Hermes Selects Blackbay, The Barcode Warehouse & Intermec In One Of The Largest Mobile Workforce Deployments This Year
Blackbay's Delivery Connect, real-time mobile worker software solution for supply chain management has been chosen by Hermes, the UK's largest home delivery courier company, as a key component of a new integrated mobility solution. The solution will allow Hermes to enhance its customer services by improving the productivity and efficiency of its 'lifestyle' (self employed) couriers.
As part of the project Blackbay worked closely with AIDC (Automatic Identification and Data Capture) manufacturer, Intermec, and managed services provider The Barcode Warehouse, who will be responsible for the provisioning and overall support of the mobility solution.
"This project is a key element of Hermes' strategic plan that will significantly increase the level of service and choice we deliver to our customers," said Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes in the UK. "It ensures we possess a full track and trace facility and creates invaluable management information and exception reporting. This in turn will enable us to deliver even higher levels of service and better serve the delivery needs of high street, catalogue and internet retailers."
The Delivery Connect software will run on Intermec CN3 hand held terminals which will be issued to up to 7,500 Hermes lifestyle couriers.
Hermes conducted trials as part of a competitive tender with two market leading vendors and chose Blackbay, The Barcode Warehouse and Intermec offering as it was a proven, reliable and scalable solution that performed well during the trial. Additionally, Hermes recognised that Blackbay's extensive industry knowledge and experience would be invaluable in helping Hermes to develop the mobility solution to meet the ever increasing demands of its customers and the marketplace.
"The flexibility of Delivery Connect allowed us to tailor our software to meet the specific needs of Hermes' lifestyle couriers and the requirements of its customers. Hermes was looking to replace its existing paper based system with a mobility solution that would provide real-time visibility on the status of deliveries and collections via the myHermes web portal for its clients, which include Next Directory, QVC and Lands' End," explained Larry Klimczyk, Blackbay's Managing Director. Delivery Connect delivers electronic job management and electronic manifesting in the field which also enables intelligent routing, barcode scanning and proof of delivery (POD) via electronic data capture.
"Working closely with Blackbay we were able to ensure that its software combined with the Intermec CN3 will provide a proven feature rich solution that meets Hermes' unique mobility needs. Our continuing relationship with Blackbay has helped us to develop our role as a leading hardware provider and to meet the growing demands for mobility solutions," commented Patrick J. Byrne, Intermec President and CEO.
"We are delighted that the integrated Blackbay and Intermec mobility solution was chosen by Hermes. Having previously worked with both vendors, we're confident that Delivery Connect and the CN3 will deliver the mobility solution required. Our managed service capability will also ensure that Hermes has a mobility solution that meets today's business requirements and those of tomorrow," concluded Ross Lee, Chairman, The Barcode Warehouse.
About Hermes in the UK
Hermes is the UK's largest courier delivery network, handling more than 100 million collections and deliveries each year. Hermes works with companies of all sizes including many of the leading high-street, catalogue and online retailers within the UK such as Next Directory, QVC, Landsend, Lakeland Limited and Boden.
Hermes operates a network of over 7,500 lifestyle couriers that provides flexible, high-quality doorstep delivery, combined with a friendly and local approach.
About The Barcode Warehouse
The Barcode Warehouse currently supports over 40,000 mobile business computers for a portfolio of blue-chip organisations. This covers airtime, implementation, software, training, helpdesk support, repairs and reporting, taking all the pain away from the client. With its growing Managed Services division, the business is fast becoming the 'first choice' for businesses and organisations considering a major investment in mobile technology. This is underpinned by successful Direct & Solution Sales and Consumables divisions.
The Barcode Warehouse also operates the industry's leading e-commerce website, with over 34,000 unique visitors each month. In addition it holds numerous long-standing, high-level, vendor accreditations, including Intermec, with whom it has Honours Partner status at Premier Partner level.
For more information, visit www.thebarcodewarehouse.co.uk
About Intermec
Intermec Inc. develops and integrates products, services and technologies that identify, track and manage supply chain assets and information. Core technologies include rugged mobile computing and data collection systems, bar code printers, label media, and RFID. The company's products and services are used by customers in many industries worldwide to improve the productivity, quality and responsiveness of business operations. For more information about Intermec, visit www.intermec.co.uk.
About Blackbay
Blackbay delivers real-time enterprise mobility solutions enabling service and productivity improvements to Supply Chain and Field Service operations. The company has significant experience in the enterprise mobility market delivering mobile data solutions for over 16 years to a growing list of premium clients. Its core activity is mobile software application development, offering organisations significant return on investment based upon reduced costs, increased sales and improved productivity and service levels.
Blackbay, who received funding from Albion Ventures (www.albion-venutres.co.uk) a leading UK venture capital provider, is a Microsoft Gold Partner with Mobility Competency and one of only a select group of organisations to sit on the global Microsoft Windows Mobile Advisory Council.
SOURCE: Hermes