GLS France partnered with Bettermile to drive a new era of last-mile efficiency. By implementing Better Planner, a dynamic dispatching solution, the Toulouse depot drastically reduced the time drivers spend at the dock.

GLS France initiated a nationwide transformation to turn their last-mile operations into a driver of organizational efficiency. A critical pillar of this reform was the transition to pre-pick operations, allowing depot operators to sort parcels for subcontractors and drivers before they arrive.

Before implementing Better Planner, the Toulouse depot utilized a solution that proved too slow and rigid for real-time operational needs.

While GLS also evaluated Kardinal, they found it better suited for long-term territory planning rather than daily operational execution. This led to a strategic collaboration between Kardinal and Bettermile. Kardinal calculated the potential territory restructuring, while Better Planner was chosen to operationalize and implement those plans on the ground.

The transition to Better Planner in the Toulouse depot was defined by its rapid adoption and minimal disruption to daily workflows. It took a few weeks for the broader organization to prepare the data and then the local rollout was fast.

Planning & Piloting
Yannick Mallegol, Depot Manager at GLS in Toulouse, was able to master the interface within just a few days. He sat down with the subcontractors to re-draw the delivery zones, reaching a point where defining final route plans for each subcontractor took only 30 minutes.

After a short testing phase, the depot moved from launch to full operation in just three weeks.

Operational Implementation
A key component of the process was the integration of Pathfinder devices. With the introduction of this hardware, the scanning and labeling process was changed so by the time drivers arrive, the heavy lifting of sorting is already complete.

The Toulouse Success Factor
Every implementation offers a chance to refine the strategy. While the Toulouse depot’s proximity to the hub and steady morning flow make it ideal for pre-sorting, this pilot provided valuable insights for the wider network. Successful sorting reform requires factoring linehaul synchronization into the pre-planning phase. Depots managing later truck arrivals and varying volume peaks need a different approach to picking.

The implementation of Better Planner has fundamentally shifted the rhythm of the Toulouse depot, delivering a more balanced and predictable workday for everyone involved.

By enabling a precise pre-pick process, the depot successfully moved driver start times from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM. This shift means drivers spend less time at the dock and more time on the road where they are most effective.

The level of granular control now available to the depot managers and subcontractors is a significant step forward from previous solutions. The ability to cut out specific postal codes and redraw routes with house-number precision has optimized the distribution of volumes across all zones. 

Perhaps the most telling result is the qualitative shift in the depot environment. Even the most experienced staff members and independent subcontractors embraced the tool from the first day, noting a marked improvement in the quality of the sorting. 

With fewer parcels left at the dock and a clear visual map of the day's distribution, the Toulouse depot has successfully transformed its last-mile process into a fast and highly organized operation.

The success at the Toulouse depot proves that the right digital tools can be implemented swiftly, even amidst complex logistical challenges. Beyond the pre-sort process, Better Planner enables drivers to load faster and with greater accuracy. Looking ahead, the integration of Better Planner with the Better Route driver app will create a seamless digital ecosystem, unlocking even deeper efficiencies from the first mile to the last.