Delivery Booster (Delivery Booster)

The current postal address system is not adapted to the logistic requirements for delivering goods. In this project VIL will develop an app that allows companies to determine more specific location codes, along with a delivery passport that connects the location codes to individual delivery wishes and specifications.

The outdated system of postal addresses often leads to loss of time, more delivery rounds and the loss of flexibility. In addition, there is not yet a generally used delivery passport that links destinations to specific delivery specifications and wishes, such as delivery times, opening hours, back-up delivery addresses, specific needs (cooled delivery, extra security,…).

VIL will develop a ready to use, user friendly application that combines location codes and delivery passports.

This project offers the opportunity to the stakeholders to co-develop and test this new system and the specifics of the app.
The use of the application will lead to more efficient planning and execution, a higher service level thanks to the up-to-date interaction between service providers and their customers.

• Mapping the needs of the different stakeholders and the logistics sector in general
• Mapping the existing best practices (e.g. the Dutch address code system, existing apps,…)
• Listing the different application possibilities
• Capturing the specifics of the delivery passport
• Capturing the specifics and methodology of the unique location code
• Listing the needs functionalities of the application (user interface, data sharing to other systems, data management, privacy/GDPR and other technical aspects.)
• Testing the functionalities with the participating companies
• Creating a user manual and training
• Creating a proposal to roll out the new system on a large scale

RESULTS

- A detailed description of the app was developed and listed together with the participating companies, which served as the basis for developing the app. This Delivery Booster app is currently available towards interested companies for introduction/getting to know, testing and implementation. 

- The app was tested in an integrated way in a full supply chain during a pilot project with the university of Gent, together with one of its suppliers and a logistics provider. The test took place on a campus of the university with complex delivery locations so that the advantages of the app for drivers that make use of it could be thoroughly demonstrated.

- In order to get the correct information around the actual physical delivery location to the driver, the app creates a unique code specific to each delivery location, which needs to be passed through the entire data chain, i.e. from when the order is created until the delivery by the driver. This sometimes still requires some IT development work.

- For easy integration of the data in the app with business systems, an API was developed

 

- A company-specific link in which the unique location codes of the order need to be read in by the logistics provider can easily be integrated into the existing company systems. As a result, the driver does not have to log into the app separately, but can retrieve the location data from the app from their own company system and navigate to it using the navigation software on the device they are using.

- IT development work is thus relatively simple and limited, which is important in times of limited IT resources.

- Among other things, the app also allows adding photos and other visual aids to the delivery passport.

- There was very positive feedback from drivers and end customers. One driver who had not been employed for long and came to deliver on campus Coupure said that the app would save him a lot of time in delivering new rounds thanks to the photos. Especially on large sites, 15 minutes or more are easily lost when drivers are not familiar with the physical delivery location.

NEXT STEPS

The app is running and ready to use in 3 languages.

It is now up to the logistics sector to try out the app with its benefits and integrate it into their logistics processes. After all, the further commercial rollout of the app depends on its use by a large group of online shops, suppliers, logistics service providers and end users.