Samsara > Case Studies > Univar Solutions: Leveraging IoT for Competitive Advantage

Univar Solutions: Leveraging IoT for Competitive Advantage

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Gateways
Robots - Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGV)

Applicable Industries

Automotive
Transportation

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation
Warehouse & Inventory Management

Use Cases

Supply Chain Visibility
Vehicle Telematics

Services

System Integration
Training

About The Customer

Univar Solutions is one of the world’s largest chemical and ingredient distributors, and the largest in North America. They purchase ingredients from thousands of producers and repackage, blend, dilute, transport, and sell finished products worldwide. With nearly 100 years of industry experience, Univar Solutions delivers exceptional service while operating a network of facilities powered by one of the largest private fleets in the industry. The company has over 10,000 employees and a fleet of 1,000 vehicles equipped with Samsara.

The Challenge

Univar Solutions, one of the world’s largest chemical and ingredient distributors, was facing a significant challenge. Their data was siloed across different systems, making it difficult to drive efficiency and safety improvements at scale. This was hindering their innovation and agility. The company was in dire need of upgrading their compliance solution and was seeking a technology partner that could provide a range of applications that would scale and evolve with their needs. Market challenges, such as labor shortage and international supply chain delays, further intensified their resolve to invest in innovative technology to capture and act on critical data in real time.

The Solution

Univar Solutions partnered with Samsara to connect their data and systems—from warehouse to delivery—in a single platform. This has turned their operational data into a competitive advantage, enabling them to operate more safely and nimbly. Univar Solutions implemented Samsara faster than planned, under budget, and without disruptions to key operational data. They successfully deployed Samsara Vehicle Gateways and AI Dash Cams to 1,000 vehicles in only five months. Samsara’s open API allowed Univar Solutions to integrate all their systems from warehouse to delivery. Key integrations with SAP, CoPilot, and Comdata made it possible to automatically and continuously maintain the correct status on freight orders, customer loads, driver hours, and more across all systems.

Operational Impact

The implementation of Samsara has resulted in a number of operational benefits for Univar Solutions. The company now has real-time visibility into the location and status of every load, simplifying day-to-day operations and regulatory reporting. The integration of all their systems from warehouse to delivery has provided end-to-end supply chain visibility. This has enabled Univar Solutions to provide real-time information to their customers on where their shipment is and when they should expect it. The use of Samsara AI Dash Cams has improved safety on the road by providing proactive coaching and context to the team when incidents occur. The Samsara Driver App has also helped keep drivers engaged and motivated with Safety Scores that give them timely feedback on their performance.

Quantitative Benefit

Successfully deployed Samsara Vehicle Gateways and AI Dash Cams to 1,000 vehicles in only five months
Significant reduction in service visit points for technical hardware issues
Reduced SLA time with their service provider