Paragon planning software delivers better visibility, together with faster, more accurate reporting - 12% of transport costs saved - delivery lead times cut by nearly 50%

Instarmac, UK manufacturer of highway maintenance, concrete repair and tile adhesive and grouting products, has selected Fleet Controller from Paragon Software Systems plc (Paragon) to improve service delivery to its rapidly expanding customer base.

The company already had positive experience of Paragon's routing and scheduling system, relying on the software to generate daily route plans that meet promised delivery windows, at the same time keeping transport costs to a minimum.  The use of Paragon had pushed up utilisation of its 16-strong vehicle fleet through the provision of consistently accurate, feasible and more effective plans: as a result, this had cut the level of subcontracting required, resulting in an overall 12% saving in Instarmac's transport costs.

The addition of Fleet Controller now enables the routing and scheduling capabilities of the existing Paragon software to be integrated with fleet tracking technology, so generating further customer service and operational benefits in a business which continues to grow by 25% annually.

Since implementation, results have been both immediate and impressive, with Fleet Controller's  real-time visibility providing a broad range of efficiency gains.  Connected through a standard interface with Navman's OnLine AVL tracking system, planners can now see and divert vehicles nearest to newly-available stock, enabling collections to be introduced into routes for the first time, so reducing empty running.

"Service delivery has also improved," says group operations director, Graham Stafford, "as customers automatically receive text or email alerts when their deliveries are approaching.  This is especially important in the case of forward stock locations and unmanned council depots which need to ensure staff are available to receive delivery."

In addition, the warehouse team have a further Fleet Controller screen, enabling them to establish the exact location of each vehicle.  In preparing the next load for dispatch they are thus able to assess arrival times more accurately, so smoothing the workflow in the warehouse and maximising use of vehicle and driver time.

In a tough commercial environment in which Instarmac continues to come under increasing pressure to improve speed of delivery, Paragon has driven average delivery lead times down by nearly 50% - from 3.2 to 1.8 days - including a typical 24-hour turnaround to the especially competitive adhesives market.

For Instarmac, a key benefit has been the software's reporting capability.  "For the first time, the company has instant access to regular, highly accurate reports," confirms Paragon's marketing and business development director, Charles Nockold.  "This means that managers can see the total cost of their operation and in particular calculate the precise cost of making each delivery - a huge bonus, especially at a time of rapid expansion."

Stafford agrees and adds: "Overall, the reliability and precision of Paragon's plans and reports have given us a very sound platform from which to grow our business."

Instarmac has also been impressed with Paragon's proactive approach to customer service and its understanding of the particular demands and pressures the company faces in its key markets.

"One of Paragon's core strengths is the focus and flexibility of its support team, which has worked tirelessly with us to make sure the solution works as effectively as possible for our particular operation," confirms Stafford.