The city distribution unit in e-Trade is built around the system of intellectual order routing across relevant addresses, which factors in the distance to the outlets and the current loading degree of the vehicles.

The transportation logistics unit is organically integrated with goods (warehouse) logistics: the system provides unique ID-barcodes for each driver and vehicle. All the vehicles and packing slips are given out automatically — using the given business logic. A driver registers by scanning the barcode on a destination warehouse terminal; the system determines the warehouse gate; the warehouse staff automatically gets the order (picked up in advance according to storage positions) ready for dispatch.

The system consolidates, in a totally automatic way, orders from different warehouses through the automatic management of item movement between the warehouses and automatic creation of integral assignments for gathering all the invoices at common “pick-up spots", according to the time the order parts are coming in. When such orders are processed through the Web interface, the client is informed up front of the arrival date of the ready -to-collect order, which enables the client to choose the pick-up point.

The dispatch operator monitors the delivery process in the background: when the delivery is done, the driver OK’s it via a GSM terminal/text message; the system regularly updates the data and provides the latest graphical rundown on the operator’s screen. If need be, it can warn you about the possible risk of falling behind the schedule on particular routes, drivers, and clients.

The entire set of “supporting documents" is managed automatically, with thousands of sheets related to waybills and stock delivery notes printed automatically daily (in FULL compliance with all those pesky bureaucratic requirements).
There is functionality that lets you print signature and seal facsimiles (the use of colour laser printers recommended) automatically with a view to dispensing with the costly involvement of people in what appears to be a totally routine process.

The system provides correct bookkeeping in the background (not involving the Accounting
Department) for intra-holding transactions related to transportation services for several legal entities.

In Ultra Electronics practice, at peak times, like the New Year’s Eve or other demand catalysts, well-adjusted and fully automated logistics processes would allow the company to manage up to 2,000 deliveries per day, with just three dispatch operators engaged.

The company’s own truck fleet amounted to about 200 vehicles of various tonnage, from light-duty vans to long-haul trucks.
For each vehicle, the system would keep track of such parameters as mileage, wear and tear, insurance, maintenance, and, of course, gas, as well as one-off repairs.

It would take less than 10 minutes to fully load a medium tonnage vehicle. A single vehicle would do at least three rounds per day.

Using the above functionality for city distribution automation, in 2013 Ulmart managed to carry out up to 65,000 deliveries per month in 184 Russian cities. The company used e-Trade to manage its transportation resources, which included over thirty long-haul trucks and two hundred vehicles of a lighter
tonnage.