An aquatics specialist has scaled up efficiencies in its delivery operation, thanks to an innovative new pay-as-you-go route optimisation platform.
J&K Aquatics is one of the UK’s largest wholesalers of aquatic goods and fish, serving the whole of the UK and Republic of Ireland. The Somerset-based company, founded and run by Paul and Judy James, wanted to further improve its logistics operations for deliveries to garden centres and aquatics stores.
Paul James said: “We built this business through a strong focus on customer service, and a belief that you can always do better. We are constantly looking for ways to get products onto the shelves in our customer’s store faster than before, while still providing a reliable and accurate service.
“My Transport Planner takes all the hassle out of planning our delivery schedules. The route planning is different every day, as customers order as and when they need them. My Transport Planner has turned a daily chore into a five to ten-minute visual audit of what is going to happen the following day.”
My Transport Planner is the UK’s first fully pay-as-you-go route optimisation platform. It aims to unlock the benefits of route optimisation and vehicle scheduling for small and medium-sized businesses.
The platform is proven to reduce total transport costs by up to 30 per cent, including a reduction in mileage of up to 20 per cent.
It uses powerful algorithms to calculate the most efficient routes and schedules, in a fraction of the time it takes a human to do the same workload. Users simply buy credits priced at 99p or less, with one credit planning one vehicle’s daily route.
J&K Aquatics has signed up for My Transport Planner’s innovative On Demand package, which combines the flexibility of pay-as-you-go model with invoices monthly in arrears.
Judy James said: “The billing model is really innovative – and it puts the customer first. We only pay for what we use, so we have the flexibility to scale up or down in line with our business needs.”
J&K Aquatics was formed in 1984, by Paul and Judy James, as a small retail shop in Wellington. It has grown to become a major wholesaler, expanding in 2013 into a 2.3-acre purpose-built site in North Petherton. It provides a complete aquatic service, as well as specialist lines imported from around the world.
Developed by Newcastle-based route optimisation specialists The Algorithm People, My Transport Planner was launched in May 2020. Customers include couriers and food delivery companies, through to national chains such as Selco Builders Warehouse.
Colin Ferguson, CEO of The Algorithm People, said: “Our goal with My Transport Planner was to unlock the benefits of route optimisation for SMEs. They can now enjoy the same operational efficiency benefits as larger fleets who use this software, but with complete flexibility and no contract.
My Transport Planner is designed to generate savings for van and truck operators whose vehicles visit multiple locations each shift. Applications include couriers, home delivery, road haulage and logistics, as well as utilities, mobile service engineers, and field sales or marketing teams. www.mytransportplanner.com.
