Isle of Man distribution firm to use innovative PODXchange system
An innovative system for tracking parcels and freight is being rolled out by distribution firm Manx Independent Carriers.
The company, which operates 120 vehicles from Skelmersdale and Douglas, is using a new international databank called PODXchange developed by technology company NetDespatch. Drivers are being equipped with special mobile devices incorporating barcode scanners and a touchsceen.
When deliveries are made and signed for, details of the shipment held in the barcode can be transmitted live to the web portal along with the captured electronic signature. The data as well as electronic signatures is then transformed into the appropriate carrier format and transmitted to Manx Independent Carriers’ customers including most major UK parcel carriers.
Director of Manx Independent Carriers Michael Coleman said: ‘We are a carrier’s carrier, delivering anything for anyone across the Island.
Any technological innovation that helps is very welcome and PODXchange has far reaching benefits for us especially in service delivery.’
Manx Independent Carriers delivers on behalf of major parcel carriers including Fedex, UPS, DPD, Citylink, Parcelnet and Amtrak. Using one device, the firm can now provide a live signature proof of delivery (POD) to any of these companies.
The intelligent system recognises the carrier from the barcode on the parcel ensuring that each carrier retrieves data only on his own parcels.
Mr Coleman explained: ‘With all the carriers running their own bespoke POD systems, adopting all of those systems was never going to be a practical option.
‘We wanted to take a lead and give our customers an advantage through real-time information on their Isle of Man deliveries. We see PODXchange as one of the biggest advances in delivery management and it will provide our mainland partners with instant PODs from the Isle of Man for the first time – boosting the appeal of their services.’
First used in the Scottish Highlands for parcel deliveries handled by AJG, the system is being implemented by Manx Independent Carriers so that it can be used for all types of deliveries.
‘We travelled to Inverness to see the first PODXchange implementation in action with courier firm AJG parcels. It was immediately evident that it had real potential and we realised we could develop the first true multi-service POD solution giving our customers live updates on anything we delivered whether a parcel, pallet, an item of plant or a fresh food delivery,’ Mr Coleman said.
‘We want to build on our success as a carrier’s carrier and the breadth of services we offer is a key selling factor. Applying new technology across such a diversity of services is a big challenge but as the biggest operator on the Island we know we need to take a lead in technology. PODXchange allows us to deliver the service advantage and that will be backed by an advanced mobile solution supplied by Spirit Data Capture and a traffic management system from Haultech.’
