Boral is introducing a digital solution, named Auto Allocations, within its concrete business to enhance punctual customer deliveries and adjust schedules in real-time, especially if an ongoing “pour” takes longer than anticipated.
The project’s purpose, as detailed in Boral’s annual report, is to ensure that concrete deliveries meet customer expectations in terms of timeliness. Auto Allocations aims to seamlessly connect the entire process chain and employs an algorithm to propose optimal transport schedules, taking both customer service and transportation efficiency into account.
This system digitizes the process chain by linking trucks, products, plants, and customer information, consolidating data into a single source. Its pre-planning capability provides a shared advanced schedule view for contact center, operations, and sales teams, facilitating collective decision-making for a balanced approach between customer experience and transport efficiency.
An essential feature of Auto Allocations is its ability to adapt schedules promptly and inform customers of any changes in concrete truck arrival times. This real-time recalibration becomes crucial when unexpected delays, such as extended pours or road congestion, occur.
The implementation of Auto Allocations has begun in Boral’s metropolitan concrete plants across Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, and South Australia. The deployment to its metropolitan New South Wales operations is slated for the current financial year (FY24).
Early results have reportedly been positive, and Boral anticipates further enhancements as the program is gradually introduced across its operations.
The report does not specify the technology underlying Auto Allocations but refers to it as “world-class transport technology.” Boral has yet to comment further on this matter.
In the fiscal year 2023, Boral witnessed a 17% revenue increase to $3.46 billion, coupled with an underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $142.7 million, marking a 304% rise compared to the previous year.