Furniture retailer Ikea is preparing to go live with a
system that will allow its customers to track orders
online.
The project is part of a phased roll-out of logistics and
scheduling software from Paragon and home delivery management
software from Axida.
In July, Ikea went live with the first phase of the roll-out,
using Axida's HDi (Home Delivery and Installation) software, in a
contract worth more than £1m.
The Axida software is being used by Ikea's Wholesale division to
manage the delivery of larger items held at central locations and
bespoke items, such as kitchen worktops, which can be tracked from
a third-party manufacturer.
In the new year, Ikea will start using Paragon's Real Time
Router software to carry out real-time scheduling for its UK home
delivery service, with delivery staff accessing information on the
road via PDAs.
Ikea is also integrating Paragon's routing and scheduling system
into Axida's HDi software, so customers can get a complete view of
the supply chain. They will be able to use the Ikea website to view
orders from the point of sale through to delivery by Exel, Ikea's
fulfilment partner.
The software can assess which delivery dates and times should be
offered to a customer based on their proximity to other orders that
have already been routed.