DPD Fresh picks PTV software to optimize the delivery of dry, fresh, and frozen products

15% cost reduction with optimized routing of new service/ Deliveries of fresh foods are on the rise, but pose challenges for logistics companies

Karlsruhe, November 24, 2021. Demand for deliveries of fresh products, from daily groceries to meal kit deliveries, have been on the rise even before the pandemic, and is accelerating because of it. To manage complex operations of its dry, fresh and frozen produce service, DPD Fresh is now using PTV Route Optimser, saving up to 15 percent on transport costs.

In autumn 2020, DPD, a major parcel delivery provider, launched an express transport offer for delivery of dry, fresh, and frozen products in Belgium and Luxembourg. DPD Fresh now delivers up to 300 parcels per day to both private and business customers.

Since food products are fragile and sensitive, the planning of their transportation is more complex than for other parcel deliveries. To deal with this challenge, DPD Fresh chose to rely on PTV Route Optimiser software for the strategic route planning of the new service.

The software tool combines orders into optimal routes, considering restrictions and preferences such as temperature conditions needed or shelf life. It maximises DPD Fresh’s vehicle utilisation, by considering which vehicles can deliver both refrigerated and frozen parcels, and which can only carry refrigerated ones.

Tom Mertens, IT Manager at DPD, says: “There are many transport planning tools, but only a few consider all these factors.  PTV's solution optimizes our routes and schedules, it determines which vehicles we use for which trip. The difference to our old planning method is enormous. Some days, we can get by with two fewer vehicles."

Michel de Cook, Business Development Manager at PTV Group adds: "PTV Route Optimiser also includes the fuel consumption of different vehicles with one or two temperature ranges. This optimized planning not only reduces operating costs by up to 15% but also reduces the environmental footprint."

DPD Fresh plans to grow its distribution network for fresh produce in the coming year: By the end of 2022, it expects to deliver 100,000 parcels annually serving all ten DPD depots in Belgium and Luxembourg.

About PTV Route Optimiser

PTV Route Optimser is the leading software for route scheduling and optimization. It supports planners in combining orders into optimal routes that reduce mileage and resources, all while considering restrictions such as opening hours of ramps and required rest times of drivers. More than 30 million routes are optimised with PTV Route Optimiser every day.