texRouteApp for tracking, transparency and process optimisation

Discover how the texRoute app has revolutionised the way Merz GmbH Textile Dienstleistung works and how you can benefit from similar advantages. Efficient route planning and preparation, the development of new sources of income through intelligent container tracking and significant cost reductions – the modern textile service company has been able to implement all of this very successfully with the introduction of this app solution.

Challenge

Complete transparency regarding the current status of items, deliveries and containers
Better planning and preparation of routes
No empty or additional trips despite last-minute changes
Driver tracking
Reduction in container loss

Solution

Optimal route planning in the TIKOS route management module
Transfer of the completed route to the driver's smartphone
Live tracking via the texRoute app
Delivery status in the web portal – in real time!
Container control by scanning barcodes

Advantages

Complete transparency for containers: number, location, contents
Container rental as an additional source of income in the event of late returns
Process optimisation
Less trained staff can be deployed
Cost savings
Greater customer and employee satisfaction
Fewer new container purchases

"As a SoCom customer from the very beginning, we have digitised and perfectly organised our internal processes right from the start. From goods-in and optimised storage management to the expedition, we are ideally positioned. With the texRoute app from SoCom, we have expanded our digital presence and optimised our route and container management, resulting in remarkably high customer satisfaction that can be measured. Thanks to the high level of transparency, we were able to introduce container rental without any problems and with a high level of acceptance among our customers right from the start." Volker Burkhard, Geschäftsführer Merz GmbH

The company: Merz GmbH Textile Dienstleistung

Merz GmbH stands for textile services of the highest quality, ecological awareness and sustainability. The textile service provider offers its customers individual solutions, particularly in the segments of retirement and nursing homes, catering and clinics/hospitals. Founded in 1950, the family-owned company currently employs 120 people at its location in Wurmberg. SoCom has been advising and supporting the company as an IT service provider for over 35 years.

The challenge: More transparency

"At Merz GmbH, we see ourselves as a service provider. When we get customer complaints about something, we take them seriously. If there are a lot of complaints about one thing, we figure out how to fix it. With laundry deliveries, we kept getting containers that were incomplete, wrong, or didn't show up at all. The lack of transparency regarding the location and contents of the containers led to time-consuming searches within our company and, in many cases, to costly redeliveries.

Short-term changes to routes were not possible. Additional delays to our drivers at the customer's premises, caused, for example, by blocked access routes during unloading, were not documented or invoiced. Until now, it has not been possible to provide a precise breakdown of which items were in which container and in what quantities," reports Melanie Puccio (Managing Director, Merz GmbH)

The solution: texRoute app with integrated web portal

"As a 'green laundry' with a focus on ecology and sustainability, we value efficient and resource-saving processes. This also includes optimising all logistical tasks and keeping an eye on processes. At the same time, we want to offer our customers a comprehensive and customised service package for all their laundry needs, thus achieving a high level of customer satisfaction. We are able to do this with the texRoute app. The introduction of the texRoute app was a breakthrough for us in terms of transparency and process optimisation in our route and container management," says Volker Burkhard.

How? All routes are optimally planned in the TIKOS laundry software. By storing individual opening and loading times and recording rest and driving times, routes can be optimally planned in advance for drivers. The ‘finished’ route is then transferred to the respective driver's smartphone. They can load their vehicle the evening before and scan all containers onto their vehicle in the app. The system automatically checks for plausibility and completeness.

Throughout the entire route, the web portal enables live tracking of the drivers, documents driving and waiting times at the customer's premises and provides information on the current delivery status at any time – in real time! Tracking all container movements provides us with accurate data on where each container is located and what it contains, whether it is at the customer's premises or still in the Merz GmbH halls.

"This was an absolute added value! We can now provide our customers with specific information about their delivery status at any time. As a result, customer calls about containers that were supposedly under-delivered or not delivered at all were reduced by over 90 percent within a very short time." Melanie Puccio

The result: Numerous benefits

Accurate billing for delays beyond our control
By recording unloading times at the customer's premises, we can now invoice delays down to the minute. If our driver is blocked on-site, the meter keeps running, this is logged in the app and can be charged accordingly.

High customer satisfaction
This level of transparency effectively provides us with “evidence” when dealing with customers, strengthening trust and credibility. At any time, we can tell our customers exactly where their goods and containers are at any time.

Increased employee satisfaction
Our employees are more satisfied because our internal organisation has improved significantly. Processes are now clearer, more structured and more transparent, resulting in valuable time savings.

Introduction of container rental
After a four-month trial period, the introduction of container rental was accepted by our customers right from the start.
No more over-ordering
For example, mops were often stockpiled by customers because the next shift had no information about the exact container delivery. This regularly led to over-ordering.
Significant reduction in costs for new container purchases
The costs for new container purchases were drastically reduced as we can now track each and every container seamlessly.

The conclusion: Never without the texRoute app again!

"As a modern family business, it is important to us to offer our customers high quality and individual solutions. We can only guarantee this with the help of innovative software, app and web solutions. Our customers greatly appreciate this individuality and flexibility, and they are willing to pay for it. So I can only say: Never without the texRoute app again!" Volker Burkhard

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