Woolworths Supports Online Growth with Cloud-enabled Solution

Woolworths, Australia’s largest retailer, has deployed a new logistics solution to support the growth of its online grocery business.

The retailer is using Waterloo, Ontario-based Descartes Systems Group’s Descartes Route Planner and cloud-based Descartes Mobile with The Bestrane Group, a Descartes "United by Design" partner in Australia.

“The Woolworths online grocery business has grown at a significant pace and this trend continues to accelerate,” said Roger Steele, head of online operations at Woolworths. “The Descartes/Bestrane solution helps us address complex delivery requirements that contribute to customer satisfaction and an enhanced online ordering experience. It meets our needs today, and is capable of providing increased functionality as we expand and take on greater Omni-channel retailing challenges.”

Descartes provides on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, performance and security of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use its solutions to route, schedule, track and measure delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes.

The Descartes Route Planner Suite combines planning, execution and comprehensive reporting to provide route optimization with fully-integrated route tracking and execution via mobile devices, according to the vendor. “For Woolworths, the solution has contributed to a significant improvement in productivity and on-time delivery performance,” said Dave Sanders, managing director of Bestrane. “The complete solution is also rapid to deploy with Woolworth sites across the country fully operational in less than 5 months.”

Woolworths operates more than 3,000 stores across Australia and New Zealand that span food, liquor, petroleum, general merchandise, home improvement and hotels.