Futuristic Ideas Deploying SVAMB Strategy in Logistics

IDEA No 2 - Last Meter Parcel and Direction Finder

Idea -

When a delivery is attempted often a challenge faced is to find a specific building or a location within a building. This is aggravated when doing a first-time delivery, as there can be many complicating factors such as obscured or missing house numbers or street names, entrances hidden in backyards or, as is the case in many developing countries, no structured naming scheme for streets and buildings. Vision based solution could be extremely helpful here; the delivery person could point a device at a building or block and it could display information of the location. When there’s no available public database, particularly with information on the position of entrances or other local features, the solution could also be used to place markers, thereby building up an independent database over time. Sometimes, last-meter delivery requires indoor navigation. Visual solution could can place micro LLA (latitude, longitude, altitude) markers at various internal points of the location to assist delivery.

Drivers and Delivery persons spend between 40 % and 60% of their time away from the warehouse not driving or delivering. Instead, they spend much of this time locating the correct boxes within their truck for the delivery and finding the exact location for the delivery. Currently, to find a box in his truck , drivers must rely on their memory during loading.

Visual aided solutions will direct the driver / delivery person to the specific parcel in the truck, advise its weight, whether it is fragile or requires specific handling to avoid damage. As soon as the parcel is picked up a message is triggered to the delivery point that the parcel would be delivered in the next few seconds / minutes. In case any information on re-routing of the delivery has been received after the vehicle has left the warehouse the Visual aided solution will not direct the driver / delivery person to pick that parcel.

After picking the parcel the Driver / Delivery person needs a spare hand to close their vehicle door, forcing them to put parcels on the ground or clamp them under their arm.

Visual and Voice aided solutions can make the vehicle door close ‘hands-free’ – the driver could give a voice instruction or make an eye or head movement for the door to close.

The Visual aided solution then guides the Driver / Delivery person to the exact delivery point. Visual and Voice aided solutions can be used to record the Proof of Delivery, get instant ( and "truthful" ) customer feedback as well record missed deliveries , re-route instructions , incomplete deliveries and alternate delivery instructions etc.

Vision based solutions can also increase security and improve the quality of customer contact. Using facial-recognition technology, the person receiving a parcel could be unambiguously identified without having to show any ID. The device could take a picture and automatically match this in a secure database. This service may not be applicable for ordinary every-day deliveries, but when the parcel has extraordinary high value, users may appreciate this enhanced level of security as it is superior to an easily forged ID card or recipient signature.

OUTCOME

Driver / Delivery person is directed visually to pick specific parcels from the vehicle when he arrives in the warehouse. In-case a re-route or no-show message has been received the Driver / Delivery person is not directed to pick the parcel from the vehicle.

On picking the parcel a message is passed to the consignee / customer who can get ready to receive the parcel.

Driver / Delivery person gets handling and specific delivery instructions.

Driver / Delivery person closes the door of the vehicle and locks it with a nod of his head . The Driver / Delivery person is warned in-case he has picked up a wrong parcel or left out a parcel.

Driver / Delivery person is directed to the location through visual arrows.

Driver / Delivery person delivers and record POD , customer feedback and alternate instructions without using his hands.

BENEFITS

No of deliveries per Driver / Delivery person per day can increase by 40% - this has a direct impact on cost reduction and improvement of on-time delivery achieved.

Customer satisfaction is enhanced as specific instructions adherence improves.

Damages to parcels reduces - which has a direct impact on cost and customer satisfaction.

Health and Safety record improves as both hands of the Driver / Delivery person are freed.

Security of delivery to right person is achieved especially for critical parcels.

Real customer feedback is received which is more valuable than all surveys and studies.

Driver / Delivery person go home on time and are HAPPIER !!!!