As we meet more and more dairy processors and hauliers, we are surprised at the number of companies struggling to modernise their milk collection planning, even though they have procured the services of a route optimisation company to do just that. We are often met with sceptical ears when we bring up the topic of milk collection optimisation because of negative experiences with other providers of route optimisation products.
The three most common phrases we hear back are:
- Implementation failure – “We tried a generic optimisation solution, but we never went live.”
- Functional gaps – “They said they could handle our requirements and constraints during sales, but in reality fell short.”
- Over running on budget and time – “We invested a lot initially, and we are still not up and running, and we have invested too much to just pull out.”
Implementing route optimisation software:
Implementing logistics optimisation technology can be a complex and challenging process that requires a deep understanding of logistics operations, the nuances of the dairy industry and business requirements specific to milk assembly or milk collection logistics – not delivery logistics!
It also requires a dedicated team on the solution provider side to see the project through and to truly partner with the client. Unfortunately, not all providers within this market will cover these critical areas. This often leads to failed implementations, where businesses are unable to see the expected improvements in their logistics operations.
Functional Gaps within the product:
Many companies we speak to have said that our competitors do not keep their initial promises. During the sales process, some vendors promise the world, with claims of being capable of meeting every requirement. However, once implementation begins, businesses may find that these promises are not kept.
Workarounds to fill gaps become cumbersome and mitigate any potential gained benefit. Quickly it becomes clear that the solution is not geared towards the specific complexities of milk collection. In some cases functionality that was promised doesn’t even exist or is ‘on the roadmap’. This can be incredibly disappointing for businesses who may have invested a significant amount of time and money into implementing the platform.
Going with a non-specialised route optimisation solution, may mean the advanced technology and expertise required to service the complex world of milk collection or assembly simply isn’t present. The solution will lack the capability to provide effective dairy-specific logistics optimisation. Whereas an industry-specific solution like OptaHaul, that is a dedicated raw milk collection or assembly platform, will be better suited to the complex needs of the dairy industry.
Over running on budget and time:
From speaking to a number of companies, their experiences often involve projects over running on time and budget. Implementing a logistics optimisation platform can be a time-consuming and expensive process, with many potential roadblocks and challenges along the way.
Some providers may underestimate the time and resources required for implementation, leading to projects running over. From feedback we have also heard that implementations have run into delays due to a lack of understanding of the dairy processing industry and its unique requirements. This has led to incorrect implementations, reworking builds and in some cases ripping out a solution and needing to start over.
This is very frustrating for dairy businesses, who may have to delay their implementation or cut back on other important initiatives. Providers should always be providing a clear timeline and budget for implementation, ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget.
How OptaHaul implementations are different:
At OptaHaul we strongly believe there is a method to successful implementations. In contrast, OptaHaul has a track record of 100% successful implementations. The reason for our 100% implementation success rate is that right from the beginning, we match the three key pillars to a successful “go-live”:
- Solution fit – A transparent and honest sales process ensures that your requirements are deeply understood. We honestly call out where our solution fits, and importantly any gaps, and we ensure there is a clear understanding of our clients’ end goal.
- Skilled implementation team – Skilled and dedicated partnership/customer success team – we become an extension of your planning team. We are just as invested in a successful implementation as our clients.
- Enabling clients – Ensuring clients are trained and educated on our product to ensure they get the very best from our solutions.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, OptaHaul is the clear choice for businesses looking to optimise their milk logistics operations. Our advanced technology, flexibility, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and innovation sets us apart from our competitors, ensuring that businesses can achieve their logistics optimisation goals. As this area of logistics technology becomes more mature, the shortcomings of other providers have never been more evident: failed implementations, projects running over on time and budget, unkept promises, and exaggerated capabilities.
So if you are looking to streamline your logistics operations and reduce costs, choose OptaHaul and start reaping the benefits today!
For a free demo, get in touch today.