PODs can be accessed
via the webpage
A PROOF of Delivery (POD) system for the distribution industry has been introduced into South Africa by freight logistics company Fast Forward. The POD is a document of confirmation of receipt of service or goods, enabling both receiver and sender not only to verify delivery of goods, but also to facilitate timely payments.
Fast Forward invested R5,4 million to enable it to introduce PODs to this country, and becomes the first distribution and logistics company to offer the cutting edge technology to shorten the supply chain between supplier and customer, says ceo Thabang Motshoi.
The new system enables customers to access information on the delivery status of their goods via the Internet. PODs can be accessed via the Fast Forward webpage. Customers can determine the delivery status of their parcels by using their waybill numbers as reference.
The user-friendly Internet interface allows customers to navigate easily through the system, which delivers an electronic POD image right to the customer's desktop environment. Once retrieved, the customer can print the POD and fax or e-mail it to any third party.
Customers with high volume transactions who would like to do further analytical processing can request the data electronically on CD from Fast Forward.
Feedback received to date indicates that the system has had a clear impact on customer services. Rene Pillay, national customer services centre manager says:
Not only do our customers have the benefit of 24-hour access to our system via the Internet, but they get a response within minutes, as compared to the old system that used to take up to five days at times.
