Australia is in a unique transportation and logistics situation. It is a fairly developed country, but also not quite fully urbanised. It has a host of cross-country transport routes, but there is room for improvement.
The rise of route optimisation and other efficient logistics computing software presents a novel opportunity for the country’s development.
With the help of things like route optimisation, it can see some improvements.
Routing software can help to lower fuel costs, improve delivery routes, improve customer satisfaction, lower operational costs, and generally help fleet managers see the ‘bigger picture’ of their entire delivery fleet.
New technologies offer glimpses into what the future of the country might hold. It’s worth keeping up to date with them in order to make more informed decisions about our future.
This blog explored the potential futures of route optimisation in Australia so that people can better understand its power in shaping our world.
What is Route Optimisation?
Route optimisation involves finding the shortest and most effective route for the transportation of goods and services.
Modern interpretations have included both cost effectiveness and environmentally friendly alternatives.
For courier companies like Zoom2u, route optimisation helps our customers receive their order in a timely and cost effective manner that does not cause unnecessary environmental damage.
Google maps uses route optimisation to provide users with real time traffic information, optimal route suggestions, and provides real time traffic data. It’s more than just a GPS tracking app!
An explanation of Route Optimization can be found here.
How Delivery Businesses Use Route Optimisation
Delivery businesses and courier services use route optimisation to enhance customer satisfaction. A benefit is that this is done by making the entire process cheaper and more carbon conscious.
Route optimisation software is integrated into the delivery drivers routing app. They can follow this when delivering parcels and packages.
Live tracking is a staple of the modern courier industry. This allows customers to track their package as it moves towards the delivery location.
Route optimization features are ingrained in these apps.
How did Route Optimisation Develop?
Route optimisation software developed out of a need for more efficient and effective delivery methods.
Like most industries, the courier industry is always looking to improve customer satisfaction. Route optimization is just one way to do this.
The advent of machine learning and artificial intelligence has seen a revolution across major logistics and courier service industries. It’s allowed for concepts like route optimisation to become even more effective.
AI and ML software can think in ways that humans cannot. This means that companies utilise them in their daily operations.
In route optimisation, artificial intelligence can improve delivery times and help to reduce total fuel consumption.
How to Optimise a Delivery Route
Efficient routes ensure that the entire fleet of drivers are arriving on time and are taking the shortest path to the customers doors.
They ensure fuel efficiency and customer satisfaction, so its essential that companies look to optimise their delivery routes.
The optimisation process takes many different factors into consideration.
- Route Planning: Routing software, for instance, helps with route planning and finding the most optimal route for a driver to take.
- Improved Technology: Artificial intelligence has the ability to predict unexpected events, travel times, and is becoming the most efficient way to improve daily operations.
- Data analysts: Delivery businesses can find more optimised routes through route planner statistics. These look at real time data to plan effective routes.
- Improved Delivery Fleet: Optimising software looks at a courier services fleet and provides suggestions to lower things like maintenance and fuel costs
These are just the common ways courier services optimise their routes. The rise of technology and the world’s ever increasing push towards green solutions will add many more.
Route Scheduling vs Route Optimisation
Route scheduling and route optimisation are two similar tools that accomplish the same basic goal of finding the most efficient way to deliver goods and services.
They both involve planning routes through software designed to find the best route for drivers and other members of the delivery fleet.
The Benefits of Efficient Route Planning
The benefits of efficient route planning through optimisation software align with ethical business practices.
They can be split into two general categories: Environmental Benefits and Economic Benefits.
We can explore these further.
The Environmental Benefits of Route Planning
The environmental benefits of route planning seek to lessen the amount of greenhouse gas emission that causes climate change and other adverse environmental damage.
Route optimisation and planning helps to promote greener solutions through efficient and effective logistics management systems.
Reduce Emissions
Companies across Australia should seek to reduce the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions. One way that they can do this is through route optimisation.
Optimised routes minimise fuel consumption by finding the shortest and most efficient route for transit.
They can also be installed in cars so that fuel is not used unnecessarily.
Additionally, faster routes means that fewer transit cars are on the road during peak traffic hours. It’s through these incremental benefits that emissions are reduced.
Last Mile Delivery
Last mile delivery solutions are often where the biggest environmental effects are felt. Many customers live in urban centres that are already overloaded with other cars.
Last mile delivery solutions understand this and try to reduce this burden. They can use other modes of transport like bicycles or green city infrastructure like trams.
The Economic Benefits of Route Planning
The economic benefits of route planning seek to find cost saving solutions to common logistics problems.
Doing so helps to reduce the total expenditure costs.
Additionally, a more productive workforce is usually one that cuts costs. Route optimisation can help to lower costs by auditing the systems and making them more productive.
Cost saving measures
Optimising a route can help to cut unnecessary costs through minimising travel distances and looking at more effective modes of transport.
Large trucks, for instance, are great for transporting a variety of goods across Australia. But it’s far more effective to use a fleet of smaller cars whose focus is on a small amount of goods when travelling through the city.
Route optimisation can also track your inventory and warn of potential wear and tear as they go about their daily operations.
Boosting productivity
Boosting productivity goes hand-in-hand with economic saving. Through optimising your travel routes, customers can get their parcels delivered quicker. This will incentivize them to use your company again in the future.
But there’s more. It also helps to develop an entire culture in your company of efficiency. This means that you’ll be getting more value from each employee. The long-run cost savings of this are difficult to collate, but they will be felt.
