GLS Netherlands has launched a new tracking service enabling customers to retrieve shippinginformation of their freight shipments nearly in real time on the internet including a digital
signature of the recipient.Recently the company had already launched a similar real-time tracking service for parcelshippers to monitor online the handover of their parcels to the recipient. Now the concept has alsobeen implemented for cargo shipments. Delivery date and time, the name of the person confirming thereceipt via signature are now provided on the GLS website in the Track&Trace system.
“With the new service, we are keeping our customers up to date along the entire transport chainuntil the destination without delays thanks to mobile data transfer technology,” Milo Kars, GeneralManager of GLS Netherlands, explained.
GLS Netherlands has been offering customers a complete tracking service for years. At eachinterface during the shipping process, the individual parcel number is recorded by a scanner. Whenthese status messages are transferred to the IT system, customers can retrieve them online. What isnew is that the delivery data can now be transmitted directly from the delivery vehicle which waspreviously only possible after the driver returned to the depot late afternoon. During the tour,the data are transmitted to the driver’s mobile phone via Bluetooth and forwarded to the GLS ITsystem.
The extra service is available to customers within the whole Benelux cargo network of GLS. Thetechnology considerably accelerates the information flow, GLS stressed. “With the data transferdirectly from the delivery vehicles, we are among the pioneers of the industry in the freightsegment,” Kars added.
New and improved IT solutions play a key role for GLS to continuously strengthen its position onthe market. Recently, the European parcel operator has launched a new route planning softwarecontributing to quick and reliable handling of freight. The system coordinates the delivery routesautomatically in most cases not only calculating the status and the duration of the stops but alsoin which environmental zones the vehicles can be deployed.
“Whether new possibilities for data transfer or modern route planning – we are constantlyworking on the fine-tuning of our processes to provide quality services to our customers,” Karsconcluded.
