Tesco goes live with Journey Management solution from Microlise

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Tesco goes live with Journey Management solution from Microlise.

Tesco, one of the world's largest retailers, has gone live in the UK and Ireland with a Journey Management solution from telematics platform provider Microlise. The deal has seen Microlise complete a complex programme of both hardware and software installation across 19 depots and over 2,500 vehicles in just six weeks, with the system set to reduce the mileage travelled by Tesco vehicles, increasing efficiency, reducing environmental impact and reducing costs.

This phase of the roll-out of Microlise solutions follows the installation of over 4,000 units to track the location of trailers, completed 18 months ago.

With a large fleet operating across the UK and Ireland, Tesco was seeking a more comprehensive and effective schedule execution solution that would offer enhanced reporting and could be tailored to the specific needs of the business. Microlise was selected due to a proven track record in delivering significant savings for its customers, as well as demonstrable increases in efficiency and performance.

To ensure no loss of service, the Microlise team worked closely with Tesco to install hardware on over 2,500 vehicles, across 19 depots around the UK and Ireland. This included telematics hardware units, but also Microlise's DriveTab rugged tablet, giving drivers easy access to schedule information, messaging, route guidance and voice calls - as well as panic alarm system that alerts the transport office to any driver in need of urgent assistance. In addition to the hardware installation, the Microlise team delivered comprehensive training to system users.

The Microlise journey management solution is accessible to Tesco staff via a web-based portal, allowing 24/7 access to data on fleet performance. The solution reports on planned versus actual route and schedule adherence performance, allowing wasted miles and driver time to be minimised and route planning to be as effective as possible.

The Microlise solution also delivers a new Arrivals & Departures board system, providing an accurate and real-time count down for both departures from depots as well as arrivals into depots and stores - thereby helping to improve turnaround efficiencies.

Tesco and Microlise worked closely together to deliver a solution tailored specifically for the business objectives outlined at the start of the project.

"We have established a great working relationship with the team at Microlise, who have gone above and beyond to ensure an incredibly smooth installation process," said Alan Wrigley, International Development Manager at Tesco. "It was key that we experienced no loss of service, to ensure our fleet continued to run effectively, and Microlise have delivered a great system, on time and without interruption to operations."

To ensure customers continue to achieve significant value from the systems installed, the Microlise benefits realisation team works closely with users so that business objectives are achieved.

"The team at Tesco were committed to ensuring that the installation could happen in a timely and organised manner, and it was a pleasure to work with them," said Trevor McGahan, Director of Programme Delivery. "Tesco were clear with their objectives from the start, which helped the Microlise team to complete a huge installation in such a short period of time. Now that the installation is complete, we look forward to continuing the relationship and helping Tesco get maximum value from the journey management solution."