16/07/2009

Freight Services Chooses TransLogix Sapphire Transport Management Mobility Suite to Improve Operational Efficiencies

Sydney and Perth, Australia, 16 July 2009. 

Leading Australian transport and logistics solutions provider TransLogix has announced that BFS Metro & Regional Logistics has chosen the TransLogix Sapphire Transport Management Suite to provide a totally integrated logistics system to manage all BFS's mobile assets [trucks] and employees in real time.

BFS is a diverse transport and retail business which delivers grocery products in Western Australia using its 34 trailers, 21 prime movers, four rigids and five ancillary light vehicles.  

Sapphire's GPS and Mapping software enables BFS to use PDA technology and, via a single screen, make decisions about how to best organise deliveries and minimise costs. This has really helped to maximise efficiency, streamline operations and enable everyone to see the chain of events in real time.

The benefits of a fully mobile solution mean that BFS is now able to:

  • Map all vehicle locations including their status, load capacity and contents
  • View all jobs and driver locations so that jobs can be allocated more effectively and efficiently
  • Select a run or manifest and accurately estimate the time and kilometres involved
  • Accurately calculate all trip times and distance details
  • Record all in and out delivery times and map these for increased fleet efficiency
  • Provide proof of demurrage and delivery

All drivers have the Sapphire system on a PDA in their trucks which enables them to see what they need to do and by when. This puts each driver in charge of their load and able to record all the information needed in real time, resulting in much less paperwork.

"The TransLogix Sapphire Mobility system and technical people impressed us from the start. Once we had seen the system in action we realised that clearly this was the best system on the market for what we needed to do," Allan Price, General Manager, BFS Metro & Regional Logistics, said. "Mobility is a very important part of our business and our fleet management. It gives us information in real time, which allows smart decisions to be acted out in a prompt manner. It also allows transparency of our business to be viewed by clients, thus providing value for money in the service we offer."

Better management across the whole delivery system means that cost savings can be made. For example, now that delivery requirements and patterns can be analysed, in many cases it becomes possible to deliver the same volume of items in fewer deliveries. This saves everyone time and money.

TransLogix has helped BFS increase its revenue per hour by over 16 percent in the first three months.

"We have exceeded our initial objectives and met some very ambitious on-delivery on-time goals," said Allan Price. "We have a created an accurate and efficient freight delivery system, so everyone benefits.  "The new system has helped cement a long term relationship with IGA>D and Metcash and we are now in a very strong position to tender for more business as the opportunities arise," he added.

About BFS (www.busseltonfreight.com.au)
BFS is a diverse transport and retail business which delivers grocery products in Western Australia using its 34 trailers, 21 prime movers, 4 rigids & 5 ancillary light vehicles.  It is the main contractor for IGA>D (Metcash) and it distributes between 800 and 1000 pallets per day to IGA stores across the Perth metropolitan area and into the South West country region.  Founded 27 years ago by brothers Allan and Denis Price, the business now includes large freight depots in Busselton, Maddington and inside the IGA>D at Canning Vale.

About TransLogix (www.translogix.com.au)
TransLogix is Australasia's leading supplier of transport and logistics solutions with more than 330 customers supported from offices in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In August 2008 TransLogix merged with Advanta to create one of Australia's largest locally-owned software companies. TransLogix enjoys a growing profile based on award-winning technology, proven technical expertise and outstanding customer service. Its customers include many of Australia's largest freight handling companies, including 1st Fleet Glen Cameron Group, Greenfreight, Lindsay Bros. Transport, NYK Logistics, Schenker International, Stream Solutions, Markitforce, Tyco Electronics and Maxwell Logistics.

The TransLogix Transport Management and 3rd Party Logistics suite includes over 30 integrated modules covering accounting, transport management, warehouse, workshop, service, optimisation, scheduling, driver fatigue management, web portal, mobility, POD, GPS, mapping, tracking, Business Intelligence, document imaging and more.

Recent awards include the 2009 iAward Winner for NSW in the e-Logistics and Supply Chain Category, 2008 iAwards for best eLogistics application, the 2007 Mercury Logistics award for best technology, and the winner of the innovation category at the NSW Chamber of Industry awards by one of its customers.

For further information please contact:
Susan Burt, TransLogix, +61 2 9467 9400
Shuna Boyd, BoydPR, +61 2 9418 8100

Click here for a free software evaluation guide, to request an obligation free appraisal or simply call TransLogix today.