Optrak launches new version of vehicle routing and scheduling software

Sept. 14, 2010 - PRLog -- •   New features provide greater visibility, insight and control over fleet operations

Birmingham, England, 14th September: Optrak Distribution Software Ltd (http://www.optrak.co.uk) today announced that the availability of the latest version of its vehicle routing and scheduling software.  The new features allow companies to plan more efficient routes taking into account the balance between meeting customer service commitments and managing customer and account profitability.  Optrak also urged companies that have not yet adopted a routing system to consider making it a top investment priority in the next 12 months or risk incurring unnecessary costs.

Tim Pigden, Managing Director of Optrak stated, “Routing systems have been around since the 1980’s but there are still many companies relying on time consuming manual planning to build their vehicle routes.  As a result they face higher costs and are missing out on many opportunities to increase transport efficiency.  The new features in Optrak make it easier to gain greater insight into fleet operations, e.g. to see the profitability associated with each customer or order.  Armed with this information more effective management decisions can be made with a view to reducing costs and increasing overall profitability.”

Optrak’s vehicle routing software (http://www.optrak.co.uk/applications/vehiclerouting.html)has been proven to help cut transport costs, improve customer service levels and increase efficiency. The latest version contains several new features that enable companies to gain a greater degree of visibility over the costs involved in carrying out each delivery or collection.  For example, the value of each order can be compared to the marginal cost of delivery which allows identification of orders that are either not profitable or marginally profitable.  It is then easy to allocate these to be sent more cost effectively by a third party carrier.

The waste industry is a classic example of how deploying a modern routing and scheduling system can benefit companies with complex transport requirements.  With such challenges as planning multiple waste streams, dealing with compartmented tankers, high density of visit location and variable tipping rules, it can be a near impossible task for a transport planner to manually create efficient routes. The latest version of Optrak’s routing software allows waste companies to quickly analyse the value of picking up a bin compared to the profit for that customer for example.

Optrak is used in a variety of industries for daily scheduling (http://www.optrak.co.uk/applications/operationalplanning....), to review fixed routes or milk runs and as a strategic planning tool for designing efficient transport operations, e.g. to support business development proposals where a detailed and accurate understanding of the potential costs is essential.  Proven benefits from using Optrak include:

•   Lower transport costs
•   Increased resource utilisation
•   Reduced impact on the environment and minimised carbon emissions
•   Greater operational efficiency

Pigden concluded, “Every industry survey shows that the adoption of vehicle routing software is still relatively low despite the significant potential benefits they can deliver.  We have seen our clients in the waste industry save substantial six figure sums and in other industries achieve up to £800 per day savings from medium sized transport fleets.  Companies that are planning manually are typically spending far more than necessary on fuel and driver costs and I would encourage them to start looking at routing systems as a way of streamlining their operations during the difficult business climate that we currently face.”

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Optrak Distribution Software Limited has been supplying award winning vehicle routeing solutions for over 21 years. Optrak has a wealth of experience in creating flexible solutions to real business problems faced by companies operating transport and distribution fleets.

Deployment of Optrak typically leads to a reduction of between 5% and 15% of transport costs. Administration is streamlined. Mileage and fuel consumption are minimised. Transport utilisation is increased. Management information and control is increased.

Optrak has been chosen by many of the leading companies in Europe. Clients include Fuchs Lubricants, Menzies Distribution, Delivery Co, Total, 3663 and Matthew Clark Wholesale.