Challenge

Route planning is extremely important

Every day over 2,000 vehicles transport all waste and substances safely and cleanly from around 200,000 customer collection points to its plants and transshipment sites. That makes for complex logistics, requiring the efforts of a good third of all employees. This means that around 2,500 employees are working actively in logistics day by day on behalf of its customers.

“It soon became clear to us that we wanted to streamline our logistics processes and make them simpler, more transparent and flexible than before” explains Matthias Redeker, Head of Logistics at the ALBA Group

Solution

Smart city solutions

Matthias Redeker, Head of Logistics at the ALBA Group; "The algorithm developed by AMCS means we are able to map highly complex tasks and circumstances within the planning process."

The route planning system is extremely important so we can respond to the increasingly complex demands of scheduling. "AMCS Route Planning is a support tool that makes the dispatcher’s job simpler, but does not replace him or her."

The introduction of the AMCS route planning solution prompted the ALBA Group to initiate a fundamental change, as Redeker explains. “Following the introduction of the route planning tool we decided to create our own InnovationLab within the ALBA Group.” The lab is tasked not only with supporting all digital options for route planning, but also with working with startups to develop new services and business models and create a smart city.

Results

Changing our daily lives completely

Christian Bobrowski, Operative Logistics Manager at ALBA Logistik GmbH; “Intelligent route planning means we are able to minimise routes within cities and optimise the services we offer.” This reduces the company’s carbon footprint while helping to use the overloaded infrastructure in cities much more efficiently than was previously the case in the utility industry.

Bobrowski sees a second benefit: “Different planning areas can be combined to create synergies.”

"The AMCS route planning software is an excellent example of how digitisation is changing our daily lives completely"

Benefits of AMCS for the company and its employees at a glance:

• Short-staffed drivers: Optimum route planning means the number of drivers available can be deployed effectively and efficiently.
• Employees: Greater convenience and support for drivers – less stress and less risks of accidents thanks to additional aids.
• Environment: Smaller carbon footprint, less vehicles on the roads and less congestion.