Skillweb launches real-time delivery planning solution
Workforce mobility and goods tracking specialist Skillweb has launched a new tool it says will allow postal, parcel and courier companies to optimize planning of deliveries in real-time. The new real-time planning tool is an extension of the UK-based company’s end-to-end tracking solution, Houndit Enterprise.
Skillweb, which first launched its Houndit product back in 2007, said the new tool could cut by up to 75% the time it takes to schedule and manage time-definite and same-day deliveries.
Along with the visibility of the Houndit system, the new tool will identify the most appropriate courier or delivery operative for an incoming order, based on the location, workload and skill set. The job order is then sent directly to the courier’s hand-held terminal to be reviewed and then accepted or rejected.
The system can monitor the entire outstanding workload centrally, providing an overview of live jobs and any at risk of delivery failure.
Where items are at risk of delivery failure, the system will offer the opportunity to recall a collection and rearrange with an alternative courier, to ensure completion within the necessary time window.
Skillweb said the system can also communicate directly with third-party customer systems to confirm completion of a job, provide proof of delivery and begin the invoicing process.
“Simple and effective”
Paul Ridden, the managing director of High Wycombe-based Skillweb (pictured above right), said the issue of how best to manage the workforce in the field to ensure deliveries are completed on time was moving centre stage as delivery companies face increasing demand for time-sensitive and same-day services.
He said the new planning tool had been developed to overcome this challenge in a “simple and effective” way, supporting the best possible service delivery and customer communication.
“Initial trials have shown that the real-time planning system can achieve considerable reductions in the time required to effectively schedule and manage couriers, and operative,” he said, “helping organisations to confidently deliver more time definite services.”
Skillweb, which has been operating for 12 years, says its technology is currently used in the management of up to 100m transactions each month. Along with the postal, parcel and courier industries, the company provides its systems for sectors including the healthcare, security and facilities management industries.
The company’s clients include Yodel, Guernsey Post, Jersey Post and the Isle of Man Post Office, and in other sectors companies like BT and Air Products.
