A new low-cost user-friendly web-based booking and tracking system has been launched by APC Overnight. The innovation is stage one of a major rebuild of APC Overnight's business systems by the company's own IT department.
The Web Connect System provides depots and their customers with a fully functional "Cloud Computing" alternative to implant systems, enabling rapid booking of consignments, instant parcel label printing and online tracking via the APC Overnight website. The system also provides proof-of-delivery and interfaces with APC Overnight's mobile computer-based "EPOD" signature capture system.
Web Connect has been developed using Microsoft C# and .NET and uses SQL Server 2008 as a robust, secure database. The system is already in use by 10 per cent of the national network, with a further 50 per cent putting the new technology to test. The system is cost-effective with all fees being ploughed back into furthering the company's IT development.
Jon Barber, Marketing Director and IT Director, APC Overnight says: "With Web Connect, APC Overnight is demonstrating its commitment to developing new vendor-independent technology for use throughout the network. It is competitively priced and the money raised is being invested directly back into IT development.
"Web Connect is part of a much larger strategy to provide instant and full visibility of consignment data to our local depots. It will eventually mean that when a customer books a collection, all relevant participating depot partners will be notified of the delivery, allowing them to optimise their routes and resources."