The Problem

Hermes required a way of shifting the day to day management of the courier network back into the field, and to provide Field Management with visibility of the network structure, with the ability to reallocate postcodes from one round to another. Hermes also required a management information tool to optimise rounds, network plan and assess ‘what if?’ scenarios.

The Hermes courier network is based on postcode units, meaning it is extremely granular and subject to large amounts of change. Hermes work with approximately 10,000 couriers across 1.8 million postcode units.

Previously, courier rounds were manually created and updated using a desktop system by a central user - a time consuming process using hard copy maps which could not be manipulated and were soon out of date.

In addition, the system didn’t work to full unit postcode geography making it difficult to know territory make-up accurately.

"As the business continues to grow we have had to make significant changes to our network structure. The tool has been invaluable in this process and the ability to visualise and identify anomalies is great."

Graham Platt - M.I. Analyst - Hermes

The Solution

Hermes opted for a Web-Based Mapping Solution which allows the creation, viewing, organisation and management of courier rounds:

Viewing tool – for Field Management to visualize their territories and courier rounds.
Planning/Operations tool – for Field Managers to make changes to their territories and submit these for approval.
Scenario Planning tool – to allow the Central Operations team to optimize and model wide-scale changes to the territory structure in order to identify efficiency gains.

The system allows the 200 Field Managers to provide local, tactical input into the operational planning process, and provide the Hermes Operations team with the ability to assess ‘what if?’ scenarios.

Any proposed changes the Field Manager makes could then be approved by a central user in a few minutes.

Developed specifically for Hermes, the system provided:

Viewing tool

For Field Management to visualise their territories and courier rounds.

Scenario Planning tool

To allow the Central Operations team to optimise and model wide-scale changes to the territory structure in order to identify efficiency gains.

Planning/Operations tool

For Field Management to make changes to their territory structure and submit these for approval.

The Benefits

Operational savings, cutting expenses and delivery costs.
Proactive management of rounds for different scenarios.
Provides holistic view of courier network.
Reduced non-covered areas and increase first attempt deliveries.
Improved efficiency.
Avoid re-handling costs where postcodes are misallocated.
Improved courier retention.
100% of the network can be reviewed and updated multiple times.
Reliance on human expertise eliminated.
Network changes are automatically updated and reflected daily.

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