Published on the 03/06/2026 | Written by Heather Wright

Real-time visibility sharpens speed, safety and decisions…

Repco has overhauled its last-mile delivery operations across Australia and New Zealand with an upgrade the company says has fundamentally changed its operations, surfacing real-time insight across its fleet and shifting delivery from a reactive function into a live, decision-driven system.

The automotive aftermarket parts supplier, which operates more than 500 stores and an 800-vehicle fleet across Australia and New Zealand, has digitised its delivery layer to address a core operational gap: The lack of visibility into what was happening once goods left the store.

“Last-mile delivery is where customer experience, operational efficiency and safety intersect.”

Arun Sen, general manager application systems for Repco parent company GPC Asia Pacific, told iStart delivery is one of the most visible and mission-critical parts of Repco’s operations, particularly for trade customers, where speed and reliability are essential, rather than optional.

“We recognised that last-mile delivery is where customer experience, operational efficiency and safety intersect,” Sen says.

Improving that layer of business would deliver immediate tangible benefits for the business, including better on-time performance, stronger driver safety outcomes and improved operational control.

“It was also an area where we could quickly move from manual or fragmented processes to real-time digital visibility, unlocking both short-term gains and long-term data value,” he adds.

At the centre of the shift is the introduction of real-time data capture across Repco’s delivery fleet. Previously, many operational processes were manual or fragmented, limiting the ability to track performance or intervene when issues arose. Now, using Zebra mobile computers running Repco’s Genuine Delivery application, the business is capturing live driver locations, digitised proof of delivery, vehicle usage metrics and device usage data to monitor compliance and ensure safe interactions – information that was not previously available in a structured or timely way.

The data is already changing how decisions are made. Instead of reviewing delivery performance retrospectively, Repco can now intervene while deliveries are still in progress. Live location data allows stores to instantly respond to customer enquiries about estimated arrival times, while central teams gain visibility into emerging delays or exceptions.

Over time, the accumulated data is also creating a new layer of operational intelligence. Route information trends can be analysed to identify recurring bottle necks in specific locations or time windows, while vehicle usage data provides a clearer picture of fleet utilisation across the network.

“With 800 vehicles, understanding utilisation is critical,” says Sen. “Previously, we had no visibility into how many trips a vehicle made. Soon, we’ll be able to see the full trip history and usage patterns. Store staff can see the driver’s real-time location and estimated time of arrival. If a customer calls, we can immediately tell them where the driver is and how long the delivery will take.

“We can analyse route performance trends, coach drivers based on objective safety data and identify recurring bottlenecks in specific locations or time windows.”

The shift from fragmented processes to standardised, digitised workflows was one of the key drivers behind the overhaul. Prior to rollout, proof of delivery, delivery confirmations and exception handling were not fully consistent across the operations, leading to inefficiencies and delays in data capture. Bringing those processes into a single system has create a more uniform data set, which in turn supports faster response times and more reliable performance tracking.

Safety has also been a core component of the transformation, but again the impact is driven through data, rather than devices alone. One of the key risks identified was the use of personal mobile phones by drivers – both for communication and navigation – which created safety and compliance concerns.

“We didn’t want people using their telephones while driving to find a route or take a phone call,” Sen says. “Reducing that risk was critical.”

By moving to a managed, standardised delivery platform, Repco can now monitor device usage and track compliance with safe interaction policies. The data provides an objective basis for managing driver behaviour, enabling coaching and intervention based on actual usage patterns rather than anecdotal reporting.

The new solution provides a single, streamlined platform for drivers, giving them everything they need to deliver items quickly and safely. Drivers can digitally view delivery lists, build efficient routes and add stops on the fly. Repco says this has significantly reduced the need for phone calls to drivers, and any necessary calls are now handled safely via hands-free Bluetooth on the Zebra TC5 devices.

The focus on measurable outcomes extends across the broader program. Repco is tracking delivery performance through on-time rates, completion times and exception resolution, alongside safety indicators and reductions in mobile phone usage while driving. Administrative time savings and the standardisation of proof-of-delivery processes are also being monitored as part of the efficiency gains.

Taken together, the metrics reflect a shift towards continuous optimisation, rather than one-off improvements. With consistent data flowing from the field, the delivery function becomes something that can be tuned and refined over time, rather than simply measured after the fact.

The implications extend beyond the delivery team. In a rapidly expanding eCommerce market, delivery has become a critical customer touchpoint. Real-time visibility allows Repco to respond instantly to delivery queries and address issues as they happen, tightening the link between operations and customer experience.

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