Google on Thursday unveiled a pair of new tools to help logistics companies and retailers optimize their shipments, allowing them to keep up with the high customer expectations that come with e-commerce.
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The logistics space represents a huge opportunity for tech companies, and Google in particular. Many fleet operators have workflows that are in desperate need of updating. Even before the pandemic, retailers and shippers were struggling to keep up with the growing demand for same-day and next-day deliveries. Technology vendors have offered solutions such as platforms for crowd-sourcing drivers, as well as the development of autonomous deliveries using robots and drones. Now, the supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic have made logistics operations even more demanding.
Google, meanwhile, has clear advantages in this space. Its sophisticated mapping tools are already widely used, and cloud and analytics tools can make use of the entire supply chain and logistics data available from delivery operations.
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With this in mind, Google is launching two complementary tools that provide a comprehensive suite of mapping, routing, and analytics capabilities. First, the Last Mile Fleet solution on the Google Maps platform focuses on delivery execution. It provides tools for drivers and optimization tools for fleet operators.
Meanwhile, the Cloud Fleet Routing API from Google Cloud focuses on the route planning phase of delivery. It allows operators to perform advanced optimization across the fleet so they can allocate the right number of packages to the right delivery trucks. It is natively integrated with Google Maps route data, allowing it to resolve simple route planning requests in near real-time.
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With this pair of tools, fleet operators can ensure they have accurate addresses, optimized routes that adapt to real-time traffic conditions and delivery time windows, navigation powered by Google Maps, shipment tracking, and visibility into route progress in real time.
Information source: zdnet.com
