Real Route Planning Software Benefits According to the Businesses That Use It

What if you could tell your board you've cut delivery miles by 20%—with the data to prove it? Or that a 10% boost in operational efficiency is now a reality? 

Across distribution, transportation and logistics, the challenges are familiar: manual or under-optimized planning that eats up hours and fuel, rigid legacy systems that can’t adapt and constant pressure to deliver more with fewer resources—all while staying sustainable. 

The companies thriving today didn’t just tweak old processes; they transformed them. With a leading routing and scheduling system—sometimes called route planning or route optimization software—these businesses have turned complexity into control, chaos into coordination and data into measurable results. 

Below, we're sharing the real-world route planning software benefits that companies like yours are achieving right now with Aptean Routing & Scheduling. And the reviews and testimonials are in. From massive cost savings to unshakable customer satisfaction, this is how they're turning logistics into a competitive advantage that you too can seize. 

Let's dive into the proof.

Reducing Costs by Cutting Truck Miles and Empty Running

For any distribution business, fuel and vehicle maintenance are major expenses. Therefore, directly reducing mileage and improving vehicle utilization are among the most effective ways to improve your bottom line. The introduction of route optimization software has resulted in immediate and impressive reductions in logistics costs for many companies—let's take a look at Blackheath Products, Martin Brower and Tesco for example.

Martin Brower eliminated over 5,000 miles a week, while Blackheath Products achieved a remarkable 20% reduction in overall mileage. On a larger scale, Tesco cut empty running by 12% and saved 150,000 miles each week. No matter the size of your company, significant cuts in truck miles like this lead directly to substantial savings in fuel costs and vehicle wear and tear, delivering rapid return on investment for route planning software and better overall logistics efficiency.

For these companies, the software not only paid for itself but also turned logistical waste into a significant new source of profit by reducing empty running and increasing backhauling. This enhanced vehicle optimization and enabled them to do more with their existing fleets—boosting profit opportunities without having to invest in new tractors or trailers, saving on capital costs.

Read the full case studies to see how else these companies benefited with Aptean Routing & Scheduling software: Blackheath Products, Martin Brower and Tesco.

Improving Efficiency and Streamlining Processes 

The burden of manual planning processes, whether that’s with spreadsheets or basic systems that require much intervention, can be overwhelming, prone to error and slow, straining the resources needed for timely deliveries and efficient operations. Instead, route optimization software automates the process, taking routing from hours to minutes. 

Many of our customers report complete turnarounds in operational efficiency thanks to the implementation of Aptean Routing & Scheduling. For example, AO's group tech director, Carl Phillips, shared that after implementation, “close to 100% of all our routes are produced without human intervention." Similarly, the group logistics manager of BSW Timber reported that the company is now "doing a high percentage of the work in a fraction of the time," replacing a previously fragmented and inefficient planning process. These success stories demonstrate the system's effectiveness in automating workflows and boosting productivity from day one. 

What’s more, this shift to automated, optimized planning frees time for teams to work on value-add activities. It empowered AO's routing specialists to run strategic delivery simulations and optimize resources—creating a future-ready infrastructure that flexes with every growth opportunity. The software turned a time-consuming administrative task into a strategic advantage, opening new possibilities for growth and development. 

Read the complete AO case study and BSW Timber case study for more info on how route optimization software delivers immediate efficiency improvements.

Reliably Meeting Customer Time Windows and Delivering Great Service 

Good logistics is a balancing act between delivering excellent customer service that keeps clients loyal and driving efficiency that keeps profits on track. Delays or errors in delivery can result in fines, lost revenue and damaged customer relationships. But on-time deliveries that not only meet, but exceed requirements help differentiate your business from the competition.  

Take for example, Wren Kitchens and Marigolds & Onions: both companies struggled without a sophisticated system in place to provide reliable delivery time windows to customers. Enter Aptean's routing solution, with its unparalleled precision, providing the exactitude required for these time-sensitive operations. The system factors in all variables—from traffic patterns to unloading times—to create routes that consistently deliver on-time arrivals. For Wren Kitchens, this meant reliably meeting time windows for kitchen deliveries while reducing customer delivery lead time by 60%. Meanwhile, Marigolds & Onions could keep its perishable goods on schedule and increase visibility of delivery and collection status. 

The result was a dramatic improvement in delivery punctuality. Both companies could uphold their service-level agreements, strengthen customer trust and enhance their reputations for quality and service. The software provided the control needed to master the most challenging aspect of logistics: the clock. 

Read the full Wren Kitchens case study and Marigolds & Onions case study for more. 

Cutting Carbon Emissions and Building a Sustainable Supply Chain 

Corporate responsibility and environmental targets are becoming more important to shareholders and customers alike. So, for retail and logistics giants like Tesco and Martin Brower, reducing the carbon footprint of their large delivery fleets was a key priority, requiring a solution that could directly minimize fuel consumption. 

By leveraging Aptean's route planning software, these companies achieved remarkable reductions in their carbon footprint by eliminating wasted miles, optimizing load consolidation and reducing idling time. For Martin Brower, this meant cutting 900,000 lbs. of CO2, while Tesco saved thousands of tons of CO2 each year, contributing significantly to the company’s ambitions sustainability target. 

Whether you’re a huge national fleet or smaller regional business, the ability to demonstrate sustainable logistics practices will only become more important as legislation tightens and customer requirements increase.  Advanced routing systems, like Aptean’s, are a potent tool for achieving environmental goals and constructing a greener, more responsible supply chain without compromising operational performance.  

Read the complete Martin Brower case study and Tesco case study for more.

Building a Future-Proof Logistics Operation

For a beloved, nation-wide brand like Warburtons, the UK's largest bakery brand, consistency and reliability in delivery are non-negotiable. As the company grew, it needed a logistics system that could support its long-term strategic goals while ensuring every store receives fresh products daily.

Implementing Aptean's route optimization software allowed Warburtons to transform its daily distribution operations, while providing the strategic route planning tools to enhance customer service and scalability initiatives. For example, Jim Norton, the company’s distribution planning manager, shared that with Aptean’s capabilities Warburtons was able to consider “strategic elements, like our depot locations and things like that. Are they in the right place? Do we need more depots and all that kind of long-term strategic thinking.” This ensures the business is able to adapt to changing pressures quickly, future-proofing profitability and success.

In addition, Aptean’s strategic modeling tools allow for continuous optimization of daily operations, ensuring routes are as efficient as possible while also fulfilling all customer service objectives. As such, the partnership with Aptean provided the technological edge Warburtons needed to protect the brand's reputation for quality and service in the long run.

Read the full Warburtons case study for more.

Supporting a Major Business Transformation

When a business undergoes a fundamental transformation, its logistics systems must be able to adapt and support new models, not hold them back. Even more important in today’s AI era, having the agility and tools to transform quickly will separate the winners from the losers.

When Greggs, a leading UK food-on-the-go retailer, embarked on a huge business change, reshaping its entire supply chain to expand its reach, the company needed a logistics partner to keep pace. Aptean's route planning system was integrated into the heart of this transformation. The software provided the flexibility to model and manage new distribution strategies, quickly identifying efficiency improvements and providing measurable results rapidly. This agility was critical during a period of intense change and growth.

These results included a 30% increase in vehicle utilization, cutting 900 miles per week from local plans and a 35 ton reduction in annual CO2 emissions, proving that the right technology is a catalyst for change, not a barrier to it.

Read the full Greggs case study for more.

The Critical Benefit of Choosing an Experienced Vendor

All the results showcased above—reducing costs, boosting efficiency, improving customer service and cutting carbon emissions—have one thing in common: they weren’t achieved by software alone. They were the product of powerful technology paired with a vendor that understands the realities of day-to-day logistics and knows how to turn that software into sustained operational gains. Selecting a powerful route planning system is only half the battle; choosing the right partner is what unlocks its full potential.

The why the technology you invest in must be supported by a vendor with deep industry expertise, a commitment to innovation and a proven track record of long-term partnership. Without that, even strong software can become a static tool—one that fails to evolve alongside your business or support the continuous improvements today’s logistics operations demand.

When evaluating a potential partner, it's crucial to look beyond the feature list. Scrutinize their client support structure—do they offer dedicated, knowledgeable account management and timely technical support? Assess their investment in R&D; a vendor that isn't continuously enhancing its platform with features like AI routing assistants and personalized workflow automations will leave you at a competitive disadvantage in a few years. Furthermore, ensure they have a proven onboarding and implementation methodology, as a poor rollout can derail even the best software.

The head of scheduling of Martin Brower, Peter Holdsworth, highlighted the importance of longevity and continuous research and development, noting, "One other thing you have to consider is the longevity of a product. It's so hard buying a good product and maybe it may even be top of the road today, but where will it be in 10 years, or 20 years?"

He further elaborated on the benefit of a collaborative relationship, adding, "The relationship that certainly I've had with Paragon [now Aptean] over the last two decades is that we've worked together whenever I need something... It's in a state of perpetual development. I don't see the end." This commitment to delivering innovative features that help our customers as their businesses, and the wider logistics industry evolves, provides deeper benefit realization and continuous improvements over many years.

Lee Holmes, transport and logistics director at Wren Kitchens underscored this idea when he shared: “It’s not about Aptean growing with us. We’ve grown with Aptean, and by far, that is one of the biggest benefits of using the software.”

These testimonials make it clear that the right vendor provides more than just software; they provide a strategic partnership dedicated to your long-term success. It ensures your investment is protected and your logistics operations remain future proof. That’s the Aptean advantage.

Why Aptean Is the Partner You Need for Logistics Success

You've just seen the proof from companies like yours, real results from slashing fuel costs to nailing on-time deliveries, day in and day out. So, what does this mean for your business? And can Aptean really deliver for you?

What sets Aptean Routing & Scheduling software apart is our unique approach. Drawing on decades of experience in logistics and distribution, our solutions transcend mere optimization algorithms. Our next-generation solution is delivered through Aptean AppCentral, our all-in-one cloud platform powered by AI. This connects your routing and scheduling with other critical systems—such as our proof-of-delivery software and industry-specific ERP solutions—uniting all your business through a secure data lake for end-to-end visibility.

With AppCentral, you get more than just powerful automated routing. You gain intelligent support through a natural language chatbot, time-saving workflow automations and an AI routing assistant that learns from your planners to suggest continuous improvements. From automated route generation and dynamic planning to robust “what-if” scenario modeling, Aptean equips your teams with the tools to operate with precision, agility and confidence.

Ready to see what it can do for you? Don't wait, take the next step. Take an online product tour of our routing and scheduling software or schedule a demo with one of our experts to get tailored advice for your specific challenges.