Timber producer

How a leading sawn timber producer enhances service levels with optimized route scheduling

This leading producer of sawn timber products is an icon in the Australian construction industry. The timber producer was looking to increase transportation efficiency to lower costs while catering to changing customer needs. At the same time, they were striving to improve vehicle loading compliance. However, they had a taxing manual planning process. This made it difficult to streamline planning across sites and regions. On the administrative side, they lacked Proof of Delivery software, so accounts receivable collection was challenging. Carrier invoice reconciliation was very manual, resulting in the majority of invoices not checked.

Replacing a manual process

They saw an opportunity to move towards a more advanced process. In particular, the timber producer was interested in an optimization solution that improved the way they load and route trucks. Schedulers from different locations needed to share resources, synergize orders, and align planning and execution.

Introducing an all-in-one system

ORTEC provided an all-in-one system, which is fully connected to all operational and business processes, and capable of handling immense volumes of data. The combination of ORTEC Load Building & ORTEC Routing and Dispatch enabled them to plan routes in line with mass management compliance. The system validates the weight of complex SKUs in the background to maintain compliance during loading.

The ORTEC Driver App provides seamless job execution, with the carrier’s authorized drivers having access to a dynamically updated schedule. The app also allows drivers to send information about the status of their pickup and delivery actions back to ORTEC Routing and Dispatch in real-time. Using this information, the planning team can track order changes dynamically. Electronic proof of deliveries (ePoD) allow drivers to capture signatures from clients within the driver app. Track and trace was possible with a process that was built into the app as well.

Automated RCTI calculations based on actual routes in ORTEC Routing and Dispatch are computed against the carrier’s agreed tariff. This data is then fed to the ERP to trigger Recipient Created Tax Invoices. Using the exact amounts, they can pay their carriers based on completed deliveries.

We have learned so much about what we do day-to-day with our freight. We have gained the ability to change the way we plan through different shift configurations, using capabilities and regions which provide us with better options for customer deliveries. We have better visibility into costs and can pick the best resource for the task.

-The company’s National Logistics Manager

Lower costs. More transparency. Better service.

Thanks to ORTEC’s route scheduling software, the timber producer has improved delivery times considerably, enhancing customer service. ORTEC-supported 3-dimensional load building has streamlined their dispatching process and load build compliance. They now have a clear overview of transport KPIs, both on a daily and monthly basis, facilitating better decisions.

In addition, they gained increased control and visibility into deliveries through ORTEC’s field mobility solution. They spend less time reconciling invoices and manually checking proof of deliveries and successfully migrated to a RCTI process.