Yodel invests £4m on fleet optimisation solution

UK carrier Yodel has invested £4m on an integrated control tower solution in a bid to optimise and manage its fleet of more than 600 LGVs and 1,500 trailers. The company worked with Isotrak to create the system, with the aim of developing a single point within the business to manage all transport planning, execution management and interface with sort centres, service centres and clients.

Yodel said the need for a new solution arose after the company acquired DHL’s UK domestic arm last year, which doubled the size of the business and fleet and in turn the complexity of the operation.

Isotrak worked as the prime contractor on project, incorporating several elements to create an end to end solution from order management to performance reporting using its own application and those from DPS International, Enterprise Software Systems (ESS) and C3.

The ESS order management system and data warehouse provides a central database of information on every customer, vehicle, driver and transport movement required to fulfil the order. This is then fed into DPS operational planning which optimises each route and calculates fleet deployment efficiencies and overall strategic network design.

Drivers and tractors are then allocated to each load within the ESS application and the plan is then sent to the vehicle operating centre. From there Isotrak’s execution and engine management system monitors the tractor unit and generates a report on each vehicle, providing real time ETAs and allowing for efficient evaluation of each driver’s performance so that training needs can be identified.

Once at its destination the C3 Solutions yard management system, Yardsmart, identifying where each trailer is from, what load it is carrying and any necessary prioritisation and shunt activity. All of the data from the combined programmes is then stored centrally, allowing for coordinated reporting, the generation of key performance indicators and the easy identification of areas for improvement.

A number of Yodel’s clients, including many household name retailers, also currently work with elements of the suite and are dovetailing their systems with the delivery company’s.  By integrating the systems those clients will be able to have real time ETAs for collection and delivery vehicles as well as visibility of their products from the point of despatch.

Jamie Stephenson, managing director of Yodel Transport & Sort, said: “The introduction of the Control Tower ensures that we continue to lead the parcel delivery market, guaranteeing greater efficiencies and fleet optimisation.

“We have worked with our suppliers to create a complete IT solution covering each parcel’s logistical journey from client order to depot delivery.

“For our clients that means faster turnaround times, greater performance transparency and more accurate operational information.”