Gulf Food Trade, the exclusive distributor of Mars products in the UAE, has installed Geographic Information systems (GIS) in their distribution vehicles to improve logistics and protect the environment.

GIS integrates with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to provide the optimum route to customer’s locations whilst optimising the daily routes travelled by vehicles. The new addition to vehicles contributes positively to the environment by lessening carbon emissions.

Since its inception in the last quarter of 2008, this investment reduced the number of kilometres driven by each van by 57 per cent and carbon footprint by 55 per cent. In addition, productivity improved by 133 per cent due to reduced vehicle stops during journeys and kilometres travelled, increase of sales, coverage areas, and sales invoices.

“GIS is now a system that can’t be ignored and will make us more efficient in servicing customers,” stated Hassan Khan, UAE general manager, Gulf Food Trade.

By the end of 2010, Gulf Food Trade will incorporate GIS into their pre-sales operations and empower 45 vehicles with the system across every channel in the UAE.

GIS used in the company’s operations are expected to save one million kilometres which equates to a saving of 134 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.-TradeArabia News Service