Cargill Implements Cutting-edge Transportation Technology
Real-time tracking program helps deliver the Excel® Fresh Meats brand promise
September 14, 2006
WICHITA, Kan. – Delivering products on-time is crucial to businesses that serve hungry consumers. Cargill applied its insight and decided to act on it.
Through the use of new technology, Cargill added two new systems to their transportation department so the Excel® Fresh Meats brand could continue to strive to deliver on its promise of products that are Clean, Cold, Correct and On-Time™.
Cargill created a solution by adding GPS technology to their 100 distribution trucks and installing software to their computers for scheduling pickups and deliveries.
Impact of Online Software
Focusing on the urgency of being “on-time,” a team of employees from Cargill Meat Solutions collaborated with carriers, schedulers and customers to improve the delivery process to create a better product for Excel customers. The team found that customers needed their orders to arrive on their expected delivery dates, or if an order was delayed, the customer needed to be notified immediately.
“Our customers are applauding the new program,” said Teri Bilyeu, transportation manager, Cargill. “We can already see this program will help us successfully deliver products to our customers so they meet the needs for the consumers.”
It gives them a new option for tracking deliveries – a real-time option at their convenience. Customers can choose to receive e-mail notifications of order status changes.
“The online software is a great fit with many of our customers because it is easy to use and implement,” continued Bilyeu.
Impact of GPS Technology
The new GPS technology installed on the food distribution trucks allows drivers to relay messages to their distribution center and to update the status of customers’ orders through the push of a button, which updates the system immediately.
“With 10 food distribution centers located across the United States, keeping updated and accurate information is imperative,” explained Jon Mosher, transportation manager, Cargill Food Distribution. “If a customer calls us and asks for the status of their delivery, we can log on to any computer and get real-time status of any delivery for them. This helps us reduce miscommunication and delays in deliveries.”
The two new systems are expected to improve overall efficiencies and allow the Excel brand to continue to strive to follow through on its promise of delivering products on-time.
Excel® Fresh Meats is a brand of beef and pork products that Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation markets to its worldwide customer base of retail and foodservice customers. The Excel brand represents 85 percent of Cargill Meat Solutions’ beef and pork offerings.
Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation is one of the largest fresh, frozen and value-added beef, pork and turkey suppliers in the country. The business is a subsidiary of Cargill, Incorporated, an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 149,000 employees in 63 countries, Cargill is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit www.cargillmeatsolutions.com and www.cargill.com.
