Client
Dean Foods Company
Client Profile
The Dean Foods Company is a Fortune 500 company that operates the largest temperature-controlled less- than-truckload transportation and logistics service in the United States. The company's transportation unit has been in operation since 1972 and has established a history of providing consistent, reliable and on-time services. In 2001, Dean Foods merged with Suiza Corporation to form the largest dairy company in the world.
Challenges
To develop an eBusiness strategy that would restructure Dean Foods' information infrastructure to enhance driver and load communication and logistics.
To implement Web-based technology applications that would integrate within Dean Foods' corporate ERP systems, Lawson and JD Edwards, thus moving Dean Foods' transportation unit into the future.
Technology
- ASP
- Data Objects (ADO)
- IBM AS/400
- IBM DB2
- JavaScript
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Exchange Server
- Microsoft Site Server Commerce
Edition
- Microsoft SQLServer
- Microsoft Wndows Server
- VBScript
- WebTrends
Solution
Azavar™ Technologies created an eBusiness strategy with applications to enhance driver and load communication, and logistics and customer relationship management for Dean Foods' transportation unit.
Through our eBusiness Strategy Development, Azavar determined the need to restructure Dean Foods transportation unit's information infrastructure to successfully move the company into the future of Internet technology. We first analyzed the company's existing resources and then prepared a development strategy to implement solutions designed to give Dean Foods a competitive edge. Our first solution focused on building a technology infrastructure and Web presence that meshed with Dean Foods business processes while also reengineering the Dean Foods business model around existing, in-house technologies. With this solution, Azavar created an advanced technical framework for the company. First, we designed and developed the Dean Foods Web presence, providing a means for the company to communicate a maximum amount of information in a fast, user-friendly way. The website uses concise and straightforward text, "bullet point links" and "click on maps" in order to guide the user through the site.
In addition to the advanced Web presence designed for Dean Foods' transportation unit, we also designed a stand-alone flexible Web-based application allowing direct communication with customers' information systems, transportation systems, supplier systems and drivers via wireless or PDA devices. We resolved the issues of poor communication and lack of information with a hybrid system comprised of third party components, off-the-shelf software and custom components designed to integrate with Innovative Systems (proprietary ERP software).
 A problem unique to the transportation industry is the management of margins, cash flows and recruitment. Azavar designed a strategy to arm Dean Foods with options such as load tracking, load tendering, multiple stop data entry, shipper load tender status tools, settlement history, online load components and online recruiting components. With each of these options, Dean Foods is able to enhance its logistics and supply chain methods, leading to improved cash flows and profit margins. The online recruiting component gives Dean Foods a means to recruit new drivers and owner operators. Through eBusiness Strategy Development and Technology Implementation, Azavar provided the Dean Foods' transportation unit with a more efficient means of communication and overall business operation. |
