CASE STUDY

Metro Logistics: Digitisation ensures transparency in the incoming goods department

About Metro Logistics

METRO LOGISTICS is responsible for the German warehouses of the METRO organisation in Germany, Austria andSwitzerland. This includes responsibility for distribution shipments and logistics procurement. The company employs 2,800 people. In September 2019, METRO LOGISTICS introduced Transporeon Retail Time Slot Managementat six warehouses in six different German locations.

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"We were looking for a time slot management system for incoming goods at our warehouse locations and quickly realised that Transporeon Retail Time Slot Management is the absolute specialist in this area in Europe. In fact, shortly after the start of the project, we already reduced the waiting times of the trucks at our ramps considerably, smoothed out peak times and now warehouse capacities and staff are managed and used even more efficiently."

Peter Goer, Project Manager
METRO LOGISTICS

Challenges  

  • In the retail sector, it is the supplier that assigns the carriers. This means that METRO LOGISTICS had no contact with each carrier, and was not informed about agreed delivery dates and times.
  • Deliveries reached a peak in the mornings, while idle time at ramps increased during the course of each day. Sometimes incoming trucks had to wait for hours.
  • Long waiting times resulted in demurrage demands, which increased cost and admin work for all parties.
  • Unpredictable waiting and throughput times made it impossible for carriers to optimise truck utilisation and route planning became more difficult.

Solution

  • German warehouses at six different locations were connected to the Transporeon Retail Time Slot Management platform.
  • Retail Time Slot Management was introduced, allowing carriers to independently book suitable time slots online.

  • On the day of delivery, an individualised traffic light system provides real-time visibility of the delivery status of all trucks. Arrival, unloading and departure times are recorded and documented.

  • Trucks that do not have a time slot are recorded and monitored in a digital yardbook. This includes documentation of clearance status.
  • Reports are prepared graphically at the click of a mouse. These include truck arrival and departure times, and indicate compliance with agreed time slots.

Results

  • Short waiting times, fast unloading

The average wait time between truck arrival and start unloading has reduced considerably. With better resource planning, goods are unloaded faster.

  • Cost and time savings

Logistics costs have been reduced and there has been a significant reduction in admin work.

  • Objective evaluation of demurrage claims

As arrival and departure times are recorded, incoming goods performance can be objectively assessed. This enables accurate evaluation of demurrage claims.

  • High acceptance by carriers

90% of carriers now book time slots for deliveries and stick to these agreed times.

PRODUCTS

Explore our digital freight solutions

Dock & Yard Management Hub

Time Slot Management for Retail

Time Slot Management for Retail
  • Increase handling capacity by up to 20%
  • Reduce driver wait times by up to 40%
  • Shorten loading times by up to 60 minutes
  • Audit and legal security
  • Completely documented processes
Benefits

Dock & Yard Management Hub

Real-Time Yard Management

Real-Time Yard Management
  • Improve overall visibility and ability to predict changes.
  • Combine yard, transport, and warehouse management.
  • Automate arrivals, check-ins, and call-offs.
  • Avoid costs and fees caused by idle and inefficient processes.
  • Monitor, measure, and improve KPIs.
Benefits

Dock & Yard Management Hub

Time Slot Management

Time Slot Management
  • Full transparency of delivery and pick-up times for all parties 
  • Efficient use of resources due to the even and predictable distribution of loadings and unloadings
  • Reduction of waiting times for trucks by up to 40%
  • Audit-proof and legal compliance through fully documented processes
  • Quick response and operational optimization through fast communication and real-time data
Benefits
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