Brazil’s Grupo Petrópolis is using routing and fleet management solution from Atlanta-based Descartes Systems to enhance its nationwide beverage distribution operations using approximately 2,900 vehicles. The Descartes solution has helped Grupo Petrópolis achieve an on-time delivery rate of 98%, reduce overtime hours by 9% and decrease fuel consumption by 5%.

Grupo Petrópolis produces a wide range of beer brands, lagers, vodkas, energy drinks, mineral waters and soft drinks. The company is the only major beer producer in the sector that is 100 percent Brazilian-owned.

Part of Descartes’ routing, mobile and telematics solution suite, the Descartes routing and fleet management solution is designed to help retail food and beverage distribution companies manage routes for optimal efficiency and minimise the impact of unforeseen events on customer service levels, mileage and costs.

By continually re-optimising route plans based on real-time traffic data and other variables, the solution improves on-time delivery performance, lowers mileage by guiding drivers through shorter route paths, and decreases total route time and costs by providing alternate routes and stop sequences in heavy traffic or adverse conditions.

The solution also monitors planned vs actual deliveries, product traceability, journey control (including lunch breaks, overnights and overtime), route deviations, unplanned stops and departure or arrival delays.

“To better meet customer needs, we wanted a fleet management platform to enhance on-time performance, improve service in case of returns or customer concerns and advance sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions,” said Luís Moura, Manager at Grupo Petrópolis. “The Descartes solution gives us a new level of control and visibility into our large distribution network. Across 160 locations, routes are now more intelligent and efficient, and we track all routes in real-time. If a driver goes off a planned route, the system immediately signals the detour so our team can respond quickly, which is critical to providing reliable service. And, because we can act with much more delivery precision and agility, we have lowered fuel and maintenance costs, gained visibility into idle vehicles and overcome challenges with product and delivery traceability.”

“Our collaboration with Grupo Petrópolis highlights how advanced routing solutions can help transform complex distribution environments into highly efficient, sustainable, and customer-focused logistics operations,” said Douglas Alves, Sales Executive at Descartes. “As food and beverage distributors look for opportunities to enhance last mile performance, our solution suite can help rebalance distribution networks; improve route productivity, execution and sustainability; respond more dynamically to demand; and accelerate cash flow with electronic proof-of-delivery.”