IBS UK has announced the immediate availability of Parcel Carrier Integration (PCI), an application that delivers seamless integration between IBS' supply chain software and third-party distribution companies' tracking systems. 

In doing so, PCI allows IBS customers to save time, provide increased carrier flexibility, reduce errors, improve customer service and increase overall profitability. Increasingly, many customers, both nationally and internationally, do not want to be locked into single carriers and need greater flexibility and integration of carriers into their business process and customer services.

PCI has been developed to improve communication, interaction and functionality and is aimed at companies that contract third-party carriers to transport products directly from their warehouses to customers.  PCI offers business benefits in four key areas: productivity, integrity, customer service and parcel carrier partnership. It has been integrated to work with many leading national and international carriers including Parcelforce, UPS, Tuffnels, Parceline, Nightspeed and Printmovers.

Simon Shorthose, Managing Director of IBS UK, comments: "PCI offers a number of key benefits to customers wishing to improve communication with third party carriers and to increase the visibility and efficiency of their distribution and fulfilment requirements. The overall design has been developed in accordance with IBS' strict programming standards, with easy to use functionality and a focus on delivering tangible business benefits."

PCI provides IBS customers with benefits in several key areas. In terms of productivity within the warehouse environment, once a picklist has been confirmed, PCI automatically prints dispatch labels in the format required by the parcel carrier.  These labels are printed directly from IBS software onto label printers so there is no need for shipping staff to use a separate terminal to create labels. A further link from IBS Sales Order Management allows users to directly access the consignment tracking website provided by the parcel carrier, increasing efficiency in answering customer queries.  A breakdown of all consignments shipped is also available for comparison with the parcel carrier's invoice.

PCI increases the accuracy of the supply chain, which has a significant and positive impact on customer service. Delivery addresses are recorded in the sales order and, as warehouse staff do not have to select the delivery address, this prevents consignments being sent to the wrong customer. An option is available to send an email alert to customers as soon as their consignment is shipped.  This allows organisations to inform customers that their goods are on the way.  They can also be directed to the consignment tracking website in order to track their shipments.

Simon Shorthose concludes: "The PCI application is a standard add-on solution to the IBS ERP and Supply Chain Management system and provides customers with rapid and significant Return on Investment and demonstrates IBS' continued leadership in Supply Chain Execution. It is another example of our commitment to ensuring customers gain the best possible returns in terms of cost savings, efficiency and profitability through their partnership with IBS."

IBS Parcel Carrier Integration is available immediately to all IBS customers using ASW V4.52 or above.