Onigroup Leverages Google Cloud to Enhance Gulliver's Business Operations

Italian software company Gulliver launched G-Transport in 2014 to help manage last-mile deliveries for a range of businesses, from courier service providers to companies whose operations rely on full truckload shipping. The off-the-shelf mobile app integrates with the internal IT systems of Gulliver's customers, giving their drivers digital access to pick-up and drop-off tasks on the road. Companies can also monitor delivery status to manage and optimize their logistics operations. The solution was designed for ease of use and flexibility, to which Gulliver credits its success. Today, G-Transport is used internationally by 150,000 drivers and helps to manage on average five million deliveries each day.

"Delivery drivers tend to rely on multiple disconnected IT systems and hardware pieces, typically including a mobile app for communication with end customers, a GPS system for navigation, and a black box with IoT devices in the truck to collect data for internal logistics teams," explains Stefano Capoferri, Manager at Gulliver. "What we're looking to offer is a unified solution that can help optimize performance across all those fronts from just one app."

With this in mind, G-Transport continually launches new features that help facilitate and improve the work of drivers. For example, an in-app digital chat functionality allows drivers to communicate with end customers and internal support teams instead of having to send SMS messages. In July 2023, to further expand its capabilities, Gulliver looked to Google Maps Platform to integrate Mobility services onto the G-Transport platform.

"Mobility services allow us to provide better experiences with comprehensive and detailed geospatial functionality within our app, helping us get closer to the vision of offering a one-stop-shop for delivery drivers worldwide," Capoferri explains.                                                            

Providing informative and efficient support for drivers from one app

Gulliver's services have a knock-on impact on companies that rely on the logistics and transport sector for the smooth functioning of their operations. For example, a delayed delivery of wheel parts to a vehicle manufacturing facility can severely impact the entire production line of that industrial company. In turn, having timely information on the status of their deliveries can lead to decisions that help to optimize the whole supply chain.

"For many companies, logistics and transport is one of their most strategic operations, and knowing what's happening at each moment can heavily impact the company's management," Capoferri explains. And that kind of timely, holistic visibility is what Gulliver offers in its G-Transport app. "This includes offering drivers the ability to share a precise ETA to final customers waiting for deliveries, predicting traffic incidents so companies can be reactive on the management of their fleet, and presenting easy-to-use, accurate navigation data to aid drivers on the road," he adds.

To enable these features for customers, Gulliver is leveraging the full suite of Mobility services capabilities. With support from Google partner Onigroup, Gulliver completed the implementation of Mobility services in two months to make this possible. The implementation brings Mobility services capabilities directly into the G-Transport mobile app to support millions of daily deliveries around the world from just one interface.

With the Mobility services Navigation SDK combined with other services from our Mobility suite such as Fleet Engine, Routes Preferred, and Address Validation, an interactive map is now embedded into the G-Transport driver application. Users can now navigate between delivery tasks while enjoying a familiar, intuitive experience without having to switch between applications for directions. And using Places, drivers can also plan their lunch, hotel, and petrol breaks based on suggestions within their planned route for added convenience and efficiency.                              

"We've received feedback from drivers who say G-Transport is now easier to use and the UI is better organized," says Capoferri of the results. Previously, drivers could access a list of tasks and destinations in the app but had to use a different GPS software for navigating between those routes. Now, they can access all the information they need within the same console to complete deliveries.

Optimizing transportation flows with comprehensive geospatial data

The G-Transport mobile application isn't exclusively designed for drivers. It also supports the companies running those delivery operations behind the scenes. The Fleet Analytics and Debugging capability of Mobility services enables Gulliver's customers to improve fleet performance with real-time updates, such as a driver's position, ETA, and tasks completed, providing insights into possible issues. More specifically, these capabilities are powered by the Navigation SDK, the Fleet Engine On-demand Rides and Deliveries API, and the Routes Preferred API.

Meanwhile, the Route Planning and Dispatch capability helps to determine the most efficient travel routes between multiple possible origins and destinations. For example, which drivers to send to pick-up sites, or from which warehouses to send packages. With this, Gulliver's customers can get accurate routes and trip information using transport details, up-to-date traffic and road conditions, and route preferences.

Because of these new features and insights, Gulliver expects the implementation will result in great benefits for G-Transport platform users over time. "With Mobility services, drivers have the tools to do more deliveries within the same route, saving time and costs. Companies can have greater visibility over expected delivery times, with greater accuracy, to better plan their operations. And this is just the start," says Matteo Turani, Location and Cloud Sales Consultant at Onigroup.

In February 2024, Gulliver concluded the testing phase of the solution which has already been attracting the attention of its customers. The company forecasts a successful launch throughout the year for the 200,000 drivers using G-Transport worldwide.

Advancing toward desired business destinations

From a business and IT strategy perspective, the implementation is aligned with Gulliver's aim to standardize its technology stack, which facilitates work on software as a service without the need for complex customization for individual customers. Capoferri also expects this approach will result in cost savings in the long term. "Being able to tap into all these functionalities from a single provider helps to decrease costs from multiple licenses and has the potential to increase our income because of the added services from Google Maps Platform that we can include within our offering," says Capoferri.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Gulliver, Google Maps Platform, and specialized partner Onigroup is opening doors to reach new customers with joint go-to-market, marketing and prospecting.

Capoferri explains that the relationship is also bringing other benefits to Gulliver. "Being able to say we're an independent software vendor of Google Maps Platform means we get associated with its leadership position," says Capoferri. "Google Maps Platform is a huge and important service that brings great value to the market. With its reputation and reliability backing up our G-Transport solution, we can achieve important business results across customer retention, lead-generation, and more."