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Route Optimisation & Modelling

In an ever changing world, your transport network needs to be adaptable to increasing variability and volatility in the marketplace. We’ll help you create an agile transport network to optimise your fleet, better utilise your vehicles and realise every bit of value, whilst being adaptable to any changes and challenges that occur.

About our service

Transport planning & continuous route optimisation

Our route optimisation and modelling services will enhance your logistics efficiency by using advanced modelling software and data analysis to streamline route planning. We’ll identify the most efficient routes, reduce travel time and fuel consumption, and optimise resource allocation. 

This will lead to significant cost savings, improved delivery reliability, and reduced environmental impact, ensuring your operations are both effective and sustainable.

Enhance your logistics with dynamic route modelling

Dynamic route modelling uses real-time data and advanced algorithms to optimise transportation routes continuously. It adapts to changing conditions such as traffic, weather, and delivery windows, ensuring the most efficient paths are taken. 

This approach will enhance your logistics operations by reducing travel time and fuel consumption, leading to significant cost savings. It will improve delivery reliability and customer satisfaction by ensuring timely arrivals. It also enables dynamic messaging and delivery updates in real time for customers.  By integrating dynamic route modelling, your business can maximise resource utilisation, decrease operational costs, and maintain a flexible and responsive logistics network. 

By working with you, we’ll ensure that your transport services are both efficient and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Process & considerations

The Hatmill approach to route optimisation & modelling

Our route optimisation and modelling services are tailored to meet your unique business requirements. With a comprehensive, detailed approach, we’ll help you maximise your transport network by optimising delivery routes for your drivers. Here’s how we’ll do it:

Data collection

We’ll begin with a discovery phase, gathering comprehensive data on current routes, vehicle performance, traffic patterns, and delivery schedules. This step provides a detailed understanding of your existing transport network.

Analysis & mapping

We’ll analyse the collected data using advanced software to map out current routes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.

Algorithm application

We’ll then apply optimisation algorithms to the mapped data to generate more efficient routes. These algorithms consider variables such as distance, time, vehicle restrictions, and delivery windows.

Scenario modelling

We’ll also create different operational scenarios and models to evaluate potential improvements. This helps in selecting the most effective routes under varying conditions.

Implementation

The optimised routes will be implemented within your transport network. This involves updating systems, training drivers, and communicating changes to all relevant stakeholders.

Monitoring & adjustment

We’ll continuously monitor the performance of the new routes using real-time data and make adjustments as necessary to maintain optimal efficiency and adapt to any changes in conditions.

“It is always useful to have an expert independent view on best practice. Hatmill has developed a great understanding of our business, and we continue to work towards implementing many of their suggestions.”

– Jo Richardson, Finance Director, Hugh Rice Group

Reducing end-to-end transport costs

We’ll review your fleet to assess and benchmark your performance and costs against industry best practice for vehicle fill, backhaul, empty running and driver hours. We’ll identify opportunities for cost savings and revenue generation.

Dynamic route modelling

We can bring a different perspective and help you build agility and flexibility into your route planning. We’ll work with you to develop a responsive fleet plan that can adjust for change, whether that’s new customers, routes, seasonal demands, periodic peak demand or even last-minute changes such as new orders or cancellations.

FAQs

What should you know?

  • Businesses that manage distribution across multiple store locations, or courier services that organise customer deliveries on a daily basis, should consider logistics route optimisation to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. 

    Optimised routes minimise fuel consumption, which lowers transportation costs and reduces carbon emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability. Route optimisation also helps incorporate better resource management, allowing businesses to make more deliveries with the same fleet. It can reduce wear and tear on vehicles, leading to lower maintenance costs, and improve driver behaviour by reducing driving time and workload.

  • The route optimisation strategy we propose for your business will depend on several factors, however the most popular strategies we suggest include: 

    • Static routing: This involves periodically planning delivery routes based on geographical areas. It is a commonly used method in logistics for fleets that predominantly deliver to the same location. Its key component is consistency. This strategy is a good foundation for fleets with constant delivery locations.
    • Dynamic routing: This involves planning delivery routes daily, using real time order data that drops into the TMS (Transport Management System), usually by ERP upload from a WMS (Warehouse Management System) . This allows the transport team  to make changes until the delivery vehicle is loaded. Unlike static routing, it is not limited to predetermined routes. Used in the right setting, it can increase customer satisfaction, expedite delivery times, and improve equipment utilisation.
    • Real-time dynamic routing: This is an advanced form of dynamic routing that can adapt to sudden changes. As an example, this can include changing which vehicle collects a specific pick up, when the vehicles are already on the road completing their routes.. It helps to reduce execution time and expedite collection and delivery. This strategy uses the most advanced dynamic routing software which includes artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to optimise routes.
    • Load balancing: This strategy evenly distributes deliveries among available vehicles. It ensures that no single vehicle is overloaded while others are underutilised. Load balancing improves overall efficiency, reduces wear and tear on vehicles, and maximises the use of available resources.

  • Implementing a new route planning model typically takes between 2 to 3 months, depending on factors such as the complexity of existing operations, the size of the fleet, and the extent of integration with existing systems. Initial phases involve data collection, analysis, and software selection. Pilot testing and adjustments follow, ensuring compatibility and efficiency. Full deployment includes training for personnel and ongoing optimisation to refine routes and maximise business benefits.

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