Revolutionizing Newspaper Distribution: A Case Study on The Irish Times and SmartRoutes
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Control Systems (WCS)
- Sensors - GPS
Applicable Industries
- Automotive
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Last Mile Delivery
- Vehicle Telematics
Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
The Irish Times is one of Ireland's most widely-read newspapers with a daily combined circulation of almost 90,000 copies. It is a trusted member of the third estate as paper of record in Ireland and has won numerous international awards for journalism each year. Despite the shift to online media consumption, The Irish Times has seen a resurgence in the demand for print media, particularly newspapers. This increase in popularity is attributed to the rise in untrustworthy news, online news sources, and the increasing difficulty of verifying information online. The Irish Times has also played a role in providing those cocooning with a link to the outside world, and the continuity of a daily routine that might otherwise have been disrupted.
The Challenge
The Irish Times, one of Ireland's most widely-read newspapers, was facing a significant challenge in managing its print newspaper subscription service. Despite the resurgence in demand for print media, the newspaper was struggling with the logistics of home delivery. The Irish Times had been creating routes for drivers using a combination of paper-based and digital systems. However, every new subscription meant less capacity for a vehicle and an extra stop on the route for a driver. The routes were constantly changing due to customers going on holidays and updating subscriptions. Each new route took up to 2 weeks to organize and create manually. As subscriptions were updated daily, rerouting drivers and vans to maximize the efficiency of their fleet became a full-time job. The routes were not optimized, and the service was becoming more difficult to manage with more customer support queries to match the increase in subscriptions. The scale and intricacies of the task required a newspaper distribution management system that could solve the unique challenges of a home delivery service.
The Solution
SmartRoutes, a delivery management software, created a bespoke newspaper distribution management system for The Irish Times. The solution involved a custom API for dynamically routed orders, zoning functionality, a centralized knowledge base, and live tracking & reporting. The custom API mapped the order management system directly to their SmartRoutes account, updating orders in real-time and creating routes based on up-to-the-minute data from subscribed customers. The zoning functionality allowed The Irish Times to create routes on a map and have the system create routes within these specific geographical areas for drivers. The zones could be altered at a moment's notice to ensure routes were manageable for every driver. The centralized knowledge base allowed drivers to record photo proof of delivery, and notes on drop locations and routes. This helped to onboard new drivers and cover shifts with minimal fuss. The live tracking & reporting feature provided instant updates on all vehicle locations, their remaining drops, and accurate ETAs. It also allowed support staff to instantly access data on routes, helping customers who may not have received a delivery for any reason.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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