But how exactly does he get round the whole world in just one evening?

It seems a physical impossibility to cover that many miles in a matter of hours with nothing but a sled and some reindeer but for most they put it down to the magic of Christmas and leave it at that.

However some are not content with closing the case on this enigma by labeling it a Christmas mystery. They have resorted to technology to spy on Santa Claus and follow his every move on Christmas Eve.

NORAD has a long history of tracking Santa, starting back in 1955, apparently following a misprinted phone number in a Sears newspaper ad, which sent callers to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline.” Not wanting to disappoint the many eager children ringing through, the Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

Ever since that time NORAD have used whatever technology they’ve had available to them to follow the red suit on his annual travels. It seems they are so advanced now that they can tell how many cookies Santa eats on his travels. Poor Santa probably feels a bit harassed now with radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets all tracing every wrong turn he makes, every time he breaks the speed limit or every time he crashes on someone’s couch after having one too many egg nogs.

Tracking not enough – Santa needs to be optimized

While NORAD and, more recently Google Maps, have been diligently tracking Santa for the last 50 years, one thing they haven’t been doing is thinking about smarter ways he can get his deliveries done and keep the kids of the world happy.

It’s about time Santa started thinking about ways he could maximize asset utilization and optimize his route. It might even be good for his health as he backs off the stress-induced eating that is putting pressure on that well-worn red suit.

So what are some ways that Santa could improve his scheduling and routing?

• Workload balancing – Could Santa rearrange his deliveries so he doesn’t have to back track at all? Could he combine deliveries in Madagascar with his Mozambique work orders?
• Planned vs. Actual – Does he review his routing after each Christmas, comparing the planned, optimized route with the actual journey he took? This is one Mrs. Claus might be interested in checking out herself, just to check the jolly man was staying on task. The elves could use this tool to notify children if there are expected delays and let them sleep in a bit later.
• API Integration – Santa could be running a very slick operation if he combined the CRM and WOM systems used by the elves into his own GPS navigation and route optimization software. All it takes is a little API magic!
• Integrated Geocoding – It can’t be easy for Santa to always know the best way to get into all those millions of different houses, particularly when things keep changing. Chimneys get removed and entrance ways get shifted meaning he needs on-the-spot help to pinpoint the exact latitude and longitude of a delivery, not just an address.
• Delivery Parameters – Some kids can be pretty fussy about when and where their presents get delivered and certain parents get grumpy if you use the chimney and track sooty footprints through the house. With delivery parameters (or even a relief Santa) can keep them happy by knowing any specific requests made.
• Paperless Route Assignment – It’s high time Santa went green and while we know his reindeers run on an eco-friendly blend of solar power and fairy dust, his screeds of paper-based delivery notes and turn-by-turn directions are using up precious resources. After Mrs. Claus has optimized those routes, she can send them directly to his electronic navigation device. Now there’s no excuse for missing a delivery!

Whether Santa reads this in time to make some adjustments to his operations remains to be seen but if you’re delivery business is dealing with Santa-like challenges then maybe it’s time you switched over to a comprehensive fleet management and route optimization platform.

There are degrees of traffic jams and some are just worse than others – much worse. In fact, some time ago Forbes reported on the DOT (Department of Transportation) rounding up the worst offenders and taking measures to alleviate what it describes as ‘alarming trends of congestion’, with the emphasis on implementing short-term solutions.

But it’s not just the U.S. that suffers from traffic chaos. Here is a roundup of pictures from the five worst cities for traffic jams (Sao Paulo is officially the worst with a queue that was 166 miles long, recorded in 2008).

#1 Sao Paulo, Brazil Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #1 - Sao Paulo	#2 Jakarta, Indonesia Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #2 - Jakarta	#3 Los Angeles, U.S. Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #3 - Los Angeles
#4 Tokyo, Japan Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #4 - Tokyo	#5 New York City, U.S. Worlds Worst Traffic Jam Cities #5 - New York

If there could be a number six it would probably be Bangkok in Thailand …

Bangkok Traffic Jam

While it might be amusing or even comforting to know you’re not the only one suffering the 2mph crawl to work, the cost to society is very real. Conservative estimates by the DOT say the U.S. loses $168 billion yearly from highway congestion. The nation’s trucking system in 2004 lost 243,032,000 hours due to traffic delays, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Beating traffic jams – the smart way

The DOT have listed measures to ease congestion in trouble spots that include timed ramp entries, congestion pricing (charging commuters during peak times), telecommuting and flex scheduling as well as improved transit services. The DOT also mentioned getting help from advanced technology and that’s where GPS fleet tracking and navigation systems come in.

And we’re not just referring to your garden-variety Garmin giving you turn-by-turn directions. We’re talking about route planning GPS software. Smart software that can feed your vehicle’s navigation system with real-time traffic and weather data, suggesting the fastest, and least congested, route.

Let’s not forget that by increasing the number of ‘smart’ drivers on the road who are taking less congested routes they are, at the same time, helping alleviate trouble spots where others drivers are getting caught in traffic traps.

Route planning takes standard GPS tracking and gives it a brain; helping drivers both personal and commercial make intelligent decisions. Commercial operators take routes that are optimized for their vehicle and their business, making them more courteous, safe and productive drivers, helping stem the economical drain of traffic jams. Personal drivers enjoy a less frustrating and more economical journey, arriving in a much better mood than the aforementioned Michael Douglas.

So let’s hope that the DOT follow through on encouraging greater use of route planning GPS systems to reduce congestion, and help make Americans, and the rest of the world, happier drivers.

And that’s better for all of us.