Optrak Distribution Software Limited today announced that PDM has turned to Optrak for vehicle routing software and a tracking & ticketing system. The project has delivered a six figure cost saving, and enabled PDM to raise customer service levels whilst dramatically reducing paperwork.
PDM used Optrak to analyse its customer base and to design a new set of fixed routes. Michael Pallant, Group Transport Manager, PDM explains, “We wanted to work with a single company that could integrate vehicle routing with tracking and handheld technology for signature capture, and that really understood the waste industry. Optrak’s sophisticated and flexible vehicle routing software combined with its capabilities for tracking and reporting, along with handheld devices from its partner Wire3, rose to every challenge. We saw the impact from day one, by operating more efficiently and minimising the number of vehicles that we use, Optrak has delivered significant savings in excess of £100,000.”
Pallant sums up the ongoing benefits from using Optrak into 3 key areas:
Cost savings: by running a more efficient operation, PDM have minimised the fleet size, and moved to a more effective fleet mix. It has provided a solid foundation to support our future business growth without having to invest in expanding the fleet. The use of smaller vehicles has also enabled us to minimise on-going running costs and our CO2 emissions.
Business agility: PDM can rapidly analyse the impact of new customers and more easily accommodate them into existing routes. Although the business has grown significantly, Optrak has helped us to develop more agility and flexibility in our collection service. Additionally we have greater visibility over the effect that changing the routes has on our cost base.
Elimination of paperwork: Real-time automation of the signature capture and ticket printing process has ensured that we no longer spend time producing manual paperwork either when a delivery is made or back at the depot. As all documents are stored electronically, it is easy for the customer service centre to answer client queries.
Pallant is enthusiastic about Optrak’s routing software and Optrak Realisation, a powerful add-on to the Optrak’s routing software, that incorporates real-time tracking, reporting, telematics and business intelligence, concluding, “The integrated routing software and real-time signature capture from Optrak has never let us down. It gives us full traceability of our collections whilst delivering real savings, improved efficiency and reduced impact on the environment. It has been a very worthwhile project and I would definitely recommend Optrak to other companies in the waste industry or those carrying out complex collections.”
Tim Pigden, Managing Director, Optrak Distribution Software Ltd said, “PDM is a leader in the field of waste management. By investing in technology to support its collection operations, it has been able to reduce its cost base whilst improving customer service. Using Optrak to manage delivery tracking has given many benefits to the company alongside those they have achieved on the routing side.”