NetDespatch delivers Web services for Amtrak Express Parcels
NetDespatch has developed a unique web-based collections management system for UK overnight delivery company Amtrak Express Parcels Ltd. Called ‘Online Collection’, the new system will allow requests for ‘repair and return’ collections and ‘just in time’ deliveries, anywhere in the UK, to be controlled and tracked in real-time using the Internet. (4/15/2002)
The development has involved the seamless integration of the NetDespatch hosted web services with Amtrak’s back office systems as part of a transaction-based contract estimated to be worth US$300k over the next three years.
Amtrak originally pioneered the automation of collection management through their Star-Trak system, which allowed companies to book and track collections via a computer linked by a modem to the Amtrak Hub. The development of ‘Online Collection’ now offers a completely new web-based solution that can be used freely by any customer through a standard web browser.
Amtrak see their new web-based service as an important breakthrough in opening up their industry-leading collections service to many more companies. “Previously it was only viable to set up a system for companies requiring a large number of daily collections. Now it doesn’t matter whether a customer is sending one parcel or a hundred, they can simply log onto the service”, says Jolyon Ingham, Amtrak’s IT Director.
All bookings, whether placed through specially designed web forms, or via XML, are immediately sent over the Internet to the Amtrak Hub and then tracked at each stage. On-line updates and comprehensive tracking reports show that the booking has been received by the hub, accepted by the depot, collected, and delivered. Email notification is sent automatically to confirm the original booking, to alert the consignee or recipient, to confirm acceptance from the depot, and finally, with Proof of Delivery information.
Using the NetDespatch service also gives enterprise-wide access to a host of live management information. With the touch of a button, summaries can be displayed on-screen showing every collection request made for any given period and the next morning, a full report of consignment status is available. The data can be easily downloaded into a customer’s own database for further reporting. Tracking information is also available through any WAP enabled device such as a mobile phone or PDA.
“We already had a highly sophisticated collections management solution, but the NetDespatch service adds a completely new dimension. Through the web, it provides a secure, simple to use system that can be used anytime and anywhere, as well as giving companies much better and ‘right up to the minute’ visibility on their services”, says Jolyon Ingham.
Eye for Transport
