Yellow Couriers implement Phase-Two of its advanced IT upgrade

South Australian based Yellow Couriers has successfully completed the implementation of phase-two of its ambitious new computer and communications enhancement project.

Initially conceived some two years ago, the latest technology initiatives to be introduced add three substantial new capabilities to the potent Yellow service offering.

First, clients are now able to optionally book their jobs using the internet. Next, the introduction of portable data terminals (PDTs) captures real time pick up and delivery data, which in turn, enables clients to verify proof of delivery signatures at any time after a job has been delivered. While, by facilitating the automated recording of all data relating to a specific job, Yellow users will be able to automatically check on the progress on any of their delivery consignments.

As the company's Couriers Manager, Gaynor Mouzekiari, explained, "all members of the Yellow Corporation group of companies continually monitor relevant new technology and investigate where and how this might be applied to improve service, speed response and offer business efficiencies.

“For several years now we have been working with our strategic IT partner Promadis to substantially identify different and better ways of doing things. And in close collaboration, they have then gone on to develop and install a wide range of new computing and communication capabilities for us.

“A little over 18 months ago, for example, we introduced new dispatcher software. This being the vital tool which is used to record, assign, monitor and manage each and every individual client job.

"It’s also a tool that is 'mission critical' for the business and is a pivotal element in delivering constantly high levels of customer service.

“With that  in place, our next slated task was to work with Promadis to get technology out onto the road and to use internet solutions that would assist clients and give us substantially increased control over the tens of thousands of jobs we handle every week and our large fleet of operators”, Mrs Mouzekiari said.

“From the perspective of the internet, our overriding priority was to give customers the option to use this to book jobs, to check on the progress of these and to immediately confirm online proof of delivery signatures.

“Those signatures are captured on  a driver’s digital screen PDT when deliveries are made. With the same devices  touch screens also being used by drivers to confirm their progress with each and every job. For example, they’ll key in when they accept a job, when they pick and when they drop off.

“This information is then immediately available to our central IT system so we will always know precisely what is going on and so customers can readily and simply check on job progress.

“The same information has also meant that drivers no longer have to go through the arduous, manual and time consuming task of completing daily run sheets.

“From a management perspective, the depth of accurate data we are now getting gives us far greater control of our operations and is facilitating the use of more advanced KPIs to ensure we are performing as planned”, Mrs Mouzekiari noted.

A final facet of Yellow’s most recent computer and communication innovation has been to introduce GPS technology into its fleet. A tool which pinpoints the precise location of every vehicle and thus further improves despatch efficiency and fleet control.