Large savings for Macfarlane thanks to Paragon 23 November 2011

Macfarlane Packaging says it has made six-figure savings since installing an integrated transport optimisation and vehicle tracking solution from Paragon.

According to John Redman, logistics development manager with Macfarlane, the software has helped the packaging distributor to maximise vehicle capacity and improve the efficiency of deliveries.

And he adds that these achievements are against a backdrop of reducing the size of its fleet by 10%, with the software continuing to provide savings through optimised delivery routes and schedules.

"We made early savings in operational costs with Paragon [because] the software allowed us to identify that we had spare capacity within the fleet and reduce the number of vehicles," explains Redman.

"It makes our deliveries to customers more efficient and enables us to run fuel-efficient routes and schedules that maximise our service and vehicle capacities," he explains.

Each depot now uses Paragon for daily planning to allow for changing customer demands. The software has been integrated with Macfarlane's Cybit Fleetstar vehicle tracking system, using Paragon Fleet Controller software, which gives a real-time view of delivery activity against the plan.

"The system gives us visibility. We can highlight the size of orders, the different delivery areas and even pull orders forward to ensure we have maximum loading for each vehicle," continues Redman.

"This is an important factor when we are making an average of 800 deliveries a day across the UK. The live feed from the vehicle tracking system allows us to see actual activity against the plan and update the scheduled route timings."

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Paragon Software Systems plc

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