Description

Until a few years ago, the focus was on the warehouse, and for many, the horizon ended at the loading dock. With the surge in online and e-commerce, the spotlight shifted to extralogistics – and rightly so, since up to 75 percent of logistics costs per item occur during delivery. KNAPP’s KiSoft Delivery Solution is the answer to the complex challenges of the last mile – the crucial step from warehouse dispatch to the end customer. It is designed for retail and logistics companies across various industries that want to optimize their delivery processes, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction.
The intelligent software dynamically calculates delivery time windows and ensures precise pickup and delivery times. It considers factors such as the customer’s shopping cart, vehicle and driver scheduling, loading volume, routes, and traffic conditions – and integrates seamlessly with existing WMS, ERP, and order management systems. This dynamic planning happens continuously, enabling the shift from static to dynamic transport scheduling.

The solution consists of three modules:
KiSoft Analytics: Analyzes data for transparency and forecasting.
KiSoft Delivery Management: Manages and schedules resources and fleet, calculates possible pickup and delivery time windows, and optimizes tour and route planning.
KiSoft Driver App: Supports drivers with navigation, barcode scanning, and real-time tracking.

Innovations

While traditional Transportation Management Systems (TMS) primarily focus on optimizing the transport process, KiSoft Delivery Solution sets new standards: it connects the warehouse, transport, and the final delivery step in real time, creating seamless transparency across the entire value chain. Instead of relying on fragmented systems for warehousing, carriers, and tracking, the solution provides a centralized data foundation through real-time analytics and driver support via app – integrating all stakeholders and dynamically responding to changes.

Digital, standardized processes ensure precise loading and unloading times, fewer empty runs, and shorter routes – resulting not only in cost efficiency and CO₂ savings but also in improved working conditions for drivers. Increased use of pickup stations reduces the number of home deliveries, significantly easing the labor shortage in the industry.

The key differentiator lies in AI-driven predictive planning and control: delivery time windows, resources, and routes are not calculated statically but continuously adjusted – based on real-time data on traffic, load volume, and demand. This enables highly flexible, responsive management. Initial deployments demonstrate the benefits: a leading grocery retailer in Spain reduced delivery windows from 12 to 6 hours, cut the number of required truck docks by more than 50 percent, and lowered vehicle demand by 25 percent.

Market relevance

The innovation targets one of today’s most dynamic and largest markets: the last mile and end-to-end supply chain optimization. Companies are under massive pressure to deliver ever shorter lead times and higher service levels. If a promised service is not met, switching to another provider is often just a click away for the end customer. With the boom in e-commerce, omni-channel retail, and same-day delivery, demand for intelligent, integrated solutions has skyrocketed. The global TMS market alone is estimated at over USD 15 billion, with annual growth rates exceeding 10 percent. Last-mile costs account for more than 50 percent of total logistics costs, and return rates in fashion e-commerce often exceed 50 percent. Both can be reduced by at least 15 percent with the new solution, while simultaneously increasing network resilience and reducing CO₂ emissions.

Its relevance goes far beyond cost reduction – the strength of the solution lies in its chain of impact: every optimized route and efficient loading reduces empty runs, vehicles, and emissions. This translates into higher delivery reliability and ultimately greater customer satisfaction. At the same time, it enhances the customer experience through precise delivery windows and flexible delivery options. In doing so, it addresses not only economic but also social challenges such as labor shortages and sustainability.

Customer benefits

With KiSoft Delivery Solution, companies gain maximum flexibility and efficiency in the last mile. Instead of rigid route plans, the solution enables dynamic, AI-driven scheduling that adapts in real time to orders, traffic conditions, and resources – ideal for next-day and same-day delivery.

Key benefits at a glance:

• Full transparency from warehouse to delivery for lightning-fast responses.
• Significant cost savings through optimized routes, fewer vehicles, and reduced dock times.
• Higher customer satisfaction thanks to precise delivery windows and shorter lead times.
• Reduced energy consumption through optimized goods flows and streamlined delivery processes.
• Route optimization resulting in lower CO₂ emissions.
• Minimization of empty runs and empty kilometers for improved fleet utilization.
• Improved working conditions.

By intelligently connecting all stakeholders, the solution not only boosts operational performance but also enhances strategic planning. The result is a system that empowers companies to respond faster to market changes while exceeding customer expectations for speed and reliability. Optimizing the last mile is a decisive competitive advantage for businesses.