Albert Heijn opted for Smart Access, a feature that requires employees to start up the truck using their badge. On top of this, the truck will also ask for a digital pre-operational check before it can be started.
The operator is then responsible for carrying out the check on the machine, by deciding if it is safe to operate. This way, the driver is involved in the process, which not only increases his sense of ownership, but also the safety in the environment of the driver and his colleagues.
“I noticed that the drivers find the pre-operational check very important, as they have to carry out the complete start-up check to ensure they are working with a safe vehicle,” explains Dirk-Jan van Lienden, Supervisor at Albert Heijn supply chain.
“After two years since the implementation of I_Site, our employees notably handle the trucks with more care. As a result, there is a major decrease in accidents.”
The return on investment was calculated to be 3 years, with an expected reduction of 30% on damage costs and a 5% reduction on both maintenance and repair costs. Taking the actual figures into account, Albert Heijn foresees a return on investment of 2,5 years, exceeding the initial expectations.
Albert Heijn is the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands with almost 900 stores and 6 distribution centres. Every week, they deliver about 13 million packages to their stores. To support this large scale operation, Albert Heijn uses over 1.500 electric trucks from Toyota Material Handling. In order to reduce damage and maintenance costs, I_Site was implemented as a fleet management system at Albert Heijn’s warehouse two years ago. I_Site’s data handling unit, which is installed on the trucks, allows for a variety of applications and features to be added.