Route planning automation for a wholesale distributor in Dublin (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

Beyond 5 vehicles and 150 daily deliveries, automated route optimisation returns more than it costs from the first quarter. The 2026 budget combines a subscription of EUR 30 to 60 per vehicle per month and an ERP integration of EUR 8,000 to 20,000 excl. VAT. Expected gains: 10 to 18% fewer kilometres, customer time windows met and digital proof of delivery that reduces disputes.

The hidden cost of manual planning

At a food wholesaler in Dublin (the same pattern applies in Montpellier or any mid-sized European city), the logistics director spends 2 hours every evening splitting 380 deliveries across 12 trucks, with a spreadsheet and local knowledge. It works, but it ignores some constraints: restaurant receiving windows, pallet capacity, low-emission zones, real unloading times. Drivers correct on the road, by phone, and delays pile up at the end of the route.

At EUR 1.60 per litre of diesel and 25 litres per 100 km for a 19-tonne rigid truck, each kilometre costs about EUR 0.40 in fuel alone, and EUR 1.10 to 1.40 all-in (wear, tolls, wages).

Off-the-shelf tool or custom build

SaaS optimisation tools (such as Optimoroute, Routific, Kardinal or Antsroute) cover most needs: constraint-based route calculation, driver app, real-time tracking, customer ETA texts. The real work is the ERP integration: automatically pulling the day's orders, weights and volumes, time windows, then sending proofs of delivery and discrepancies back to invoicing.

Building an in-house optimisation engine is only justified beyond 80 to 100 vehicles or for very specific constraints. For 12 trucks, a well-integrated market tool is the right answer.

Making the rollout succeed

Three conditions make the difference. Reliable data: correctly geocoded addresses, time windows filled in the ERP, unloading times measured by customer type. A pilot phase of 3 to 4 weeks on 3 trucks to compare with manual planning. And driver buy-in, since drivers know constraints the algorithm ignores: you must be able to capture them in the tool rather than let drivers work around the plan.

Mini case study

Ciarán, logistics director of a fresh produce wholesaler in Dublin, runs 12 trucks and 380 deliveries a day, covering 1,900 km daily. With a conservative 12% reduction, he saves 228 km a day, i.e. 228 times EUR 1.20, about EUR 274 a day and EUR 6,000 a month over 22 working days. Costs: 12 vehicles at EUR 45 plus EUR 25 for the smartphone, i.e. EUR 840 a month, plus EUR 300 maintenance, and a full integration at EUR 16,000 excl. VAT with EUR 3,000 of setup. Net monthly gain: 6,000 minus 1,140, i.e. EUR 4,860. The EUR 19,000 project pays back in 4 months, not counting the 2 hours of daily planning freed up.

FAQ

How long does it take to set up the tool?

Allow 2 weeks for a start with file import and 6 to 10 weeks for a full ERP integration. The 3-truck pilot can start from week three.

Does the tool handle low-emission zones?

Yes, most tools let you declare zones and restrictions by vehicle type. Configuration happens at go-live, included in the EUR 2,000 to 4,000 excl. VAT.

Do drivers need specific equipment?

An Android or iOS smartphone is enough, at EUR 15 to 35 excl. VAT per month with data. It handles navigation, delivery photos and customer signatures.

What kilometre reduction is realistic?

Between 10 and 18% depending on the quality of the starting plan. A plan already well optimised by an experienced dispatcher tends to give 8 to 10%.

Our ERP is old, is that a blocker?

Rarely. If the ERP has no API, a scheduled file exchange every 15 minutes works well and often costs under EUR 10,000 excl. VAT.

Let's scope your project. Share your number of vehicles, deliveries and your ERP: we will price the tool and integration, between EUR 8,000 and 20,000 excl. VAT, with a 3-truck pilot. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.