Productivity Picks Up for Transport Company
by Use of Tracking and
Resource Management Software
Agilis Systems provides heavy commodity transportation and distribution companies with a time-efficient, cost-saving MRM solution.
“The ability to have the total solution in one package is great. I don’t need three different devices to run three different software programs and then receive three different bills. Agilis covers everything all in one! We love the flexibility and simplicity of the software.”
- Executive VP, Transportation Company
Challenge
A transportation and distribution company that services the metal commodity industry was searching for an MRM solution. They focus on modal to modal transportation, picking up shipments from vessels & railcars and then delivering them to the surrounding area. Prior to teaming up with Agilis, the company communicated and recorded pick-ups & deliveries via their mobile phones and paper forms filled out in the field. Proof of Delivery forms were time consuming to fill out and re-enter into the back office systems. This did not provide their customers the timely & visible POD needed. The inefficient work order dispatch, delayed field updates, and excess paperwork in the field held up invoicing as much as a week from the time of delivery. Paperwork that was filled out in the field took days or weeks to be hand entered into their back office system. They also had no way to track their employees’ location or length of stops. Prior to engaging with Agilis Systems, they considered two other Mobile Resource Management applications that did not fit their needs.
Solution
The company now deploys Agilis’ SmartDISPATCH™ solution with SmartFORMS™ to display pickup and delivery work orders to their drivers. The software also allows them to transmit work order status updates along with proof of delivery (POD) signatures on their Palm Treo mobile phones. The information is integrated with their back office system enabling the company to invoice their customers within minutes of delivery including verified proof of delivery signatures, thus eliminating the need for paperwork in the field. They also deployed SmartLOCATE™ to GPS track their employees and length of stops.
Results
The company has seen improvement in both dispatcher and driver productivity since deploying the Agilis software. Invoicing cycles have been reduced from a week to less than 24 hours. They can now provide their customers with a visible signature proof of delivery with every work order within minutes of delivery. They have decreased their time in obtaining data from the field into the office. They have also reduced operational costs in the office and have increased productivity in the field by reducing the time spent filling out paperwork. They now have visibility of driver locations and length of each stop allowing management to focus on targeted employee improvement.
