Diapar: Quickly digitizing and customizing its logistics procedures thanks to the flexibility of Google Cloud and Google Pixel solutions
About Diapar
As a group purchasing organization (GPO) for a network of almost 1,200 grocery stores, Diapar manages over 9,500 different items across a total retail space of more than 75,000 m², serving over 100,000 customers every day. Operating in the Île-de-France region, the company has a turnover of €500 million and a team of 240 employees.
Tell us your challenge. We're here to help.
Contact usThanks to the Google AppSheet no-code development platform's flexibility and its wealth of features, Diapar was able to implement a tailor-made solution to digitize its logistics chain in under four months. This solution was then rolled out on Google Pixel 7a smartphones, improving the traceability and efficiency of deliveries while increasing customer and employee satisfaction.
Google Cloud results
- Improved traceability and efficiency regarding deliveries
- Time saved thanks to process automation
- Increased employee satisfaction
- Improved customer/delivery-driver relations
- A scalable solution open to innovation
Digitizing the entire delivery tracking process in just four months, improving how things are done
As a group purchasing organization (GPO) for the G20, Diagonal, and Sitis grocery chains, as well as Votre Marché convenience stores, Diapar supplies a network of almost 1,200 stores. Operating exclusively within the Île-de-France region, the company carries out an average of 250 deliveries per day. With over 2,500 pallets moving between its depots and network of partners, there is no room for error in Diapar's logistics procedures if it wants to avoid any delivery delays or breakdowns in a just-in-time supply chain to stores that serve an average of 100,000 customers each day. "We were always meticulous, but we still relied too heavily on manual processes using sticky notes and other paper forms," explains Mathias Barteldt, Executive Assistant at Diapar. "This way of working posed many problems, ranging from a lack of traceability of the pallets and their movements, to friction between our delivery drivers and the depot or store managers. To put it another way, our volumes had grown considerably over the past few years and our logistics tracking was no longer suited to our business activity."
"The manual way of working posed many problems, ranging from a lack of traceability of the pallets and their movements, to friction between our delivery drivers and the depot or store managers. To put it another way, our volumes had grown considerably over the past few years and our logistical tracking was no longer suited to our business activity."
—Mathias Barteldt, Executive Assistant at DiaparImproving efficiency with the digitization of last-mile delivery tracking
To improve shipment tracking, as well as the traceability and efficiency of deliveries, Diapar decided to digitize its last-mile logistics tracking process, and offer its delivery drivers a solution that would help them to be more efficient and give them more transparency in their work. After looking into the available options, Mathias Barteldt quickly came to the conclusion the majority of the solutions on the market weren't suitable for his business, "They either did too much or not enough and, most importantly, they would have required us to change our processes. Our processes weren't the problem, they're solid. Our problem was a lack of the real-time exchange of reliable information, and traceability. So what we were looking for was a solution that was flexible and open enough to adapt to our processes."
With the support of Aceo Tech—a Google Cloud Partner that helps to accelerate a company's digital transformation by adding value to their app ecosystem—Diapar ultimately chose Google AppSheet: a no-code development platform from Google Workspace. Hosted in Google Cloud, the platform allows anyone to create apps for the Internet (mobile or desktop browser), iOS, and Android, without having to write a single line of code. AppSheet supports spreadsheet formulas, filter expressions, and bots, and is also able to harness the full power of Google Cloud Document AI to digitize manual paper-based processes and automatically extract structured data from non-structured sources, such as delivery receipts. This means that companies can quickly design customized apps that are truly suited to their needs, helping to improve their efficiency. And that's precisely what Diapar has done.
A tailor-made solution finalized in under four months
"We were won over by AppSheet's flexibility, the no-code aspect, its wealth of features, and—more generally—the idea we could build something brick by brick, like LEGO, to design a solution that was true to our business," says Mathias Barteldt. "It was particularly helpful that AppSheet interfaced effortlessly with our existing system, and that it includes a lot of "ready-made" bricks that really do make it possible to implement a solution at speed."
"We were won over by AppSheet's flexibility, the no-code aspect, its wealth of features, and—more generally—the idea we could build something brick by brick, like LEGO, to design a solution that was true to our business. It was particularly helpful that AppSheet interfaced effortlessly with our existing system, and that it includes a lot of "ready-made" bricks that really do make it possible to implement a solution at speed."
—Mathias Barteldt, Executive Assistant at DiaparIn fact, just four months after starting the project, Diapar had already digitized the tracking of its last-mile logistics. "In the end, it was re-examining our processes to then digitize them that took the most time. For this, we were happy to have the support of Aceo Tech. Rather than forcing us to waste time by drawing up a statement of work, the consultants went out on deliveries with our drivers to help them study and understand our processes. They then went over and over them, until they came up with an app that works alongside how we do things, and even improves our processes by taking into account use cases we hadn't thought of. While obviously aided by AppSheet's flexibility to adapt to different needs, we also have to mention Aceo Tech's exceptionally practical and immersive approach, which truly demonstrates how willing this provider is to help its customers design solutions that are simple, quick, and effective."
Improving service quality and customer/delivery driver relations
From real-time delivery tracking to managing anomalies and incidents, as well as getting signatures from partners/customers and automatically sending delivery notes, the developed app covers all the requirements of the last-mile logistics supply chain.
Equipped with reliable and rugged Google Pixel 7a smartphones, delivery drivers can not only scan pallets with their phones—helping to improve the traceability of goods—they can also get digital signatures from customers. The signatures are then transferred to Diapar's IT system in real time and, as soon as they are recorded, a delivery note is automatically sent to the customers and fed into the company's accounting system. As delivery drivers' locations can be tracked in real time, the app also helps managers to better estimate the arrival time and status of a delivery. In addition to being more efficient, delivery processes are also more reliable thanks to the traceability of pallets. In other words, the implemented solution allows packages to be scanned at every key stage from the depot through to delivery to the customer, and updates Diapar's IT systems in real time.
"We've improved customer satisfaction, and also employee satisfaction," adds Mathias Barteldt. "Basically, all of our delivery drivers just wanted to know why we didn't do it sooner. They're particularly pleased they can report any incidents via the app and take photos with the Pixel 7a to document any anomalies. By making the process more transparent and fluid, the app has also greatly contributed to improving the relationship between our delivery drivers and our customers."
A solid base open to innovation
Although extremely happy with the implemented app, Diapar's Executive Assistant is keen to emphasize that this is just the beginning. Confident in Google AppSheet's potential and ability to cover new requirements with minimal effort for maximum gain, the company already has plenty of projects in the pipeline.
"This first version already covers numerous use cases we hadn't even considered, but it's far from over. We've built a solid "primary" architecture that can accommodate a number of new features to meet our specific business requirements, such as optimizing the loading rate of our trucks. With AppSheet, it's not just possible, but quick too."
—Mathias Barteldt, Executive Assistant at Diapar"This first version already covers numerous use cases we hadn't even considered, but it's far from over," predicts Mathias Barteldt. "We've built a solid "primary" architecture that can accommodate a number of new features to meet our specific business requirements, such as optimizing the loading rate of our trucks. With AppSheet, it's not just possible, but quick too. Version two is already in the planning, and we're also looking into creating dashboards to take advantage of all this new data we've managed to collect by digitizing the process."
A concrete example of successful digitization, Diapar's journey demonstrates how digital transformation doesn't have to be complicated, doesn't require massive investments, and doesn't take a long time to implement. "This process can be quick, affordable, and incredibly effective as long as you know you have the right tools and the right partners there with you," concludes Mathias Barteldt.
Tell us your challenge. We're here to help.
Contact us
About Diapar
As a group purchasing organization (GPO) for a network of almost 1,200 grocery stores, Diapar manages over 9,500 different items across a total retail space of more than 75,000 m², serving over 100,000 customers every day. Operating in the Île-de-France region, the company has a turnover of €500 million and a team of 240 employees.