Tuesday, September 01, 2020 – Savings of up to 9 percent expected – ixOptimizer delivers better results than experienced dispatchers in “Dispatch Challenge” – Growth possible without new hires
The transport company SiloNet Logistik, based in Beckum and specializing in granular construction materials and raw materials, has largely automated the dispatch of around 60 silo vehicles using the opheo transport control system with the ixOptimizer module. With this changeover, the rapidly expanding logistics service provider aims to significantly relieve its three dispatchers, accelerate processes, and reduce empty kilometers and CO2 emissions by up to 6 percent.
“Thanks to the ixOptimizer introduced in February 2020, we can implement our growth strategy without further increasing the number of dispatchers,” explains SiloNet Managing Director Marco Reemer, whose team has also been managing the 50 concrete mixer trucks of the subsidiary BetonNet GmbH since 2019. SiloNet has been working with the opheo transport control and telematics system since February 2019. Dispatch and route planning have “become very easy with opheo,” says Christoph von Glinski, who works as a dispatcher for SiloNet. This is also due to “the overview of the current driving and rest times as well as the position data of all vehicles.”
Through opheo, the drivers were also integrated into the digitization process. For this purpose, the opheo Mobile App was installed on each of the approximately 60 trucks dispatched with opheo, which were already equipped with a driver terminal from Webfleet. Destination addresses of the delivery orders are transferred directly from the opheo system to the app and from there to the Webfleet navigation. In the opposite direction, opheo Mobile transmits status information back to the headquarters. The location of the trucks and the transmission of current position data is carried out directly via Webfleet.
The opheo ixOptimizer, an algorithm for automatic route planning, was also quickly accepted by the SiloNet dispatchers. The deciding factor was the “Dispatch Challenge” organized by SiloNet, in which the experienced employees received the same planning task for the fleet as the ixOptimizer. “In the end, the ixOptimizer delivered the better result,” says Christoph von Glinski on behalf of all dispatchers, who are also very satisfied with the project process. “The introduction went smoothly, especially since we were able to benefit from the experience of our parent company Gerdes + Landwehr.” Gerdes + Landwehr has been using opheo since 2017.
The software developed by Solvares Logistics can be used for a wide range of transports and vehicle types. It delivers optimized tour suggestions within short computing times, which minimize driving times, distances and delays depending on the objective, and also help to reduce CO2 emissions.
The name ixOptimizer stands for “initions extended Optimizer”. The module complements the opheo transport control system and covers a wide variety of transport and vehicle types. In addition to depot traffic, this also includes line traffic in the area of partial and full loads. Both general cargo and bulk cargo problems can be mapped. Even for silo trains, multi-chamber vehicles and selected special vehicle types, the ixOptimizer automatically calculates optimized tours. In addition, the software can be adapted to the individual customer-side framework conditions with the help of optimization parameters and the flexible opheo rule set. For example, the ixOptimizer takes into account required vehicle characteristics and capacities, driver qualifications, loading and opening times, as well as driving and rest times.
The module is based on a self-learning algorithm developed by the mathematicians at initions AG, now Solvares Logistics. The planning method, known as “Adaptive Evolutionary Search”, is able to calculate thousands of tour plans within a very short time and achieve a gradual improvement through individual changes. In addition, the ixOptimizer remembers which change steps have led to improvements or deteriorations of the tour plan and prefers the changes with a greater probability of success for further steps.
With the opheo transport control system, Solvares Logistics offers intelligent standard software for the transport management of road freight transport that has been tried and tested for many years. The solution includes route planning, dispatch, telematics and ETA forecasting. In addition to the dispatch process, opheo also automates communication with customers.
About SiloNet
SiloNet Logistik GmbH is a joint venture between the building materials producer Holcim and the medium-sized Gerdes + Landwehr Group. SiloNet concentrates on the transport of granular building materials and raw materials and operates a fleet of 60 silo vehicles for this purpose.