April/May 2002

Plug-and-go parcels tracking

A plug-and-go Web-based track and trace package for small courier and transport companies has been developed jointly by despatch software specialist Professional IT and NetDespatch, the Web-oriented job booking and tracking specialist.

The integrated solution marries Professional IT's Freedom despatch control and administration system with NetDespatch's Web-based booking, tracking and mobile technologies. Users can offer their clients integrated online booking and tracking of deliveries via any computer or device with a Web browser.

Job details are retrieved automatically from the NetDespatch servers by Freedom, and status updates such as proof of delivery are posted automatically back to NetDespatch. In addition, telephone bookings are logged into Freedom and posted on the NetDespatch system.

NetDespatch can already integrate its service with various mobile technologies. Last year it launched WAPitBack, which allows order bookings to be placed from WAP-enabled mobile phones or palmtop computers. This year it announced a system called Masquerade which allows mobile workers to access remote computers purely with voice commands. This has been developed jointly with MASC Communications.