Automating Route Planning and Delivery Scheduling: A Case Study of Neill’s Home Store
Applicable Industries
- Retail
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Last Mile Delivery
- Vehicle Telematics
Services
- System Integration
- Training
About The Customer
Neill’s Home Store is a family-owned retail furniture store based in Branson, Missouri. The company serves homeowners in the area with exceptional furniture delivery services. In addition to selling furniture, the company also handles some repair services. The company was facing significant challenges in its delivery operations, including inefficient route planning, difficulty in managing multiple orders, and issues with resource allocation. The traditional process of using manual paperwork and big office boards to manage order dispatch and delivery processes was proving to be ineffective and time-consuming.
The Challenge
Neill’s Home Store, a family-owned retail furniture store in Branson, Missouri, was facing significant challenges in its delivery operations. The process from route planning to furniture delivery was time-consuming and inefficient, with the company relying heavily on manual paperwork. The task of delivering furniture to lake home residents was particularly challenging, especially when there were multiple orders. Manually scheduling routes for each delivery was a cumbersome process that not only reduced delivery efficiency but also increased the workload of their employees. The company also relied on big office boards to manage order dispatch and delivery processes, which proved to be ineffective. Misplacement of papers was a common issue, leading to lost hours managing delivery records. The adoption of a file folder system brought about scalability and accessibility challenges. The company also handled repair services, adding another layer of complexity to their task distribution. Efficient resource allocation was a constant struggle, hampering their ability to optimize delivery routes effectively.
The Solution
To overcome these challenges, Neill’s Home Store turned to Upper, a route optimization software. The software automated the route planning and optimization process, saving the company significant time and effort. The delivery team found it easier to accommodate extra deliveries as they had a clear picture of the ongoing process. The software also helped with advanced route scheduling for furniture deliveries, allowing the company to schedule routes for delivery orders weeks or months in advance. This process enabled the delivery team to complete route scheduling for months in minimum hours instead of finding routes daily. Upper also provided a digital checklist that allowed dispatchers to see whether the driver had completed the delivery or not. The software's dedicated driver app streamlined the delivery process, making it easier to track drivers and breakdown successful deliveries.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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