10/06/2008
mobilecourier Solution Tracks 2 million APC Overnight Parcels in Real-Time
Mobile data solutions specialist Codegate has announced that it has provided APC Overnight, the UK’s largest independent courier network, with its mobilecourier™ automated proof of delivery (PoD) and signature capture software solution, forming part of a nationwide project which has enabled APC to respond to customer demands to track the location of parcels online. The new solution has already recorded over 2 million deliveries. “Codegate demonstrated unrivalled responsiveness during the trial phase and decision-making process and we were able to work closely with them to develop the mobilecourier solution so that it met our exact requirements. We needed to be able to collect and instantly transfer data from a wide range of logistical operations including despatch, point-to-point delivery and signature capture,” explained Quentin Abel, Managing Director at APC Overnight. Delivering up to 60,000 parcels each day nationally throughout the UK, APC was previously using paper delivery manifests to record the time and location of parcel deliveries. “The use of paper-based manifests created a large volume of paperwork and was open to human error. Our customers were asking for online tracking and proof of delivery and we had no way of immediately informing customers that items had been delivered.” continues Abel. “By selecting the best combination of advanced rugged mobile computer hardware and reliable PoD software, we now have a future-proof solution that enables us to deliver real-time track and trace. ”The Codegate solution includes Intermec’s CN3 rugged mobile computers which will be issued to each of the 400 APC drivers in the Midlands, the South East and the South West regions. The CN3 was selected because it delivers integrated GPS for SatNav, GPRS for real-time communications, a colour touchscreen for signature capture and a camera for image capture providing proof of package damage or attempted delivery. “The information collected by mobilecourier is transferred via GPRS to a service platform, hosted and fully managed by Codegate within a secure communications centre. The information is then sent directly to APC to display on their website so that its customers can track the location and status of their parcels online,” concluded Terran Churcher, Managing Director for Codegate. |
