Article ID: | iaor200947201 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 38 |
Issue: | 1 |
Start Page Number: | 40 |
End Page Number: | 50 |
Publication Date: | Jan 2008 |
Journal: | Interfaces |
Authors: | Kant Goos, Jacks Michael, Aantjes Corn |
Keywords: | agriculture & food, distribution, vehicle routing & scheduling |
In 2004 and 2005, Coca–Cola Enterprises (CCE)—the world's largest bottler and distributor of Coca–Cola products—implemented ORTEC's vehicle–routing software. Today, over 300 CCE dispatchers use this software daily to plan the routes of approximately 10,000 trucks. In addition to handling nonstandard constraints, the implementation is notable for its progressive transition from the prior business practice. CCE has realized an annual cost saving of $45 million and major improvements in customer service. This approach has been so successful that Coca–Cola has extended it beyond CCE to other Coca–Cola bottling companies and beer distributors.