Eliminate the risk of human error

This timestamp provides the key evidence businesses need to demonstrate to customers and partners that goods have been delivered to the correct location and within the agreed time period. 

With technology continuing to drive progress and demand from partners and clients increasing across all sectors, access to the latest POD solutions is high on the agenda for haulage providers and their service-users.

However, across the industry, POD capacities and functionality can vary tremendously, resulting in different standards of customer service. For Pall-Ex Group, leading levels of POD compliance and technological innovation are a key concern, as the freight distribution network seeks to provide consistent solutions for network partners, members and customers.

Sean Sherwin-Smith, Pall-Ex group IT director, explains: “Proof of delivery drives our collaborative business efforts, proving that our hub-and-spoke model is operating efficiently and cost-effectively on behalf of our UK and European members and their customers.

“We continually invest in research and development to ensure Pall-Ex remains at the forefront of technological innovation, allowing us to provide the highest possible levels of customer service in terms of consignment visibility.

“In the palletised freight sector, as recently as a few years ago, live freight tracking could be seen as an added bonus. But POD is a crucial feature of the service, particularly as more purchases are made online, with businesses making full use of more sophisticated eCommerce platforms. This not only means that customers and suppliers are kept well informed of the progress of their deliveries, but also reduces cost to hauliers themselves, which can increase as a result of failed delivery attempts.

“Logistics companies now need to go the extra mile in order to simply compete, as services continue to evolve, undergoing rationalisation across the UK and the rest of the continent. They are seeking more automated business services, which require less human interaction, eliminating the risk of human error and allowing businesses to reduce costs by freeing up time for workers to focus on alternative areas of the business.”

Pall-Ex has spearheaded a number of these changes and will continue to lead the sector in years to come. Its bespoke IT system, TWINE, has revolutionised network operations, allowing members and their customers to track freight travelling through the network. Pall-Ex members also benefit from access to a range of different operational, shipping and finance features, including automated invoicing, which occurs instantaneously as soon as POD is submitted via one of Pall-Ex’s complimentary suite of POD solutions.

Sean adds: “In palletised freight distribution networks, consistent uptake and compliance by member hauliers is crucial to the success of new technology.

“At Pall-Ex, we make a conscious effort to drive consistency through strategic quality and compliance campaigns. During dedicated marketing and training initiatives, we support and educate our members, communicating new and upcoming technological developments, pointing out the features and benefits of service updates, and making it clear how members can leverage Pall-Ex’s technology solutions to deliver positive changes to enhance their customer service offering. These efforts to improve IT communications across the network was recently recognised at the Motor Transport awards, with Pall-Ex being named Team of the Year”.