Global logistics firms already signed up for Drop&Pick include DHL, DTDC and First Flight
FarEye, a digital logistics platform, today announced the European launch of its flagship product Drop&Pick, a flexible, cloud-based web and mobile application to enable parcel shops. Targeted primarily at logistics firms, Drop&Pick lets them easily set up local stores as automated parcel shop hubs to meet the growing demand for fast, convenient parcel dispatch and collection. Global logistics firms already signed up for Drop&Pick include DHL, DTDC and First Flight.
Capitalising on the explosion in online sales in Europe, which is estimated to reach $700bn a year by the end of 2018, FarEye’s Drop&Pick application lets local stores book, manage, and track parcels on behalf of logistics firms and their end customers. With Drop&Pick, logistics companies benefit from real-time visibility and up-to-the-minute data about their parcel dispatch and delivery processes, and end customers benefit from more delivery choices, as well as event alerts and notifications. Plus, with Drop&Pick, online shoppers have the option to change their delivery preferences from, say, a home delivery to a parcel store pick up even after the order has been placed, making the service incredibly flexible.
Built on top of a Business Process Management (BPM) framework, FarEye’s Drop&Pick technology can be configured to meet a logistics company’s exact business requirements. It can be quickly and easily integrated into logistics firms’ existing IT workflows and processes, thereby minimising disruption and infrastructure costs, while making it faster and easier to launch compelling new services.
Drop&Pick follows a three phased process – book, manage and deliver – based around a simple to use and intuitive mobile application. The mobile application also allows parcel shops to act as a local hub for online shopping returns, on behalf of logistics firms. Parcel shops can quickly register a parcel, capture the sender’s details (including handwritten information), add the recipient’s details, and calculate shipping fees, where appropriate, based on parcel size; multiple payment options are supported, including prepaid, wallets and cards.
The parcel shop staff can also book multiple parcels under one sender ID. In the back end, data entry processes convert images to actual data. The parcel is then handed over to the courier and electronic proof of transfer is collected, who then delivers to the end customer and once again, receives electronic proof of delivery from the customer.
“As today’s digitally connected shoppers demand lower prices, greater convenience and a seamless experience when buying, receiving and returning goods, logistics companies need to rethink their delivery processes in order to compete and survive in an increasingly crowded and competitive delivery marketplace,” said Kushal Nahata, Co-Founder and CEO, FarEye.
“There is a sharp increase in online transactions and both sellers and buyers require smart, quick and efficient dispatch and delivery of goods. The global ecommerce market is about 2 trillion USD and with our technology already integrated into major logistics service providers’ systems, FarEye is helping them capture this market. Our Drop&Pick technology is seamlessly integrated into existing IT processes, which means logistics service providers can very quickly and easily develop innovative and value-added services to help them tap into new revenue streams and enhance their customers’ experience. Our Mobile Application for Parcel Shop Delivery is a key aspect of the technology being used by many of our clients including DHL. We expect to see the use of this technology across many key markets in 2018”, Nahata added.
