Silver Eagle Distributors: Driving Beverage Distribution Efficiency with Descartes
Silver Eagle Distributors, one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beverage distributors, operates in the Houston area, delivering about 36 million cases annually.
Managing a fleet of 180 trucks across five depots, the company faced growing challenges in ensuring efficient, data-driven routing. To improve operations, optimize routes, and gain deeper insights, Silver Eagle turned to Descartes’ route planning, route execution, and fleet performance management solutions.
Learn How Silver Eagle Distributors Worked with Descartes to Modernize Their Logistics
The Challenge: Lack of Reliable Data for Informed Decision-Making
Before partnering with Descartes, Silver Eagle had limited visibility into its operations. While the company tracked basic metrics such as driver hours, stops delivered, and miles traveled, it lacked planned versus actual performance insights. This data gap made it difficult to assess route efficiency, measure service times, and evaluate driver performance. Without a strong data foundation, optimizing routes and making informed operational decisions remained a challenge.
“We didn’t know how drivers were performing on the road versus what they were supposed to be doing,” explained Matt Fannon, Director of Routing at Silver Eagle Distributors. “We were often spinning our wheels, trying to create the best plan without data to support it.”
The inability to compare planned versus actual performance also impacted Silver Eagle’s ability to test and refine pilot re-route programs. Without clear visibility, determining their effectiveness and making necessary adjustments was difficult, ultimately hindering operational efficiency and cost management.
The Solution: Actionable Data Supports Efficient Routing
To modernize its logistics operations and prepare for long-term success, Silver Eagle partnered with Descartes to implement a suite of routing and fleet performance solutions. Since then, they have seen measurable improvements in efficiency, decision-making, and overall fleet performance.
The implementation of data-driven insights led to an 8-10% reduction in planned miles, helping to enhance efficiency and lower operational costs. Improved tracking and validation now provide deeper insights into pilot program effectiveness, enabling more strategic decision-making. The transition to the Descartes solution also streamlined workflows for the routing team, making route planning more intuitive and effective.
According to Fannon, the relationship with Descartes has been instrumental in their success, emphasizing that having direct access to responsive support has helped them navigate challenges and optimize their processes effectively.
“We now have data that tells us whether we’re making good decisions or if we need to pivot. The tools from Descartes are solid, but the real value comes from the partnership. If I call, I know I’ll get the support I need.”
Matt Fannon, Director of Routing, Silver Eagle Distributors
By leveraging the Descartes solutions, Silver Eagle Distributors has positioned itself for continued success, using data-driven insights to refine operations and enhance delivery performance across Houston.
The Results
8-10% Reduction in Planned Miles
Descartes’ optimization tools helped Silver Eagle reduce planned miles 8-10%, improving efficiency and lowering costs.
Streamlined Routing Processes
Easy-to-use interfaces have enabled routing teams to optimize delivery plans and improve the efficiency of their distribution processes.
Planned vs. Actual Performance Management
Enhanced tracking allowed Silver Eagle to compare planned vs. actual performance and see how drivers are performing on the road.
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Improved data tracking and validation allow for better planning and analysis of pilot programs, helping assess success and make informed adjustments.
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