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Hello and welcome to the thirteenth edition of InTransit eq, the newsletter that will be “ e ”-mailed you on a “ q ”-uarterly basis. We try to include articles that appeal to our clients and/or our prospects and other friends in the industry. If there is something you'd like to read in future editions please provide feedback. Of course if you are not interested in being included in our circulation list, please unsubscribe where indicated right at the bottom of your email.
Nicola Williams
Managing Director
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Tim Stanley Joins Transit Team |
Thank you to the many readers of the “Want to join the Transit Team?” article who either expressed an interest in working with us or who passed the eq article onto a friend in the industry.
As a direct result of this article, Tim Stanley joined Transit as our Logistics Consultant. This role has been customised specifically to match Tim’s experience and work history and is a combination of the “Logistics Analyst” and “Business Development Executive” roles we advertised.
His primary responsibilities are the sales and consulting (or “route creation services”) functions within Transit. In addition, in line with recent feedback from our modelling clients, Tim will also take on a newly defined role: that of mentor. Given his own work will require him to become an expert user of Odyssey for “what-if” scenario planning, tender modelling and fixed route reviews, Tim will be ideally placed to mentor not only our internal staff but also these clients to ensure they continue to make the most of their Transit investment through the modelling they conduct.
Having started his career in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business in Transport and Logistics Management from RMIT and a part-time role as a transport scheduler, Tim has a long-term interest in our industry. |
Since completing his degree, Tim has worked at Nestle, Chep Australia and Concord Park Transport in all areas of the supply chain via various roles, including National Pallet Manager, Software Projects Manager, Logistics Analyst and Stock Controller.
Tim is excited about his new role at Transit: “I have a passion for helping transport companies improve the way their operations run and find it very rewarding to see individuals take on the challenge of learning to use technology and become efficient users.”
I welcome Tim to the Transit Team and look forward to seeing our company and our clients benefit from his expertise.
Nicola Williams
Managing Director
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| Goodman Fielder and Transit's 15th Anniversary |
15 years ago this May, Goodman Fielder - one of Australasia’s largest food manufacturers - implemented their first Transit system, which marked the beginning of a long and successful partnership between our two companies.
Roger Gray, the National Supply Chain Manager of Goodman Fielder’s Baking division, is proud of our relationship: “Transit Odyssey is a leading software package that’s been proven by its use in many industries. We feel that Transit, of all the alternatives, provides us with the best service and the best functionality in the market place.” Roger says that the key to our long-term partnership is, firstly, our policy of staying close to our clients so that we can understand the changes to their requirements over time and modify our offering in line with those changes; |
and secondly, our ability to provide services where we essentially act as a
reliable, cost-effective resource for them when major projects arise.
Traditionally, Goodman Fielder only used Transit for reorganising and implementing 650 rounds of 30,000 daily deliveries in a way that ensured the bread was delivered right across the country in the most efficient way, whilst benefiting their customers, contractors and business. Now, with Transit Odyssey, they are also able to conduct strategic modelling, where they analyse the cost implications of various “what-if” scenarios, such as “What if I have a mix of 3-tonne, 4-tonne and 5-tonne trucks?”, without necessarily implementing the results. Goodman Fielder is also able to use Odyssey to periodically monitor, review and re-assess how the network is operating and what has changed.
“Any company thinking about moving to optimised routing and scheduling should consider whether or not they want to build a relationship with their software provider and if they do, then Transit’s the company to call”, Roger added.
Christina Kortesis
Marketing Manager
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| Transit’s New Maternity Leave Policy |
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Anne Boudeville, our Finance and HR Officer, has recently given birth to her son Jared, making Anne our first new mum in the company’s 30 year history! As such, we needed to create a maternity leave policy for the first time.
In line with our corporate value of “relationships”, we decided to introduce a policy that was very family-friendly and understanding of parents’ needs. As such, the new entitlement is one month’s leave on full pay, plus accrued annual leave and sick leave. In addition, as Anne returned to work for at least one day a week within six months of Jared’s birth, she is entitled to an additional three months leave to be paid on a pro-rata basis over the first 12 months of her return to work.
We have also been very flexible with regard to working conditions. Anne can work from home, at hours that suit her.
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To the Transit team, she is simply working in a remote office as she effectively has “remote control” of her work computer via VPN software.
The only complication is the paperwork, but our
system of sending relevant documents to each other once a week works fine.
So as not to leave out any new fathers-to-be, Transit dads are entitled to one month of full pay plus accrued annual leave. New dads can also work from home at hours that suit them.
Anne is very grateful to be rewarded for many years of good work and dedication to Transit: “I particularly like being able to set my own timetable to get my work done and that includes connecting to the office when the house is calm and quiet! I'm fortunate that Nicola realises that working from home can be a successful alternative for mothers who want to continue working and spend time at home with young children. After all, a happy employee makes a productive employee!”
Nicola Williams
Managing Director
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| Odyssey Handy Hints - Cost The Return Time |
If your drivers finish their shift at the last customer of the day (ie: go home with the trucks) and not back at the depot, you can reflect this in Odyssey using the ‘Cost the return time’ option in the Parameters editor, under ‘Schedule Dynamo’. With this option ticked off, the work time for the vehicle does not include the time taken to travel back to the depot after the last call.
You will also notice this option will have an impact on your schedules, with the runs looking like the snake shaped schedule, rather than the petal shaped schedules.
Please contact Client Support for more information.
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| FAQs |
Where can I find a blank import file to start my new project?
If you need to start a new import file for any of Odyssey’s import types, the best way to do this is to do a blank export out of Odyssey.
- Go to the Export screen in Odyssey, select the template type you wish to use from the dropdown list.
- Clicking on the ‘File path’ ellipsis [...], browse to the location where you wish to save the file and give the export file a name such as “hx scenario 1.xls”.
- Click on the Options button and turn on ‘Export header only’.
- Click OK to create the export file.
These instructions will help you to export a blank template with the correct headings so that you can start a new import file - but don’t forget to change the export options back when you are finished!
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