APC rolls out on line shipping service from NetDespatch
21 August 2004

Overnight parcel company APC has become the first parcel carrier to roll out a fully web-based shipping system throughout an entire national network. APC has selected NetDespatch to supply their 120-strong depot network with a service that allows all of their customers to book and track their parcels online.

APC's local agents will be able to incorporate the fully managed NetDespatch service in their websites to provide their customers with a broad range of advanced e-business facilities. The APC network are the first to adopt NetDespatch's 'Velocity' multi-service booking system which includes address management, bar code label and manifest printing and XML integration. It opens up electronic services to any APC customer, whether booking one or one thousand jobs a day.

Velocity will be part of an integrated solution linking hub information, depot systems and customers through centrally hosted web servers. APC has also implemented a live POD exchange system to give network-wide and customer-wide visibility as soon as a delivery has been completed and this job tracking information is automatically added to the web pages.

"With a highly motivated network APC customers are assured of very high levels of service. However, this network model offers real challenges for implementing consistent IT solutions as we are dealing with over 100 independent businesses. NetDespatch has proven to be the ideal solution. It allows us to adopt a uniform approach to increasingly crucial web services across the entire network" says Nick Taylor, IT Director of APC.

A key feature of the service is a new facility to print bar-coded labels on any type of printer, at the time of booking, which then exactly match the central database of jobs. Depots can have a pre-printed bar code label ready when a parcel has been collected or customers have the option to print labels themselves. Coupled with address verification, this facility should help eliminate parcel mis-routes.

Apart from higher levels of customer service, a big advantage of web bookings is that the collection and delivery details are available immediately so that both depot and hub can pre-plan evening operations more effectively. In the past jobs input by customer implants were only processed at the end of the day so operations could not plan in advance.

APC believe the new web system will provide significant benefits both to their depot network and their customers. "As a web-based service, NetDespatch does not require special hardware or software installation and is maintenance free. By moving everyone into the electronic age, time and costs are slashed at the same time as improving customer service" says Nick Taylor.