Parcel - March/April 2009 - (Page 29) tailored solution. These solutions can automate the retrieval of customer and order information, update shipment information and enable business rule automation. Essentially, what these solutions offer is deep integration similar in nature to the multicarrier shipping systems, without the high costs. Some of these integrated solutions also offer enhancements for the free carrier software with add-on features such as branded email notification, combination packing slip/carrier labels and pack verification. Some even enable UPS, FedEx and USPS to coexist on a single shipping platform to provide a true multi-carrier solution — again, without the high costs that historically have accompanied such robust functionality. Case in Point Hunter Douglas integrated its SAP ERP system with the free carrier shipping technology at locations across the country. “By using a solution provider to implement the integration of the carrier-provided shipping systems, we were able to manage our specific business rules automatically without the end user making decisions on a case by case basis. The end result with this approach is that Hunter Douglas was able to significantly reduce our fulfillment costs by eliminating an expensive multicarrier shipping system,” said Leo Gabrillo, a Senior Project Manager of IT for Hunter Douglas. “The ability to use the carrier-provided shipping solutions also reduced the effort required within our IT department to support our shipping operations.” mandated by the carriers typically happened once a year. Today, carriers update their services, rates, accessorial charges and routing guidelines so frequently that it forces multi-carrier shipping system providers to perform continuous software updates in order to stay compliant. What it comes down to is this: By fully leveraging the carrier’s technology and infrastructure with an integration solution, you can have all of the functionality needed to meet your customers’ shipping requirements, reduce the number of shipping mistakes and ultimately drive down fulfillment costs. So ask yourself: “Am I leveraging all of the technology and resources that are available to me from the carriers?” Most likely, you are not. So look inside your warehouse for what could be a simple solution to a complex problem. n In the past, compliance updates Troy Graham is Director of Sales at Oz Development, Inc. Oz is a nationally recognized leader in software development, with particular emphasis in shipping integration solutions. He can be reached at 508-366-1969 or at troy@ozdevelopment.com. MARCH 2009 | www.PARCELindustry.com 29 http://www.PARCELindustry.com
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