Google today announced two new tools for businesses operating large delivery fleets: a last-mile fleet solution and a cloud fleet routing API. The new “Last Mile Fleet Solution”, part of the Google Maps platform, emphasizes optimizing every step of the last mile delivery process, from order to delivery. As the name suggests, the new Routing API focuses on route planning across fleets of delivery vehicles as part of Google Cloud.
The last mile fleet solution is currently in public preview. The Cloud Fleet Routing API will be generally available in the second quarter of this year. Since both are enterprise services and no public pricing information is currently available, potential customers for both products will have to work with Google’s sales team.
The pandemic has further accelerated e-commerce and delivery volumes, both of which are already growing rapidly,” said Hans Thalbauer, industry general manager, global supply chain and logistics for Google Cloud. “The increased pressure on delivery networks, coupled with many Other factors, such as driver shortages, poor address data, factory closures, and rising fuel prices, has impacted delivery times and success.”
Through the Google Maps platform’s last-mile fleet solution and cloud fleet routing API, we are enabling delivery It is easier for truck fleet operators to address these issues and create a seamless experience for consumers, drivers and fleet managers. ”
The Google Maps platform already has an on-demand ride and delivery solution that helps businesses dispatch drivers on demand. The company said the new “last mile” fleet solution builds on this service.
On the other hand, the Fleet Routing API is a brand new Google cloud service that helps businesses with route planning. Users will be able to use it to build tools for their in-house fleet management system and have the system optimize delivery routes based on their specific constraints such as time windows, package weight and vehicle capacity — and in the process, they can also optimize the route to achieve their sustainable development goals.
“We’re obsessed with helping some of Europe’s largest e-commerce retailers create a superior delivery experience for the millions of orders they receive every month,” said Olivier Colinet, CTO and COO of UK-based courier company Paack. “To scale rapidly, we adopted a last-mile fleet solution and cloud fleet routing, which allowed our drivers and fleet managers to maintain peak efficiency and exceed our 98 percent on-time, first-time delivery rate.”