Axelot and Foodservice complete Axelot TMS X5 implementation project

2023: Introduction of Axelot TMS X5 system

The introduction of AXELOT TMS X5 allowed FOODSERVICE to combine transportation and fleet management in one system. The system provides a wide range of tools for improving the efficiency of processes both in terms of monitoring the execution of applications and in terms of asset management, and allows you to implement end-to-end financial accounting of transport activities. This was announced on September 6, 2023 by AXELOT.

The task of FOODSERVICE warehouse and transport logistics is to provide every store of the chain with fresh products and maintain a wide range of goods. In order to improve the efficiency of logistics management and reduce the impact of the human factor on business processes, in 2022 FOODSERVICE, together with AXELOT, modernized the warehouse and implemented AXELOT WMS. Immediately after the launch of WMS, the companies began a project to automate transportation and record their own fleet based on AXELOT TMS X5.

Prior to the implementation of the system PUSSYCATS , the minimum required data of orders was used to consolidate external transportation requirements. This approach had a number of disadvantages that influenced the level of service in the company, temporary namely: the delivery windows were not taken into account, it was not possible to indicate the preferred transport to fulfill the need, incorrect high-capacity transportation was used, and cargoes the real capacity of vehicles was not taken into account when planning flights. Route planning was carried out manually by logistics, which often led to incorrect loading of the vehicle and took a long time, there was time also no possibility of making operational adjustments during the transportation process.

During the project, the intermodal transportation process was automated, which made it possible not only to correctly keep records of goods in warehouses and during transportation, but also to correctly distribute costs to different links of the logistics chain. AXELOT TMS X5 was built into the information landscape of the enterprise, which at that time already included AXELOT WMS and CIS - for this, AXELOT specialists expanded the integration circuit created during warehouse automation using DATAREON ESB.

Since AXELOT WMS and AXELOT TMS X5 are components of AXELOT SCM's integrated logistics platform and interact seamlessly with each other in real time, FOODSERVICE has received tools for managing the full lifecycle of products from arrival at the warehouse to delivery to customers. So, for example, information on the generated storage places, the number of SKUs in each place and the barcodes of storage places from AXELOT WMS is available in AXELOT TMS X5 and is used to clarify the product composition for applications for cargo transportation and work in the TMS mobile client.

During automation, FOODSERVICE decided to implement another component of the AXELOT SCM platform - the AXELOT SCAP optimization solution. With the help of AXELOT SCAP, the process of automatic planning of flights takes into account key indicators and restrictions: cargo specifics, delivery time, transportation types, the ability to use cross-docking. For example, for goods that are transported in bulk (bags of flour or bags of sugar, etc.), it is possible to combine several orders for different customers on one pallet, and in order for the goods to be on the shelves for opening a store, delivery at night is possible.

AXELOT specialists conducted a comparative study, according to the results of which it turned out that the use of AXELOT SCAP increased the efficiency of planning: the travel time was reduced by 50%, and the total flight time was reduced by 6%.

The size of the FOODSERVICE fleet is 80, and cars before the introduction of AXELOT TMS X5, all information on them was kept in Excel-.file One of the key objectives of the implementation project was not only to consolidate data the condition of vehicles, but also to plan maintenance and repair activities. Accounting of its own fleet is fully implemented in TMS, the system contains all the necessary set of data. With the help of a specialized tool that compares the planned (according to the flight), regulatory (according to the final mileage) and actual fuel consumption, the system takes into account fuel and lubricants. In single window mode, AXELOT TMS X5 also maintains the accounting of tires nodes and aggregates, on the basis of which service planning is carried out. Documents for both planned and operational repairs are entered by the manager of the transport department, while the system allows you to keep records of both your own and purchased materials. Works on maintenance of own fleet are performed by the contractor, settlements with which are also registered in TMS. Thus, the system clearly records and controls the costs of repairs and costs associated with fuel and lubricants.

After launching into commercial operation, the AXELOT TMS X5 system immediately showed excellent results - all the goals set for the project team were achieved. FOODSERVICE has increased the speed of management decisions, reduced the impact of the human factor and increased the efficiency of using its own fleet of vehicles.

The introduction of the product was fraught with certain risks - will everything go according to plan? We understood all the potential complications, but the architectural and functionality of AXELOT TMS Kh5 impressed us so much that we opted for this system. As a result, everything went smoothly, introduced according to the classical design technology, met the planned deadlines, no significant improvements happened and no additional costs appeared - everything necessary was within the framework of the box functionality. The implementation was carried out in two stages. At first, automation was "subjected" to delivery to our stores from the main warehouse in Tbilisi. The next step is to complete the work on the launch of automation of its own fleet. This allowed us to immerse ourselves in the functionality configured for us and easily go into commercial operation. Now we see the potential for logistics development precisely thanks to the capabilities of TMS, said Lasha Garibashvili, CEO of FOODSERVICE.

The synergy component of AXELOT SCM - AXELOT TMS X5, AXELOT WMS, AXELOT SCAP - helps FOODSERVICE "keep your finger on the pulse" of all key logistics processes, as well as monitor product quality and service level and always deliver fresh food to store shelves on time.

The concept of multi-component platforms is in demand more than ever, companies are trying to move away from heavy monolithic corporate solutions towards such "designers," from which they can "assemble" the optimal solution and easily scale it in the future. And it was this architecture that allowed us not only to preserve the best practices of previous generations of TMS from AXELOT, but also to implement the project experience accumulated over the years in the system. By distributing functionality to components that are sometimes even based on different technology stacks, we have provided our customers with almost unlimited opportunities to develop their solutions. I think that most of the needs that have not yet been formulated by business customers are already implemented to one degree or another in the typical functionality of AXELOT TMS X5, noted Alexander Bakhitov, Head of Transport Logistics, AXELOT.