CWS Hygiene specialises in reliable solutions for hygiene, sanitation and clean entrance areas. To manage these services efficiently and sustainably on an international scale, the company relies on TransIT from gts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium. The project demonstrates how complex service requirements, stable processes and intelligent route planning can be successfully combined.
Complex requirements in regular route planning.
Behind CWS’s services lies a complex logistical challenge: customers require support at widely varying intervals – weekly, fortnightly, every eight weeks or every twelve weeks. At the same time, many customers require a combination of services, such as the replacement of mats, the delivery of towel rolls, the emptying of waste bins or the provision of air fresheners.
The challenge was to plan new routes more efficiently without unnecessarily altering existing structures. Drivers, days of the week and regions were to remain as consistent as possible. At the same time, it was important to avoid both overloading and underutilisation of individual routes or planning days.
Strategic optimisation with TransIT.
To effectively manage this complexity, CWS relies on strategic route planning using gts’s TransIT. A key factor is that CWS did not start from scratch, but was already using a leading route planning system. The improvements achieved were therefore built on top of a route structure that had already been professionally planned.
A special algorithm developed by gts takes into account large orders with long intervals and high time requirements, and integrates them effectively into the overall schedule. At the same time, different services are intelligently combined to avoid unnecessary journeys.
This systematic planning approach helps to better manage capacity utilisation across weeks, days and routes. Through targeted improvements to the tool, fluctuations between individual weeks and days have been significantly reduced. This results in more balanced route plans that are not only mathematically optimised but also work effectively in day-to-day operations.
“When different services are bundled into a single route, the result is not only a better schedule but also a tangible benefit in day-to-day operations,” emphasises Daniel Kasack, Head of Scheduling at CWS.
Tangible benefits for cost-effectiveness and the environment.
Thanks to TransIT, CWS Hygiene has been able to make its regular delivery routes more efficient internationally and improve the route structure in the long term. The results clearly demonstrate the impact: an efficiency gain of around 10%, whilst the number of kilometres driven has fallen by around 5%. At the same time, operational stability has been maintained: around 80% of customers continue to be assigned to the same drivers.
This not only improves the cost-effectiveness of route planning but also enhances the environmental performance of day-to-day operations. The practical support provided by gts helps CWS to resolve challenges quickly and to continuously refine the solution. The training provided by gts also made a significant contribution: it enabled CWS to significantly expand the user base and to confidently involve more staff in the planning process.
Daniel Kasack sums it up: “Fewer unnecessary journeys mean lower costs, less effort and a reduction in transport-related emissions.”
The case of CWS demonstrates how intelligent route planning can turn complex logistical challenges into a strategic advantage.
You can find more information on smart route planning for laundries here: https://gts-systems.com/branchen/waeschereien/
