Reduce failed deliveries with AI
Jan 2025
Learn how AI-driven insights and aerial imagery can streamline heavy material logistics for safer and more time and cost efficient operations.
Jan 2025
In industries like construction and home renovation, deliveries of heavy materials, like roofing, solar panels, or swimming pools, are critical for maintaining project timelines and meeting customer expectations.
But according to feedback from our customers, 10% of deliveries fail due to unforeseen access issues — that is, materials can’t be delivered because the truck can’t reach the desired location safely.
Common causes of failed deliveries
There are three major obstacles that commonly cause failed deliveries:
- Proximity to power lines: Large vehicles, particularly those with cranes, must maintain a certain distance — usually around three meters — from power lines. If power lines are too close to the delivery site, the truck may be unable to offload materials safely.
- Overhanging vegetation: Trees and other large vegetation can block driveways or prevent trucks from accessing the delivery location. This is especially problematic for sites with limited visibility.
- Unclear driveway locations: Residential properties with complex layouts — like corner blocks or battle-axe blocks — can confuse drivers. Without clear guidance or visible driveways, drivers can struggle to find a safe spot to drop off materials.
Each of these issues can derail a delivery, turning a straightforward task into an expensive problem.
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The cost of failed heavy material deliveries
That 10% failure rate is more than just an inconvenience. It also creates:
- Increased costs: Rescheduling failed deliveries incurs additional costs, like wasted labour hours and fuel expenses for repeat trips.
- Customer dissatisfaction: Delays in delivering critical materials can impact project timelines, leading to frustrated customers and potential reputational damage.
- Wasted resources: Unsuccessful deliveries often mean that organisations lose time and resources that could have been allocated elsewhere.
- Compromised safety: Without knowledge of risks like power lines and overhanging trees, delivery teams could be endangering themselves or the public by attempting delivery.
By reducing failed deliveries and improving delivery efficiency, companies can streamline operations and protect their profit margins.
Reducing delivery failures with AI
By leveraging the powerful combination of artificial intelligence and high-resolution aerial imagery, delivery planners can analyse the delivery location well before the truck hits the road. Here’s how:
- Aerial imagery for delivery planning: With Nearmap high-resolution aerial imagery, delivery planners can visually inspect a property in advance, understanding the layout and any potential obstacles. This provides a valuable “first look” at what the driver can expect when they arrive on-site.
- AI-detected vegetation and driveways: Our AI-powered location intelligence allows users to overlay important environmental data. For instance, users can identify overhanging trees using medium and high vegetation layers. Additionally, our driveway layer helps pinpoint where the driveway is located, making it easier for drivers to navigate the property.
- Power line detection: Although still experimental, our AI system is able to detect power lines in aerial imagery. This provides vital information about power lines’ proximity to the delivery location.
With this data, the delivery planner can take one of two actions:
- Inform the customer: They can mark up the aerial image and inform the customer of potential issues, asking them to clarify the best location for offloading the materials.
- Adjust the delivery plan: If the original drop-off point is not feasible, the planner can work with the customer to find an alternative delivery location that avoids the risks posed by power lines and vegetation.
This means potential delivery issues are identified and resolved before they even occur, reducing the likelihood of failure.
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The future of delivery planning: Data-driven and AI-powered
Nearmap AI-driven insights and aerial imagery are changing the game for delivery planning, especially in industries like construction and renovation. By spotting issues like power lines, trees, or tricky driveways before the truck even arrives, companies can avoid failed deliveries, save on costs, and keep operations running smoothly.
As delivery sites get more complex, using AI to plan ahead means that materials get where they need to be on time — a win-win for you and your customers.
Ready to reduce failed deliveries?
Ready to see how Nearmap AI can help streamline your delivery operations? Talk to our team of experts today!