Cheetah Delivery route planning and visibility software integrates seamlessly with existing order entry, point-of-sale, inventory, warehouse, accounting and many other systems. Once an order is entered, Cheetah Delivery manages the entire pickup and delivery process while sending real-time status and event updates to backend systems.

Components of the Cheetah System

Cheetah Delivery route planning and visibility software consists of five integrated components that manage operations:

• Cheetah Service Desk: Provides CSR's with an order entry, shipment tracking and driver-messaging interface. CSR's can efficiently answer customer questions, and query ETA's, POD's and service exceptions. Cancellations and rescheduled stops take CSR's a few seconds to enter into the system and don't require dispatcher involvement.
• Cheetah Route Editor: Geared specifically for dispatchers, the Cheetah Route Editor graphically displays the real-time position of every vehicle in the fleet, as well as every currently routed stop. Dispatchers can make changes in seconds or view a series of possible options and their impact on mileage and driver time. Once the optimum route is determined, the data is automatically relayed to the driver's phone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
• Cheetah Tracking Subsystem: The Cheetah Tracking Subsystem tracks the progress of every route and updates route/stop status in real-time. This web-based tracking tool enables dispatchers to adjust routes in a few clicks. ETA's are automatically adjusted, and a continual feed of GPS data from all drivers is displayed on the dispatch screen.
• Cheetah Routing Engine: The Cheetah Routing Engine works for either advance batch scheduling or dynamic on-demand routing. It operates on over 200 parameters when building routes. These include driver location, street networks, driver schedules, equipment types and vehicle capacity.
• Cheetah Exception Monitor: Every scheduled stop is continuously monitored to locate potential service failures. One dispatcher can manage exceptions while the system automates the remainder of the stops.
• Cheetah Automated Precall System: Cheetah Delivery routing software allows you to schedule fully automated 3-hour delivery window call notifications. Automated Precall will automatically call your customers to confirm delivery times and offer real-time feedback or connections to Customer Service to handle customer questions or schedule changes. Calls are scheduled based on up-to-the-minute information within the Cheetah System and will save your Customer Service staff thousands of man-hours per year.

E-commerce options to slash the cost of superior customer service

Cheetah Delivery route planning and visibility software includes two E-Commerce features that put any business on a par with the sophistication of FedEx® or UPS®. Slash customer service costs while offering superior customer service:

• Cheetah Web-based Customer Tracking: Customers can view real-time shipment status over the web simply by visiting your website. Instead of calling into your 1-800 number for updates, they can track the progress of their deliveries from start to finish by logging on to your site.
• Cheetah Email Notification Subsystem: The Cheetah Email Notification Subsystem automatically notifies customers of the status of their appointments. Customizable email messages are relayed to customers indicating such facts as pickup/delivery completion or revised ETA's. This can even include the status of each line item on the order.

No additional computer hardware required for most companies

Cheetah Delivery routing software is an Internet-based system that in most cases doesn't require additional hardware beyond a regular Windows PC and a 19" monitor. Distribution & Delivery companies of 20 to 200 (and greater) trucks can easily afford the Cheetah Delivery system. The software is hosted on Cheetah's servers and accessed through the Internet with security features to protect your company's data. Contact Cheetah Software for exact pricing on a system that will be specifically tailored for your needs. Full stand-alone systems are also available for companies who desire a complete, self-contained in-house system.

Benefits and features

• Rapid Implementation: In most cases Cheetah Delivery can be fully implemented and up and running in three to four weeks, including training. Minimum disruption of business activity means lower costs to implement.
• Software Upgrades: With Cheetah Delivery, all software upgrades are included in the price of your package.
• No Hiring: With Cheetah's SaaS model, internal IT resources are not needed.
• Nominal Upfront Costs: Cheetah's subscription-based service means minimal initial capital outlays.
• Seasonal Flexibility: Add or remove drivers during seasonal fluctuations.
• Automated Dispatch & Tracking: Cheetah Delivery enables dispatchers and customer service representatives to view driver location and pickup and delivery details instantly from their own route tracking screens.
• Dispatcher Consolidation: One dispatcher can smoothly supervise additional trucks over multiple locations.
• Real-Time Supply Chain Visibility: Customer service representatives enter pickup and delivery requests into the routing system for immediate dispatch assignment. Service Desk provides customers with up-to-the-minute information about their pickups or deliveries. This module also enables customer service representatives to create, send and view all messages exchanged with the drivers.
• Automated Wireless Communication: Cheetah provides your drivers with simple, menu-driven two-way communications including on-demand GPS-enabled driving directions to the next stop.
• Website Integration: Pick up requests can be taken directly from your company's website for automated routing to the drivers. Delivery ETAs and POD information are available online for real-time customer access.
• Digital Signature Capture, Proof of Delivery & Bar Code Scanning: Using Pocket-PC based PDA's, the driver can capture signatures electronically at the point of delivery which are transmitted wirelessly in real-time and visible on the web in less than a minute. Bar code scanning is utilized to ensure data accuracy and improve driver productivity and performance.
• Real-Time Data Interchange System: Data can be exchanged with Order Entry, Warehouse Management, Accounting and Payroll system in real-time using industry standard XML, comma separated, fixed file data formats and even Excel spreadsheets.
• Route Planning: Our automated Route Editor with manual overrides, provides a real-time visual display of routes, route history and route costs, planned, edited and actual.
• Pro-Active Customer Service: Potential service failures are automatically identified hours ahead of time and can be addressed before they become customer complaints.
• Automated E-mail Notification: Critical and routine customer communications are automated to improve customer satisfaction simultaneously reducing inbound call volume and customer service workload. Automated e-mails notify shippers instantly when packages are signed for and notify consignees with their delivery ETAs and PODs.

Wide Range of Hardware Support

Cheetah Delivery route planning and visibility software runs on a wide range of mobile devices including GPS- and Java-enabled cellular phones and PDAs. Go here for a list of Cheetah partners.