The new system will run on Intermec CN3 mobile computers and is being deployed to 25,000 Royal Mail delivery vehicles. Royal Mail’s deal with Intermec was announced in August 2008.
The project is being headed by IT services company CSC and they worked with Blackbay and Intermec during the successful trial period.
With the new system in place customers will be able to track the status of their deliveries in real-time via the Royal Mail web portal. The deal will enable Royal Mail to replace its paper-based system with a mobile service, improving efficiency and reducing operational costs. The company can now collect proof of delivery and capture event and time stamping throughout the delivery process.
“The Blackbay team added significant value to this project with the depth of their experience in the postal industry and their understanding of our business requirements. I am confident that Delivery Connect will help us to continue to meet the ever increasing demands of our customers and ensure that we retain our competitive advantage in a market place where competition is increasing,” said Robin Dargue, chief information officer, Royal Mail.
Larry Klimczyk, MD of Blackbay, said: “UK e-retailers are experiencing strong year on year growth from the resulting move away from purchasing goods in store to buying them online, which has dramatically increased the demand for home delivery. In this rapidly growing market it was essential that working with Royal Mail’s other key suppliers for this service, we could offer a solution that was designed to manage future growth and enable Royal Mail to provide its customers with real-time information about the delivery of its tracked products. The experience that Blackbay has in the transport and logistics market has helped Royal Mail deliver an excellent and highly scalable service to its customers.”
Blackbay and Royal Mail have worked together before; Parcelforce Worldwide has been using its mobile workforce services for over five years. Blackbay’s Delivery Connect software is already being used by 7,000 workers within the Royal Mail Group.
