales and more than 170 supermarkets in Queensland.

From each of the two approximately 70,000 square metre logistics locations, all stores are supplied with a full range of dry goods.

“The modernization of our supply chain will provide a safer working environment for our team members, lower supply chain costs, enhance our overall business competitiveness and make life easier for our customers by having the right offer in the right location,” said Coles CEO Steven Cain.”

Witron CEO, Helmut Prieschenk, said the company was very pleased to be working with Coles on the company’s first Australian project.

“We spent a lot of time working with Coles to make sure that the project was exactly what was needed, going right back to the most basic data before looking at logistics modules and technology, service and operator concepts, end-to-end supply chain intelligence, and finally to ways that the centres could make use of existing and future technology.”

In what Witron owner and company founder Walter Winkler proudly describes as “a milestone in the almost 50-year-history of the company,” Witron has already registered an Australian subsidiary company, Witron Australia Pty Ltd, which will be based in Sydney, to manage the project.

 

Pictured: Coles CEO Steven Cain (right) and Witron CEO Helmut Prieschenk sign the contracts

 

VanRiet Material Handling Systems, a leading global provider of integration systems, equipment, and after-market services solutions, today announced that Rik van den Boog has stepped down from his role as CEO of the Company following a successful seven-year leadership tenure.

The Company has initiated a formal search process for an experienced, permanent Managing Director. In the interim, the responsibilities of the CEO will be handled by a strong leadership committee comprised of CFO Johan Verhoeff, Kai Ramadhin, Director of Sales & Marketing, and Thomas van Workum, Director of Lifecycle Performance Services.

“Under Rik’s leadership, VanRiet has grown into a leading international system integrator and a world-class sorting and transport solutions provider with strong footholds throughout Europe, the US and China” said Mr. Ramadhin. “We are very grateful for Rik’s commitment and leadership as CEO.”

“It has been an honour and a privilege to work alongside our talented employees and for our valued customers over the last seven years,” said Mr. van den Boog. “I have no further ambition to run a business operationally anymore. However, it was a great experience to work in a sector that I did not know before.”