International Delivery Companies Mix Brains With Brawn

A lot is made by the multi-national courier and parcel delivery firms of their huge resources, which allow them to offer an effective service across huge distances. But they would not be anywhere near as efficient and capable as they are without the addition to the mix of sophisticated modern technology, which ensures that their massive power is channeled exactly where it is most needed.

Offering a truly global network which is accessible by anyone, no matter how remote their location, is a massive undertaking. And as well as the personnel and vehicles needed to reach the furthest-flung villages and biggest, busiest cities alike, they rely on a mix of human knowledge and sophisticated tracking technology to enable them to do their job.

A company which relies heavily on its vehicles and staff being put to the most productive possible use puts substantial resources into planning, and to collecting data from its drivers and vehicles which helps it achieve the highest possible levels of productivity.

Arranging a network of delivery routes for a large fleet of vehicles and drivers is one of the most challenging tasks facing any logistics operator. Not only does it have to ensure that all deliveries are carried out in the time available, but it must do so with one eye to keeping the cost of doing so to a minimum.

So while a delivery company might quite properly promote the fact that it brings massive physical resources to carrying out its work in the shape of drivers, vehicles and support staff it is important not to overlook the vital role played by planning and back-room colleagues in deploying all those resources in the most effective manner.

When a delivery network is spread over a wide area, that team working behind the scenes to keep it running becomes even more instrumental. Ensuring that vehicles and drivers are in the right place at the right time is a challenge in itself, but the larger the territories they cover, the more important it becomes that their movements can be tracked.

One of the biggest nightmare scenarios for an international freight operator is having a vehicle and driver stranded in a remote location. The ability to know exactly where that vehicle is can be crucial to getting the right help to it so that it can quickly get back on the road.

There is a saying in the logistics business that while a vehicle is moving, it is earning money. So anything which can keep it doing so whether that is the driver, or a sat-nav system which is guiding him to exactly where he needs to go is a worthwhile investment.

State-of-the-art satellite technology is used to help aid parcel tracking and help overnight delivery on behalf of sender, recipient and the delivery company carrying the consignment. It has brought a great deal more predictability to the delivery process.