Fast, Error-free Lager Delivery Recording with Smartphone Scanning App

Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell) equipped delivery drivers with a smartphone delivery app to replace manual recording of deliveries. They integrated Scandit’s Barcode Scanner SDK in the app, improving lager distribution efficiency owing to fast and accurate scanning, which eliminated errors and saved drivers’ time and effort. 

When you factor in how many of our drivers already use personal Samsung devices and have a high degree of comfort with them, as well as compare them to expensive, legacy handheld devices from a total cost of ownership (TCO) perspective, the decision to run Scandit’s scanning app on Samsung phones became obvious.

David Bauer, Operations Management Manager, Plzeňský Prazdroj.

Challenge

Improve lager distribution efficiency: replace manual proof of delivery with smartphone scanning

Founded in 1842, Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell) is the Czech Republic’s largest beer producer and exporter. The company distributes lager from their Plzen brewery to customers throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia using two methods – mobile tanks filled with lager at the brewery are emptied into containers at client locations; and through kegs, which are delivered to customer sites.

Delivery drivers manually record identification numbers associated with mobile tanks and seals of the lager vats, and/or the numbers that correlate to kegs and vat seals. This record serves as verification when drivers pick up deliveries from the brewery, and upon delivery at customer locations. However, as this process was manual, time-consuming and increased the possibility of errors, the company decided that they needed a more efficient data capture process.

Plzeňský Prazdroj’s solution developers encoded identification numbers into 2D barcode symbologies, making it easy for drivers to scan the codes with a mobile device and meet proof of delivery needs. They designed a new proof of delivery process, which relied on smartphone-based scanning of QR and DataMatrix codes, to instantly identify tanks, seals and kegs as needed throughout the lager delivery process – working with a third-party developer to create an Android app using the Xamarin framework for scanning the codes.

Solution

The company partnered with smartphone provider Samsung to issue smartphones to their drivers, as they found Samsung devices intuitive, reliable and sturdy.

Plzeňský Prazdroj tested a few open source scanning solutions, but found that they failed to scan accurately in adverse environmental conditions such as low lighting or glare. In addition, the open source solutions delivered inconsistent scanning of DataMatrix codes. 

Scandit’s scanning solution instantly scan barcodes accurately in any conditions

Samsung recommended that Plzeňský Prazdroj pilot the Scandit barcode scanner SDK as a scanning engine for its proof of delivery app. As a Scandit partner, Samsung was familiar with the performance and versatility of the Scandit solution. Plzeňský Prazdroj conducted a successful pilot, and was impressed with the performance of Scandit’s enterprise-grade barcode scanning, integrating it into their smartphone app. 

Says Lukáš Chochole, Key Account Manager B2B at Samsung Electronics Czech Republic and Slovakia, “A large number of Samsung clients have successfully integrated the Scandit barcode scanner SDK into their mobile barcode scanning apps. Scandit’s mobile data capture engine works very well on the Samsung platform and maximizes the effectiveness of the scanning capabilities our smartphones offer.” 

Samsung initially issued smartphones equipped with Scandit barcode scanning functionality to 150 drivers, with plans to extend the usage. Each driver scans an average of 120 to 150 barcodes per month. A higher volume of scans occur during peak delivery periods such as summer, Christmas and Easter.

Results

Mobile delivery app rollout to over 800 drivers

By integrating Scandit barcode scanner SDK into its mobile delivery app, Plzeňský Prazdroj has been able to ensure that the correct batches of lager are delivered to the intended clients, on time and in full. The company has succeeded in eliminating errors that occurred in the former, manual proof of delivery process. Delivery drivers also save a significant amount of time and effort, which has resulted in more efficient deliveries.

Additionally, the ability of Scandit’s barcode scanner SDK to maintain accuracy and speed of scanning in any environmental condition is a major benefit to drivers who have to capture barcode data in diverse locations and situations. Based on the success of initial rollout, Plzeňský Prazdroj plans to provide its Scandit-equipped mobile delivery app on Samsung XCover4 devices to over 800 drivers who deliver lager across the Czech Republic and Slovakia.