Supply chain risk management case study
From lost loads to full control: securing a high-risk logistics operation
Imagine this: you're not just dealing with late or missed deliveries – you're dealing with entire missing truckloads of materials. That was the reality for one South African logistics firm. See how we created a software solution that eliminated theft and became a saleable asset in its own right.
Quick look
✅ End-to-end logistics management system
✅ Eliminated theft in a high-risk environment
✅ 60% uplift in completed deliveries
✅ Deployed in just [xxx] months
Project profile
The client
Rocket Route
Operating between mining and construction supply chains, the client managed the transportation of materials between sites and onwards to customers.
Multi-stage delivery process (from mine, to depot, to customer)
High-risk operating environment
Large, distributed driver workforce
The problem
A supply chain where theft – and revenue loss – were a daily reality
Most supply chains face challenges with inefficiency. But for our client, the problem ran much deeper than that. With rampant theft – and no easy way to safeguard against it – the supply chain was leaking revenue at every stage.
Key challenges included:
- Drivers diverting deliveries or selling materials privately
- No reliable way to verify pickups, drop-offs or routes
- Zero real-time visibility of vehicle movements
- No accountability across a fragmented, multi-stage journey
Across a high-value, high-volume operation, those gaps quickly add up.
Our solution
Rocket Route: a real-time logistics control system
We designed and built Rocket Route, a fully integrated platform combining mobile hardware, tracking software and a central command hub
Unverified drivers and vehicle usage
Mandatory driver authentication and vehicle checks, requiring:
Drivers to log in before accessing vehicles
Pre-journey vehicle checks via the app
Full audit travel of driver activity
No visibility of routes or deliveries
Live GPS tracking with route enforcement, allowing for:
Real-time tracking of every vehicle, including speed, stoppage time and journey progress
Predefined, vetted routes based on vehicle constraints
Alerts triggered upon deviations, delays or unauthorised stops
Drivers bypassing delivery processes
End-to-end journey tracking, with:
Full visibility from mine pickup to final delivery
Multi-stage tracking across different vehicles and sites
Centralised oversight of all active jobs
High-risk environment and unreliable hardware
Rugged, tamper-resistant mobile solution, allowing for:
Deployment on durable Android devices suited to mining conditions
Locked-down environment to prevent app removal or tampering
Reliable performance in demanding physical environments
Lack of central oversight
Real-time logistics command hub, featuring:
Web-based platform for live monitoring and control
Instant alerts for anomalies or risks
Efficient job allocation and route planning
The technology behind Rocket Route
As an agency, we're 100% tech-agnostic. We create a custom technology stack for each project, based on operational needs, goals and budget – and Rocket Route was no exception.
- Laravel APIs for core system logic
- WebSockets for real-time updates
- GPS tracking and telemetry data processing
- Mapbox integration for intelligent route planning
Project timeline
Discovery and operational analysis
Risk points identified across the supply chain
Rocket Route architecture defined
Mobile app development begins (iOS and Android)
API and real-time infrastructure built
Hardware sourcing and field testing
End-to-end system testing across live routes
Full rollout of Rocket Route
Roadblock…
This wasn't just about tracking vehicles. It was about controlling behaviour in a high-risk, real-world environment.
Drivers could tamper with devices. Routes could change. Conditions were unpredictable. And the system had to work flawlessly throughout. A big ask – but we were up to the challenge.
…Averted
We designed Rocket Route to perform in the real world – not just in theory.
That meant combining rugged hardware, tamper-resistant software and real-time monitoring for full operational oversight. Together, these systems delivered a solution that wasn't just foolproof – it was theft-proof.
Get in touch
No challenge is too tough for the digital heroes
Are you facing an operational challenge that feels too big to beat?
Don't panic. It's time to call in the experts at My Digital Hero.
We delivered Rocket Route against strict timescales and a background of mounting operational pressure – and we can do the same for you. Let's talk.
