Marlow, UK, 24 April 2008 - NetDespatch has extended its popular Velocity web shipping and tracking platform to create a new service especially designed for International shipments. International couriers can now provide their customers with a comprehensive and configurable online shipping system without having to invest in additional developers, IT staff, hardware or hosting costs. This exciting new component is an addition to the proven NetDespatch Velocity 'software as a service' platform which already provides modular, web based, end to end solutions in the next-day and postal markets for high volume carriers such as Amtrak and TNT Post.
Velocity International produces barcode labels for both thermal and laser printers, airway bills, manifests and commercial invoices from a single source, saving customers considerable time and reducing data input errors. It exploits the latest Web 2.0 technology to ensure ease of use and the best possible customer experience. For example as selections are made in one part of the entry form, such as destination country and consignment type, the screen intelligently and invisibly limits the data fields and services offered, and the correct shipping rules are applied. Once the shipment has been booked the customer can easily track the progress of their parcel through flexible shipment tracking summaries.
Other services in the Velocity range include web booking and pricing for same-day, overnight and international shipments, credit card payment, web based hub and depot systems and POD data capture and exchange, either electronically or via paper manifests. Higher volume users are able to take advantage of the comprehensive real time systems integration facilities including EDIFACT and XML formats as well as the innovative Velocity Connector application.
All modules are available on a pay per use basis ensuring costs are in line with revenue no matter what size of organisation. This model also eliminates the need for up-front capital expenditure for hardware or software development.
"The web provides a ready-made global network, so it is the perfect platform for managing and integrating international courier services. However, international services are very complex and rules are always changing. Velocity International is a true Web 2.0 service, continually evolving by adding to the knowledge-base contributed by its users, and we believe it will be a true world-beater. We expect the service to revolutionise international courier services by automating and streamlining business processes in a deeper way than previously possible, and connecting the world in true electronic fashion," says Becky Clark, CEO of NetDespatch.