Lowering logistics costs

These days, businesses use software to streamline processes in a number of different areas. But most processes are exclusively targeted at meeting internal needs. Indeed, many companies, including some large ones, who want to introduce a pro-cess-based approach to external services, tend to do so in an inefficient, ad hoc manner. Opti-Time’s services are designed to address and resolve this issue.
Born of the merger between Magellan Ingénierie and Délia Systems in 2008, the firm specializes in route optimization (an area of competence inherited from Magellan Ingénierie) and in people (HR skills inherited from Délia Systems). Present in Nanterre, Caen, Grenoble, Madrid and Bogota, Opti-Time has 40 employees and 900 clients, and turned over 4 million euros in 2009, with 30% of that figure generated in the export market. Opti-Time works with 22 technological partners, 11 OEM-VAR (Original Equipment Manufacturers/Value Added Resellers) and 25 software and computing service companies. “In spite of the economic crisis, we managed to increase our turnover by 18% last year; thanks to recruiting 145 new clients, our growth rate in the new business sector was 30%,” says Pierre-Yves Minarro, Opti-Time’s Managing Director.
Opti-Time, No. 1 in France in the optimization and planning sector, helps its clients to overcome day-to-day problems and achieve their goals: shorter journeys, less time on the road, more deliveries, more interventions, faster response times, and greater visibility to existing and potential clients.
However, according to recent statistics provided by the Gartner business analysis agency, only 18% of French businesses use optimization and planning services. Nevertheless, by 2012 the figure should, again according to Gartner, rise to 40%, depending on the rise in oil prices, concerns about reducing carbon emissions, the liberalisation of markets (telecommunications, gas and electricity), and a gene ralised need for the implementation of IT and process-based approaches, the transformation of operational practices, and organisational evolution. Deliveries and interventions in the B to C sector are often more straightforward than in the B to B sector. Schedules are precise and delivery sites are specific (airports, factories). Several daily deliveries of various types of merchandise must be planned. Interventions, meanwhile, require a range of skills, maintenance contracts, and access to specific sites.
Opti-Time has convinced prestigious clients across the economic spectrum of the value of its services. The firm’s customers include Air Liquide, Atac, Auchan, Bouygues Télécom, Carrefour, Casino, EDF, GRDF, Le Figaro, Orange, Ouest- France, Saretec, and Spie. And it is likely that more big names will soon be added to the list; in 2009, the number of resources managed by Opti-Time (people and vehicles) grew by 44%. “In 2010, we are going to try to increase our presence in foreign markets (particularly the UK); to consolidate our position in France as part of our long-term plan to become the largest company in the sector in Europe; and to conserve our dominant position in France, Spain and Italy. Our estimated turnover for 2010 is 4.3 million euros with a growth in new business of 20%,” says Pierre-Yves Minarro. To attain these ambitious objectives, Opti-Time is able to call on technological expertise ready-made solutions designed to increase operational efficiency, improve reactivity and reduce transport costs.
Opti-Time technology offers two approaches to optimizing performance. The first is a global approach: every client is identified, a calculation is made in a matter of minutes and applications include forecast-based planning and estimates of route times. The second is an incremental approach: clients are integrated little by little, the calculation takes no more than a few seconds, and applications include operational planning, the real-time organization of delivery schedules, and dealing with unexpected problems. “Our approach consists of helping client-companies to progress by losing their bad habits and developing good ones,” Mr Minarro explains.

Information: www.opti-time.com