ViaVan Intelligent Delivery Platform

Public mobility firm ViaVan to launch intelligent delivery platform in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

05:10 21 July 2020

Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, has awarded a £32,000 grant to ViaVan to develop an intelligent delivery platform. The scheme aims to help the public mobility firm, which operates across Europe, to support local councils and partners across the United Kingdom during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

The move follows the Government's advice to more than 1.5 million vulnerable residents to self-isolate as a measure to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. ViaVan is expected to come up with a long-term solution to address the need for at-home delivery of meals and essential goods while thousands of residents chose to stay indoors during the pandemic. 

 

ViaVan has recently launched its first trial in the UK in partnership with Sutton Council. The firm's technology was used to optimise parcel delivery and increase the efficiency of scarce driver and vehicle resources. 

 

The firm's mobile application is made available to drivers and volunteers in order for them to efficiently coordinate, route and track parcel delivery. The initial trial showed that the system was highly effective in improving the speed, efficiency and scalability of local council's response to vulnerable patients impacted by Covid-19. The process has been designed to ensure deliveries are contactless and in line with public health guidelines. 

 

The ViaVan mobile app provides drivers a list of delivery tasks and pick up instructions. It enables drivers to follow an efficient route for drop off and provide recipients real-time updates on delivery status.