I am really, really, really, really excited because...

I am working on something that I think will really fly.

I used to be an Australia Post Parcel Contractor, and with my background in computers, software and databases, I thought there must be a better way to sequence the parcels that I had to deliver than write them all down on a sheet of paper.

So I started with an Excel spreadsheet, where every location was on a separate sheet in the workbook, and every street was listed in delivery order within that location.

Each morning, I would print out my spreadsheet (20 or so pages), take them to the delivery centre, and then fill it all out with a pen. I would then take these sheets with me as I delivered the parcels, and then cross them off the sheet after delivery.

I thought there must have been a better way, and there was.

What did I have?

A big list of streets within my delivery area.
A set of locations - individual areas, connected by main streets within my delivery area, having a set of streets from the master list.
A delivery sequence, so as to minimise the time needed to visit each delivery point.

I came up with a computer program to help me with this, and I used it everyday from January 2007 to January 2008.

I am now in the process of finalising it for commercial release.

Its been a fun, if sometimes painful ride, (those van seats aren't the best !) but its almost ready to go.

So, if you're a parcel delivery courier, you might want to visit the website - regardless of where you live in the world.

Parcel contractors in Australia are paid per parcel. The cost for my system is just one parcel per day per month.

Keep checking the website, because I'll be putting more and more content there as the days go by.

Leave a comment here if you want to. I would love to hear from you.



What do you think?