Hermes 'Lifestyle Couriers' digitise deliveries with Wireless Logic

The Hermes Challenge:

• To identify a ‘one stop shop’ connectivity solution for their fleet of couriers’ track, trace and reporting systems
• To deliver a solution with fully optimised geographical coverage – with multiple networks as required
• Security and resilience essential with guaranteed performance and reliability necessary to ensure ‘always on’ connectivity.

The Solution:

Hermes (formerly Parcelnet) the UK’s largest courier delivery service have selected Wireless Logic to provide data SIMs, a bespoke, secure APN network and a fully managed connectivity service.

Under the agreement, Wireless Logic are providing 7,500 SIMs to Hermes’ network of couriers and have designed and implemented a fully managed secure private connectivity service via their the Wireless Logic ‘ManageNet’ platform, taking data traffic away from the increasingly busy public networks. Performance and reliability are guaranteed via a comprehensive Service Level Agreement (SLA), which is not generally offered within the mobile industry. The deployment is using Vodafone and O2 SIMs.

The implementation forms part of Hermes’ plans to transform the way the company tracks, traces and reports on the delivery of all parcels. Couriers have been equipped with mobile handheld devices which provide access and communicate ‘last mile’ delivery data without the need to ‘cradle’ their devices at the depot. Meanwhile, the next day’s delivery scheduled is received by the PDA overnight, which means couriers should rarely have to visit local depots. Retailers and customers are benefiting through being able to better track the whereabouts of their parcels.

As part of the project Wireless Logic is working closely with Blackbay (real-time mobile worker software), Intermec (providers of the CN3 mobile devices used by the courier network), and leading managed services provider The Barcode Warehouse, who are responsible for the provisioning and overall support of the mobility solution.

Wireless Logic says:

Philip Cole, Sales Director at Wireless Logic: “We were chosen because of the significant infrastructure savings that Hermes will experience by using our fully managed private connectivity service and the extensive SLA put in place to protect Hermes’ investment and guarantee performance. Hermes’ decision to invest in mobile technology is indicative of an increasing desire for organisations to provide a consistently excellent service, regardless of distance or location. This is what Wireless Logic delivers for its partners. We’re looking forward to observing the benefits that Hermes’ customers will experience as a result of this implementation.”

Hermes says:

Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes, UK: "This project is a key element of Hermes' strategic plan that is significantly increasing the level of service and choice we deliver to our customers. It ensures we possess a full track and trace facility and creates invaluable management information and exception reporting. This in turn is enabling us to deliver even higher levels of service and better serve the delivery needs of high street, catalogue and internet retailers."