Hermes has started the rollout of its SafePlace Photo product and geo-fencing capabilities to end consumers in the UK, following positive feedback from retailers after the launch at the beginning of this year.
SafePlace Photo, combined with location tracking that Hermes’ hand-held terminals also provide, will offer retailers and their customers photographic evidence and co-ordinates of parcels left in a safe location and keep them informed. Retailers will be able to lower costs, significantly reduce missed deliveries, incoming customer service enquiries and fraudulent claims as well as improve customer satisfaction.
For consumers, SafePlace Photo improves the overall delivery experience reassuring them that their purchases have arrived even when they are not at home.
Geo-fencing provides a location and a map of where each parcel has been delivered, within a radius of 10m. Updates can be pushed through a choice of channels, including SMS, e-mail, app or website updates.
Hermes couriers will use their existing handheld terminals to take high-resolution images of parcels left in a predetermined or suitably safe location, and also record location co-ordinates. Retailers deploying SafePlace Photo will then receive the images as soon as they are taken; with the additional option to have the photos automatically uploaded into their CRM systems. Retailers will also benefit from an increase in first time delivery attempts and a drop in incoming contact centre enquiries.
SafePlace Photo and geo-fencing is part of Hermes’ Digital Futures strategy, a £55m project that prioritises customer experience through investment in innovation and technology. This includes a new website with updated tracking options and a refreshed app, which are amongst new developments that are coming this year.
Martijn de Lange, CEO of Hermes UK, said: “SafePlace Photo combined with geo-fencing is the latest of our Digital Futures updates that reflects our vision to become the carrier of choice for every end consumer in the UK. It’s so important to take every opportunity to increase transparency throughout the parcel journey to continue to enhance the customer experience, and SafePlace Photo plus geo-fencing will help us and our clients to achieve this.”
