ID Logistics centralises route planning with PTV OptiFlow
Streamlined planning, reduced mileage, and greater efficiency – all made possible with PTV OptiFlow.
ID Logistics has centralised the planning of its urban distribution network at its main site in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Today, just two planners are needed each evening to schedule more than 400 routes with 5,000 to 6,000 stops – a feat that would not have been possible without transitioning to PTV OptiFlow, the advanced route planning system from PTV Logistics.
A complex network, centrally controlled
The company’s urban distribution network consists of seven sites across the Benelux, including its headquarters in Tilburg and hubs in Berkel en Rodenrijs, Alkmaar, Veendam, Apeldoorn, Echt, and Willebroek (Belgium). Over 400 vehicles depart from these locations daily to collect pallet and parcel consignments, delivering them within 24 hours across the region.
ID Logistics owns 325 of these vehicles, with the remainder operated by subcontractors. However, all are equipped with ID Logistics’ onboard computers, allowing for full visibility and real-time adjustments from the central planning office in Tilburg.
Why centralisation became essential
Until recently, five of the seven depots handled their own planning. This decentralised setup proved unsustainable. “It became increasingly difficult to safeguard planning knowledge across the network,” explains Schuffelers. “When a planner left, it often created significant disruption. It was also increasingly challenging to find highly skilled planners willing to work evening shifts.”
With centralisation, just two planners are now needed in the evening – down from five.
The number of kilometres driven has decreased by 2 to 4 percent, while planning time has been reduced by 1.5 to 2 hours.
The power of new algorithms
The shift was made possible when PTV Logistics acquired Conundra, thereby gaining access to the more advanced PTV OptiFlow. “I’d already seen the system and was impressed by its algorithms. As soon as I heard the news, I contacted our account manager at PTV Logistics,” recalls Schuffelers.
ID Logistics had previously used an older PTV system which lacked support for multi-depot planning. In contrast, PTV OptiFlow includes this functionality as standard – along with significantly more powerful optimisation algorithms.
Tackling complexity with a smart workaround
Planning for 400+ vehicles and 5,000–6,000 daily stops is no small task – and the number of transport orders is nearly double that, due to frequent changes and split consignments. At the time of implementation, no other PTV OptiFlow users had operated at this scale or complexity.
Another challenge: there was no existing interface between PTV OptiFlow and Transpas, ID’s transport management system (TMS). To avoid delays, ID Logistics and PTV created a workaround via the legacy planning system.
“Orders are passed from the TMS through the old system into PTV OptiFlow, and the optimised plans are returned the same way,” explains Schuffelers.
“This also made it easier to compare outputs between the two systems, helping us accelerate user adoption.”
A new role for planners
The move to PTV OptiFlow required planners to change their mindset. The old system allowed extensive manual edits. In contrast, the new system depends on well-calibrated parameters. “We asked our planners to trust the algorithms and let the system do its job,” says Schuffelers.
“Evening planners don’t have time for fine-tuning – that’s now the role of our day shift planners, who are more analytically skilled and responsible for improving the system through simulation and parameter refinement.” The system also supports dynamic rule-setting, for instance, applying different planning rules on quieter Mondays versus busier Tuesdays.
“That allows us to scale down the number of vehicles on lower-volume days.”
Results
Tangible results
With more compact routes, ID Logistics has reduced total kilometres driven by 2 to 4%. “Previously, the volume and stop density sometimes resulted in inefficiently stretched routes. PTV OptiFlow keeps them tighter and more efficient.” The company’s recent fourth Lean & Green star is credited in large part to these planning improvements. Shorter planning time has also had a knock-on effect: loading lists are now available earlier, which helps depot staff prepare shipments more efficiently. “Cut-off times in our sector are becoming later – sometimes as late as 10:30pm – while loading lists need to be ready around midnight. That time saving is crucial.” ID Logistics also fully utilises multi-depot planning: “From Tilburg, we create a single plan for all seven depots. If a delivery from one hub is more efficient when handled by another, the system accounts for that.”
What’s next: linehauls, electric vehicles, and strategic use
in 2025, ID Logistics plans to extend PTV OptiFlow’s use to linehaul planning between hubs and to optimise electric vehicle routing, for which the system is already equipped.
Strategic and tactical use cases are also on the horizon. “We want to analyse the entire network to optimise postcode-to-hub assignments,” Schuffelers says. “In theory, removing all restrictions could yield even bigger savings. But in practice, we’d lose speed if drivers no longer stuck to familiar routes.”
When evaluating tenders, the system also proves valuable. Aa simple data file from a potential customer enables simulations to estimate the network impact, including cost and capacity changes.
“Because we’ve now embedded planner knowledge into the system, we’re no longer limited by individual expertise. That makes future growth much easier.”
