Abans’ digital initiatives in logistics with Kloudip win at Telematics Conference 2020
The Telematics Conference in Colombo, held recently, saw Abans Group of Companies being awarded the first place for driving innovation in the use of telematics and for optimal utilisation of Kloudip’s wide array of platforms.
Kloudip is a comprehensive suite of telematics solutions, being used across diverse sectors and over 500 businesses in Sri Lanka.
Abans Group Digital Lead Jerastin Dubash delivered an address at this event, touching upon Abans Group’s strategy to utilise digital tools and platforms to streamline fleet management operations.
Jerastin further stressed on the importance for Abans Group, as a leading Sri Lankan conglomerate, to keep pace with technological revolutions and so the digital evolution of the group is considered as a key strategic priority.
In 2011, Abans Logistics was the first to embark on an experimental partnership with Kloudip. Now, over 200 vehicles are being monitored across all of the group’s companies through Kloudip’s GPS tracking and fuel tracking platforms.
Abans PLC, the group’s parent company, has 393 electronics and household appliance showrooms around the country and over 150 authorised dealers. So, at any given time, there are over 70 vehicles conducting deliveries. Inevitably, delivery delays take place due to traffic, weather conditions, unavailability of store and showroom staff, etc.
In July 2019, Abans PLC commenced work with Kloudip to implement an automated delivery SMS that would be sent to showroom managers once a vehicle has been dispatched from the warehouse and to subsequent showroom delivery locations. The SMS communication, which includes a live tracking option for the delivery vehicle, gives showroom staff enough time and information to get their unloading teams assembled.
This SMS communication, enabled through the Kloudip FIOS system, has gone on to drastically reduce the amount of phone calls and e-mails, which the warehouse teams have to send while conducting deliveries on-route.
The size and mix of delivery loads can vary a great deal in the electronics and household goods retail business – some loads can include large sideby-side refrigerators along with small cartons of Pyrex glassware. Planning for these load variations is a major challenge for the warehouse personnel to ensure that showroom demand is met with vehicle availability.
Using Kloudip’s Logistic platform’s load planning functionality has begun to help the Abans warehouse teams streamline deliveries and ensure maximum vehicle utilisation.