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Tag: last mile

DX launches £750k electric vehicle programme with IKEA

Posted on by David Priestman

DX, the provider of delivery solutions, including parcel freight, secure courier and logistics services, has launched a three-year project to acquire a fleet of electric vehicles for use in its delivery and logistics partnership with IKEA.

The Company has recently invested £750,000 – with further investment planned over the next three years – to establish an initial fleet of over 60 electric vehicles for IKEA’s home-delivery services. The first phase, launched in August 2022, is an initial 12 electric vans operating from DX depots in Southampton and Warrington.

The new fleet comprises the award-winning Maxus e-Deliver 9 marque vans, which have an operational carrying capacity of 1,162kg and a single-charge range of over 219 miles, with zero output emissions. The vehicles are dual-liveried with DX and IKEA branding.

IKEA has been a customer of DX 2-Man and Logistics for over seven years, with DX providing delivery and logistics services to support IKEA’s online and retail operations. DX is IKEA’s largest provider of 2-Man home delivery services in the UK. The project marks the continuing evolution of this successful partnership.

Paul Ibbetson, Managing Director of DX Freight, commented: “We are very pleased to have launched our first fleet of electric vehicles for IKEA. Over the next three years we will be building on this to provide IKEA with continued, first-class delivery and logistics services that are more environmentally friendly.”

John Welsh, Fulfilment Sourcing Manager at IKEA UK & Ireland, commented: “DX is the largest provider of 2-person home delivery services for IKEA in the UK and we are excited to have their first electric vans with zero-output emissions on the road for us and our customers. IKEA’s goal of reaching 100% Zero Emission last mile deliveries by 2025 will be achieved through working together with those who share our vision, and I am delighted that DX have already been fundamental in delivering some of the first milestones in our journey.”

Evri adds Tiger trailers to fleet

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Delivery company, Evri, the biggest dedicated parcel carrier in the UK and the new name for Hermes, has started the introduction of 168 new articulated box vans from Tiger Trailers to its fast-growing fleet, in time to support the opening of its largest delivery hub in Europe.

Tiger’s sales, design and engineering teams worked closely with Evri to ensure that its new 4.6m-high box van trailers are manufactured to bespoke specifications and a high quality, as the delivery company gears up to sort up to 3 million parcels every day going into peak season.

David Landy, Evri’s Head of Fleet, comments: “It has been great to work with the Tiger Team again and see our initial discussions around specification to become realised. This will ensure that our ‘in service’ is simplified in order to maintain the trailers more quickly and efficiently. It was imperative that Specification, Quality and Delivery were all met and the team at Tiger have delivered on all fronts.”

The trailers are of straight-frame design and incorporate various Tiger-specific design components for strength and durability, including the integration of buffers within the rear frame assembly that complement the need for a roller shutter door. To keep business and domestic customers’ parcels secure in transit between Evri distribution centres, a two-row, surface-mounted load securing system is fitted internally, along with a rear net and lashing rings. The rear frame has been designed with an integral gutter for improved run-off of water.

Evri’s striking new trailer liveries can be seen on the operator’s new Tiger-built dry-freight box vans, apportioned into subtly different design variations, with GK Signs working alongside the Cheshire manufacturer’s own fitters in applying each trailer’s full wrap.

Tiger manufactured 200 twin-axle box van trailers for Hermes in 2015, and the two companies share a focus on environmental sustainability by means of solar panels and tree-planting, along with job creation for their local areas. Evri has added 70 compressed natural gas Iveco trucks to its fleet over the last twelve months, with Tiger manufacturing skeletal and other specialist trailers for the parcel firm’s CNG supplier.

Darren Holland, Tiger Trailers’ Sales Director, remarks: “Working alongside David and the Evri team has been great and we are really pleased with the finished product. The fact that we can offer a full package has meant that we have designed, manufactured and also provided the leasing for these trailers via Tiger Finance.”

Evri will have received all 168 of its new Tiger Trailers box vans in time for the UK’s Black Friday retail period before it then continues to serve its customers throughout Christmas and beyond, and Ambassador Motor Company has provided Tiger with logistical support in making deliveries into the operator’s new Barnsley superhub called Colossus.

 

Technology to Support the Last Mile

Posted on by David Priestman

That last mile in the delivery supply chain is one of the toughest for businesses to master. These days we have all become used to receiving our deliveries at the place of our choosing – home, work or a drop-off smartlocker. All these options mean that delivery drivers, logistics and warehouse workers are now busier and more in demand than ever.

They can often be seen lugging around a bulky handheld device to help them manage their day-to-day supply chain challenges. You will have seen them squinting to read the screen in bright sunlight or bad weather, stabbing clumsily at the display to register something on the app – all while trying to juggle the device and their delivery. But they rely on the technology for their work schedule and recording every aspect of the delivery. There is good news for delivery drivers as they will have a new technology best friend with the introduction of the TOUGHBOOK N1 Flat handheld device.

It’s a flat version of Panasonic’s already popular TOUGHBOOK N1 rugged Android handheld. It has an integrated camera-based barcode scanner that can recognise a variety of different barcode types and is one of the thinnest and lightest handheld devices in the 4.7″ category – making it ideal for mobile workers in the postal and courier services, transportation and logistics. With its handy form, the device can be easily paired via Bluetooth as part of a dedicated scanning solution, for example, for those using wearable barcode readers in a warehouse.

Delivery workers will also love it because there will be no more struggling to read the screen and record information. The HD capacitive multi-touch daylight readable display is designed for use by workers in bright sunlight or in the rain and those wearing gloves. The device can also be used with an optional Pen, for more accurate signature recording and recognition capabilities.

For those that need to capture documents or use a webcam, there is an 8MP rear and 5MP front camera. Its communication capabilities are also unrivalled in the rugged handheld market with voice and data and roaming WiFi options.

It doesn’t matter how busy the schedule, the device is designed to operate for up to 12 hours with user warm swap battery functionality. It runs the Android 11 operating system with long-term security updates and is equipped with Qualcomm Octa Core processor with a 4GB of RAM memory and 64GB of Flash storage.

And there are no concerns if this device is dropped, falls out of the van or gets a soaking. It’s fully rugged and tested to MIL-STD-810G standards and can survive drops from a height of 2.1m. For those working in cold temperatures, such as frozen and chilled food delivery drivers, the operational temperature range of the device is from -20° to +50°C.

The IT support team will also love this new mobile worker companion. The TOUGHBOOK N1 Flat is Android Enterprise ready and has the support of Panasonic Complete Android Services and Security (COMPASS) – offering everything needed to configure, deploy and manage TOUGHBOOK rugged Android tablets and handhelds securely in the business across the full lifecycle of the solution.

In the busy world of last mile delivery, couriers and logistics, mobile workers need a device that is intuitive to use and tough enough to stand up to the every day knocks and scrapes of the challenging work environment. The TOUGHBOOK N1 Flat is that ideal rugged device from navigating to the next drop-off, through to scanning the barcode, capturing a signature or taking photos of safe delivery. It looks set to become their new best friend.

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TOUGHBOOK N1 gets powerful refresh

 

 

fulfilmentcrowd joins the crowds at Paris Retail Week

Posted on by Keith McKinley

International fulfilment services provider, fulfilmentcrowd, has joined the esteemed exhibitor list for this year’s Paris Retail Week.

The business will showcase on stand E108 its unrivalled technology to the show’s attendees including its latest client app, logistics software and growing international partner network that’s helping fast-growing independent online retailers to cost-effectively outsource their fulfilment services, meet customer demand and scale their businesses around the world.

The fulfilmentcrowd app has been specifically developed and optimised to use a combination of push notifications and user interface (UI) design, that allows customers to access the information they need anytime, anywhere, on any device. By proactively monitoring stock inventory for its customers, any issues can be addressed and resolved quickly, saving time for retailers, freeing up resource and delivering a positive customer experience that builds loyalty with shoppers.

fulfilmentcrowd’s in-house team of developers has designed and built the latest app, based on real time customer feedback, which is unique in its ability to streamline 3PL services for retailers selling in domestic markets as well as exporting across the EU and US. The business provides on-hand technical support to assist seamless integration with customer systems and drive continuous innovation for retailers to make informed, customer-centric decisions based on consumer data.

Kevin Plantier, fulfilmentcrowd’s business development manager for France, based in Paris, will be in attendance during the show. Commenting on fulfilmentcrowd’s proposition for the French market, he said: “Outsourcing fulfilment needs to be quick for fast-scaling e-commerce retailers. Having worked in the distribution market for over 10 years, I know there’s nothing else like the fulfilmentcrowd app – it appeals to retailers who are looking for ways to enhance efficiencies and rapidly scale their businesses. Everything from transparent pricing and instantly available quotes, through to client on-boarding and the fulfilmentcrowd app, have been designed to make life easier for eCommerce retailers in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to meet new customers and potential partners at Paris Retail Week to show them our forward-thinking approach to outsourcing fulfilment services and recent success stories, as well as guiding them through the business’ expansion plans across Europe and the US.”

fulfilmentcrowd has more than 30 years’ experience in providing third party logistics services and currently services over 450 eCommerce retailers around the world. The business opened its first fulfilment centre in France in Lieusaint in December 2021 to support growing exports and international shipping from its UK customers, as well as attracting fast-growth eCommerce retailers, including Women’s Best and Serelys Pharma.

The 8th edition of Paris Retail Week, the meeting for all the retailing ecosystem, will be held from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 September 2022 in the Pavilion 4 of the Paris Porte de Versailles exhibition centre.

 

 

TOUGHBOOK N1 gets powerful refresh

Posted on by David Priestman

Panasonic has launched an updated version of its premium rugged handheld device with integrated angled barcode reader for mobile workers. The new TOUGHBOOK N1 handheld, a favourite with postal services and last mile logistics companies, comes with more memory, Android operating system and Panasonic’s long-term Android support.

The latest generation device (Mark 3) is more flexible, future-proofed and more powerful than ever. It is equipped with Qualcomm Octa Core processor with an increased 4GB memory and 64GB of Flash storage – double the size of the previous generation. Running the Android 11 operating system[1], offering enhanced user and management functionality, the TOUGHBOOK N1 handheld also benefits from COMPASS, the portfolio of tools and services making it easy to configure, deploy, manage and secure Panasonic Android devices.

The 550cd/sq m display provides superb screen visibility for mobile workers. The 4.7” HD capacitive multi-touch daylight readable display is designed for use in bright sunlight or in the rain and when wearing gloves. The device can also be used with an optional Stylus Pen, for more accurate signature recording and recognition capabilities.

Tough as ever

The fully rugged device is as tough as ever, tested to MIL-STD-810G² and has passed a drop height of 2.1m. For users working in extreme temperatures, the operational temperature range of the device is -20° to +50°C.

The latest generation device remains compatible with the existing wide range of support accessories, including a hand strap, cradle, holster, extended battery and charging cradle stand. The Panasonic Toughbook N1 handheld also has its own vehicle docking solution, designed in-house by the Panasonic Global Docking Solutions team. The dock has been ergonomically designed using composite materials for the perfect combination of light weight and durability and allows for single-handed docking and release.

Management and Security

For ease of management and administrative peace of mind, the TOUGHBOOK N1 handheld is Android Enterprise-ready and comes bundled with the Panasonic COMPASS suite of Enterprise Management tools. The Complete Android Services and Security package offers everything a business needs to configure, deploy and manage its Panasonic rugged Android devices securely. Long Term support for this latest version of the TOUGHBOOK N1 will provide security patches until 2027.

 

Consumers dissatisfied with sustainability of retail delivery

Posted on by David Priestman

Descartes Systems Group, a global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, has released findings from its survey ‘Retailers: Sustainability is Not a Challenge, It’s an Opportunity’, which examined consumer sentiment of retailers’ sustainability practices around their delivery operations. The survey found that only 38% of consumers felt retailers were doing a good job of using sustainable delivery practices. Over 50%, however, indicated they were quite/very interested in environmentally friendly delivery methods, and 54% would be willing to accept longer lead times for an environmentally friendly delivery.

The study of over 8,000 consumers across nine European countries, Canada and the United States provides retailers and logistics organisations with critical insights into the importance of sustainability in consumer purchase and delivery decisions and how perspectives vary by age and geography.

“The mistake that many retailers are making is viewing home delivery sustainability as yet another challenge from the consumer instead of an opportunity to capture market share, reduce delivery costs and help the environment,” said Chris Jones, EVP, Industry and Services at Descartes. “The study shows that many consumers prefer to buy more from those retailers with superior sustainable delivery practices and to take eco-friendly delivery options that reduce environmental impact and delivery costs at the same time.”

The study analyses consumer sentiment around the sustainability of retailers’ delivery operations, how this is impacting purchasing decisions, how consumers evaluate retailer delivery sustainability efforts, which goods are most impacted by sustainable delivery performance and how consumers want to receive goods. In addition, it delves into the changes in purchasing and delivery decisions that consumers are willing to make to help the environment. Lastly, it provides insight into how the importance of sustainable delivery varies by geodemographic factors, the influence of geodemographics on buyer behaviour, the delivery decisions consumers are making, and consumer expectations of retailers’ sustainable delivery efforts for the future.

To learn more, CLICK HERE to read the report ‘Retailers: Sustainability is Not a Challenge, It’s an Opportunity’.

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Sustainability in Retail Transportation Management

 

 

 

Last-mile Logistics Estates in Greater London acquired

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Prologis, a leading owner and developer of UK logistics real estate, has further strengthened its portfolio in London and the South East, with the acquisition of two prime urban logistics estates in Park Royal and Watford (pictured) . This transaction continues the company’s strategic focus on Greater London, following recent acquisitions in Croydon and Erith in July.

Comprising more than 360,000 sq. ft. of prime last-mile logistics space, on a total of 17 acres, both estates offer a range of Grade A units and are 100% leased to customers operating in diverse industry sectors including distribution, construction, pharmaceutical and film and television.

Located in two densely populated urban markets, Prologis Central Park (Park Royal) and Prologis Imperial Park (Watford) are strong additions to the UK portfolio, with both benefiting from excellent connectivity to London and beyond. Situated at the heart of Park Royal, the capital’s premier industrial and logistics estate, Central Park was built in 2014 to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ specification. Imperial Park was built in phases from 2000 and is well located less than 5 minutes from Junction 5, M1 in Watford, north west London’s principal commercial district.

The purchase of both assets complements Prologis UK’s existing portfolio – expanding holdings at Park Royal and, in the case of Watford, increasing the company’s presence along the southern M1-London corridor. The Watford site in particular adds to a number of successful projects in Hemel Hempstead.

Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK: “The purchase of these prime urban logistics estates illustrates our confidence in and appetite to grow our last mile offering servicing London and the South East. We look forward to working with new customers across the two parks, all of whom are welcome additions to our business.”

The assets were acquired from Schroders Capital who were advised by Gerald Eve.

Delivery drivers at heart of heatwave

Posted on by David Priestman

This year, the UK has become subject to heatwaves of record-breaking temperatures, widely attributed to climate change, writes Andrew Tavener, Head of Marketing, Descartes. Over the next week, parts of the UK are expected to hit highs of 30°C once again, encouraging many of the general public to stay indoors, work from home and choose their days out in moderation.

However, for some there is no choice but to endure the heat, despite official warnings. The last few weeks have not been kind to last-mile logistics, with some reports of negligence amongst retailers and their lack of air conditioning in vehicles, down to reasons seemingly as illegitimate as weight issues. During last month’s heatwave, one last mile delivery driver actually collapsed after enduring unbearable conditions.

Heatwaves in the UK are here to stay, so it’s time we looked at how we can adapt fleet management practices, and take better care of our drivers.

A duty of care

Despite a reluctance to implement solutions such as air conditioning in home delivery vans, retailers still have a duty of care when it comes to their workers. From an HR and legal perspective, this becomes even more concerning when there’s a driver shortage.

If they think they’re being driven hard in extreme conditions, workers may be forced to leave their current company and seek employment elsewhere. These businesses therefore should look to retain their employees in any way possible and prevent them from adding detriment to their health when it could be easily avoided.

On top of this, vehicles are more susceptible to issues in extreme weather; drivers have been warned of fires or exploding tyres, so vehicle safety checks need to be up to scratch. This includes checking the vehicle fluids and ensuring they are getting service checks regularly or if the driver suspects that something is wrong.

Embracing the night shift

Even during the peak of summer in the UK, most delivery drivers are expected to work during daylight hours – just as they would during any other month of the year. By comparison, in Spain it’s common for people to work after 4pm because of the temperatures. Perhaps one fleet management solution could be a complete reshuffle of what’s expected in the UK when we’re encroaching on a heatwave; if delivery drivers were enabled to work during the cooler hours of the day and into the evening, the domino-effect would include an easier, cooler environment alongside less congested roads and improved environmental impact.

Since the pandemic, working habits have changed substantially, with many people still working from home or having access to flexible timetables or working hours. On the road, we live in an increasingly congested environment, where the working days could do with a complete overhaul. Not only does this make things easier for delivery drivers, but for each and everybody on the road. Less traffic means less pollution and accidents; and happier workers.

The intervention of innovations in crisis

Some retailers are still behind when it comes to extreme temperatures. If air conditioning isn’t a viable solution in a delivery van then perhaps there are other ways to reduce the struggle for delivery drivers working in these recent hot temperatures.

Alongside factoring in the setbacks caused by such heat, including less productivity and the risks to health, these major players in retail need to be able to understand such complexities before they know how to address them. For example, self-scheduling technologies have been used to improve parts of the process like route density and delivery productivity.

With access to more transport intelligence such as inventory, information, and assets that enable driver efficiency, companies will be able to respond to rapidly changing environmental factors as well as changing market and regulatory conditions, in turn adequately supporting their employees and better serve customers.

Last-mile delivery firms boost retention with technology

Posted on by David Priestman

The UK last-mile delivery market is integral to fulfilling consumer demand and getting vital products to the doorstep of consumers. However, as soaring costs continue to affect business owners, finding innovative ways to retain their best self-employed talent have become even more important.

Self-employed delivery drivers are the lifeblood of these businesses, heading out on daily routes for a variety of carriers and making sure that parcels get to their intended destination.

In recent years, the churn and turnover rates of these subcontractors between different delivery firms has been a constant headache for business owners, who have constantly needed to recruit and onboard new drivers to meet demand. Now, many of these firms are looking to address this turnover rate by using cutting-edge workforce management technology to improve the self-employment experience that they can offer.

Wise is a technology firm that specialises in helping last-mile delivery firms to manage their self-employed workforce, with an integrated platform helping over 250 UK businesses save time, money and stress.

James Orton, Chief Technology Officer at Wise, said: “We know that key areas of engaging subcontractors such as recruitment, onboarding, documentation and payments have always caused headaches for both delivery firms and their drivers. By bringing all of these processes into one simple, digital platform we’ve been able to vastly improve the experience that our clients are able to offer their subcontractors, helping them to improve their retention in the long term.”

As the industry moves towards winter and its busiest time of the year, the competitiveness around recruiting self-employed drivers is only set to intensify as this comes at a time when the UK has seen a 2% decrease in the total number of self-employed individuals.

 

Panasonic Smartlockers adopted in Europe

Posted on by David Priestman

With online food delivery revenues predicted to reach €43bn/£37bn in the European Union this year, chilled and frozen automated Panasonic Smartlockers – ideal for keeping food – look set to become a much more familiar site in European towns and cities.

Evidence can be found in the success of Panasonic chilled and frozen automated Smartlockers at Australian retail outlets, where food orders are stored safely in outside Smartlockers for collection even at the height of summer, when temperatures can reach up to 50°C.

The use of Smartlockers in the Southern Hemisphere has also improved choice for consumers and boosted margins for businesses. With online orders continuing to grow pre and post pandemic, Australian supermarket retailers have deployed Panasonic Smartlockers outside their stores and petrol stations for customer order collections, improving customer convenience and reducing the number of home deliveries the stores must make.

One popular supermarket chain recognised that customers preferred the speed and convenience of collecting their purchases from lockers rather than instore. After switching the grocery delivery to Panasonic Smartlockers, online orders for collection each week increased four-fold. Following a successful six-month pilot project, the retailer has increased its order for indoor and outdoor Smartlockers by 500% and they are currently being rolled out nationwide.

New generation Smartlocker

Panasonic Smartlocker is a modular designed system, offering a range of four different temperature lockers – ambient, chilled, freezer and heated. With the long, hot Australian summers, the chiller and freezer options were the ideal choice for the retailers. The indoor and outdoor versions are available in 6, 8, 10 or 12 door units managed by an inbuilt system using a central control screen. The system can be used standalone or connected to ecommerce and order management systems via the cloud.

For the users it means a fast, secure and contactless delivery solution, allowing goods to be collected and returned easily, efficiently and flexibly. With 24/7 access, the Panasonic Smartlocker allows customers to collect items at a time and location that suits them. Using Panasonic Vacuumed Insulated Panel (VIP) technology, which maintains the ideal temperature in the locker using less energy and CO2 emissions, customers can also be certain that foods will be kept safely in a temperature-controlled area.

For the operator, the Smartlockers save time, resources and operational expense. It means orders can be quickly loaded for collection without taking up valuable storage space in the stores. With monitoring capabilities and data encryption, operators can verify access to lockers, including pick-up and drop-off times. In addition, home delivery requirements are reduced, decreasing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

The ability to track and analyse usage data from the Smartlockers has enabled the business to optimise staffing and usage based on customer behaviour. One retailer reported that on average, customer orders are ready to collect within 90 minutes. The goods remain in the lockers for 70 minutes before collection and customers take just 2 minutes to collect their goods and leave. They are also able to track important data, such as the size of orders, peak times for collection and then plan for effective staff resourcing.

Yasuhiro Oda, General Manager, at Panasonic Connect, said: “The Smartlockers are a game-changer for these supermarkets. They offer a convenient, cost effective and more eco-friendly solution to the online shopping boom. Retailers tell us that the temperature controlled capabilities of the Panasonic Smartlockers and their reliability make them stand out in the market.”

In addition, with restaurant to consumer deliveries already the largest market segment of online food deliveries in the EU, uses for the Panasonic Smartlockers look set to continue to expand. The heated Smartlockers are ideal for takeaway storage collection and with the growth of daily meal ingredient delivery services, chilled local community Smartlockers are perfect for collecting evening meal ingredients on the way home from work.

 

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