Whistl is aiming to help small online retailers pump up the volume by trialling a new delivery service for low volume businesses who cannot access competitive parcel pricing due to their size.
The service which is initially launching in three locations – the West Midlands (Minworth), South Yorkshire (Dinnington) and Nottingham – will see Whistl collect parcels from local online retailers, then consolidate the packages at new and existing micro hubs, then pass over to their partners for delivery to the consumer.
Small volume online retailers will have access for the first time to carrier management systems (CMS) that will enable them to offer consumers a wider range of delivery options, including 24- and 48-hour services. The CMS, which is integrated into the existing order management system, will automatically choose the best carrier for the job, depending on size, weight and service required.
Other benefits include single label production, which connects the whole delivery process together and enables better journey transparency through increased track and traceability of the parcel.
With the micro-hubs located in big conurbations, Whistl is able to offer better collection times and reduce the environmental impact of collections through reduced mileage to the handover of parcels to delivery partners.
Whistl claims one of the greatest benefits to firms is that they will have access to the company’s account management, with a single person handling all of their delivery management needs.
Whistl chief executive Nick Wells said: “Whistl has always been a champion for our customers and looking at ways for organisations, no matter their size, to benefit from competition in the delivery space.
“As we are seeing unprecedented demand for goods online during the Covid-19 crisis, it is important that all retailers have the opportunity to get their goods to customers competitively.
“By working with Whistl, small volume retailers can now access the benefits of carrier management systems that were once only available to larger volume organisations. We look forward to rolling out to further locations across the UK depending on the performance of the trials.”
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