Nov/Dec 2003

Sainsbury's has introduced Dolphin two-way mobile radio communications on the home delivery operation it runs from Park Royal, north-west London. Unlike other operations in the Sainsbury's to You service, which are run from consumer stores, this one operates from a dedicated picking centre. Dolphin provides a national networked radio service on the TETRA system.

Forty-four Dolphin d700 handsets have been issued to drivers, and are linked to a Cleartone d210 desk-based office terminal back at base. According to transport manager Malcolm Farrow, the £25 per month flat fee for the system was part of its initial appeal, but its "always-on" capability has also proved helpful. Drivers just press a button to contact their base, without waiting for the call to connect.

Sainsbury's delivers over 4,000 shopping orders a week from its Park Royal base with a fleet of 40 vans, which cover 325 routes altogether.