Competitor Watch
Parcel delivery firm Hermes UK, has implemented mobile barcode scanning on smartphones for verification and proof of delivery with the help of Scandit, the mobile computer vision experts.
Over the next three years, Hermes UK is working towards replacing more than 15,000 dedicated barcode scanners with smartphones loaded with a Scandit-powered Android app. Couriers will scan items, record an electronic signature, verify an ID and take a picture of where a package has been left – all done with smartphones.
The new technology saves time and money, streamlines the entire delivery process, and provides a mobile platform for rapid roll-out of future service improvements that further enhance operations and customer experience.
During the migration period, Hermes UK couriers will also begin using additional Scandit software features, MatrixScan and augmented reality (AR) overlays. This means couriers will scan multiple barcodes at once to search for and find a specific item quickly and view parcel/customer information overlaid on the device screen.
Chris Ashworth, CIO from Hermes UK, said: ‘A key component of our digital transformation strategy, known as Digital Futures, is to replace dedicated barcode scanners with smartphones that provide couriers with real-time data to improve the customer experience.
‘Enabling couriers to carry a smartphone not only helps us to improve operational efficiency, but also improves the working lives of couriers who can now use their own phone, or a Hermes provided phone, rather than having to carry a barcode scanner.’
As part of our own digital transformation plans, we are investing around £1.8 billion over the next five years to build a more parcels-led, more balanced, more diversified international business. Our strategy includes implementing a major increase in parcel sorting automation with the building of three new fully-automated parcel hubs to handle next day, large and smaller Tracked parcels, and the embedding of new digitally-enabled work tools that allow us to better resource to workload and ensure we are paid for everything we do.
