CASE STUDY

Advancing Route Optimization with Routing as a Service​​

A regional distributor of fresh food products, serving convenience store accounts across more than 20 markets, sought to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness through advanced route engineering. With a fleet of approximately 100 routes, the company identified an immediate need to optimize current routing and introduce more sophisticated routing solutions to support growth and service quality.

OVERVIEW

Industry
Food & Beverage
Wholesale & Distribution
Client
Regional Food Distributor
Location
United States - Central
Services
Route-To-Market Strategy
Customer Classification
Service Frequency Optimization
Routing Optimization
​Onboarding
Challenge
Lack of internal routing expertise hindered immediate and long-term optimization.
Approach
Assessed needs & delivered expert route engineering & interim project management.
Recommendation
Analysis identified route, service, and process improvements for lasting impact.
Results
Distributor gained optimized routes, sustainable processes, and an onboarded Routing Analyst trained for ongoing success.

THE STORY

The Challenge

The distributor’s internal team lacked experience with advanced route engineering and the specialized Territory Planning software required for optimal results. The company needed to address immediate route optimization needs while establishing best-in-class processes and tools for ongoing routing improvements. Dedicated project management was also critical to ensure successful implementation and to bridge the gap until a permanent internal routing expert could be hired.

Our Apppoach

PS Solutions Group was engaged to deliver Routing as a Service, combining technical expertise with interim program management. The project included:
  • Quantitative analysis of the current service schedule to identify opportunities for service frequency optimization.
  • Route engineering using account-level data, service requirements, and geographic criteria to redesign routes, group stops by day, and balance workloads.
  • Comparative review of baseline and engineered route solutions, with iterative feedback from company leadership.
  • Introduction of advanced routing tools and methodologies, along with documentation of new processes and standard operating procedures.
  • Interim management of routing initiatives and support for hiring and onboarding a long-term route planning specialist.

Our Recommendations

The assessment revealed opportunities to improve route efficiency, reduce distribution expense, and enhance service allocation.

​Recommendations focused on optimizing service frequency, balancing route assignments, and leveraging advanced routing software for ongoing improvements. The project also highlighted the importance of dedicated project management and process documentation to sustain routing excellence.

The Results

The company received a comprehensive analysis of its existing routes, a fully engineered routing solution, and clear pre/post comparisons of key metrics such as mileage, work hours, drive time, service time, and service visits.  Process documentation and executive summaries provided a roadmap for both standard and advanced routing practices. Interim program management ensured a smooth transition, and a successfully onboarded and trained new internal Routing Analyst, enabling the company to realize  both immediate operational gains and equipping them with in-house expertise & the foundation needed for sustained routing excellence.