Dorset based novelty gift maker, Made Lovingly Made, has speeded up its order fulfilment processes with the help of a web-based integration solution from NetDespatch, which seamlessly connects the company’s order management system with its parcel delivery network.
Made Lovingly Made makes unique personalised gifts and novelty products out of ethically sourced wood, from cufflinks and necklaces to key rings and jigsaw puzzles. Produced in Made Lovingly Made’s workshop in Christchurch, Dorset, these products are sold through the company’s own website and the NotOnTheHighStreet.com marketplace.
Prior to implementing the NetDespatch solution, Made Lovingly Made had to manually download orders and then print the despatch labels in bulk, and the growing business really needed more automation and flexibility in its fulfilment and despatch processes.
The NetDespatch Retail Solutions team, who evaluated Made Lovingly Made’s operations and suggested utilising the powerful NetDespatch Import Engine, which they could configure themselves, to map the data from their website and NotOnTheHighStreet.com, and transfer it to the NetDespatch servers.
The retail Solutions team also suggested the use of Parcel Despatch, the NetDespatch innovative online scanning solution, would enable the retailer’s despatch department to scan the barcodes on pick-and-pack notes to print off labels as required. Once all labels have been printed for the day, the Sales Order Summary can be printed, which automatically transfers the data to the Carrier’s Online Business Account.
“The NetDespatch solution enables us to quickly process all of our Royal Mail orders for despatch,” says Tony Carr, Director of Made Lovingly Made. “On a busy day, the solution saves us eight man hours.”
How much did all this cost? Nothing! NetDespatch works closely with postal and parcel carriers, and provides a cost-free shipping solution for their customers. It seems unbelievable, but there are no costs involved for installation, training or support, and the system is available instantly online.
If you’re interested in getting a free automated despatch solution you can contact NetDespatch on 01978 367475 or through their website.
30 Responses
What will be the effect of Royal Mail’s change to OBA users? Has anyone else noted that from October if you have an OBA it will be compulsory to use Despatch Manager Online, requiring the purchase of a thermal printer? This is irrespective of whether DMO works effectively with your business process, and whether or not it improves efficiency.
How will this effect solutions like NetDespatch? I will need to redesign part of my daily process to accommodate this Royal Mail change, and I suspect it will take longer to link the correct label to the correct parcel.
I have been using DMO since it was introduced but my RM account manager told me last week that it was going to become compulsory for everyone with an OBA.
So who to believe?
heard nothing here though we would think it highly likely that DMO will become compulasry
See below-
I have recently been trying to contact yourself in regards to a conversation surrounding your current shipping solution.
Royal Mail are committed to your business and with that said we are looking to minimise losses through the process of introducing a 2D barcode for all parcels. This is something that we will be integrating hopefully by September.
I have attached a document for you to have a read through with all the benefits of investing in this new and improved technology, please also refer to the link below for further information surrounding DMO, API and COSS.
https://www.royalmail.com/corporate/services/parcel-shipping-solutions
What I would like from your self is some information into what kind of shipping solution system you are currently using whether it be Royal Mail’s DMO or a third party such Linnworks
Can you please either respond via email or give me a call at your earliest convenience.
Kind Regards
OBA will be removed between August and October this year and everybody has to move to DMO. The channel management companies are aware of this and our account managers have already informed us.
I’m glad I’ve read this thread as this is the first I’ve heard of the compulsory DMO. We use OBA but have not received anything in the post/email. Has there been an official announcement or mailer about it?
The only thing I see is that barcoding will become compulsory and that each PPI user will have their own unique barcode or QR code.
I guess we’ll find out in August or September or October or whatever date the ‘compulsory’ change is purported to be.
I do over £7k a month with RM and have been told categorically that DMO will not become compulsory, but that barcodes will. These will be applied at the first sort level if they are not on the shipping label. The barcodes are not for tracking but for faster routing and auto sorting of parcels within the hub. It has been suggested to me that over time there might be a surcharge if you don’t use DMO (or more specifically a small discount if you do) but that barcodes cannot become compulsory because it would be impossible for stamped mail that wasn’t individually presented at a post office and would also be impossible for those still using paper posting cheques. My contact has told me repeatedly that DMO will remain optional and to refer anyone who tries to claim that it’s compulsory from their sales team back to him.
Just been looking into this DMO malarky
Bit of a cheek I have to plonk down £200 for a new printer before I can use their service!!!
https://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Thermal_printer_offer.pdf
It is interesting to hear that different people are being told different things. We were told we had to move. Actually within 24 hours they had emailed us login details for DMO and a link to buy the new printer! We operate everything in the company from the offices to the warehouse on iMacs and the printers are a nightmare with macs. We use dymo shipping printers which work great and I would absolutely prefer not to use DMO. OBA works. Why change it?
Very interesting and frustrating.
We currently use OBA but contacted Royal Mail about DMO.
We were told that they are going to move everyone over to DMO later this year and that OBA is not available to new customers.
I looked at DMO as there is a barcode on the label which may give the impression of tracked and we were thinking that it would cut the INR claims.
Once i said i would probably move across and would like to see a demonstration, i received login details and a roll of labels straight away, however we are yet to purchase a printer and have told them i will contact them when i am ready, they do seem a bit keen to move accounts across.
There are plenty of 2nd hand ones available at a greatly reduced price.
I have still yet to fully investigate, but i use packing partner and they have a facility to produce the file to upload to DMO to make the labels.
Anyone else use Packing Partner with DMO
Lee
Hi all,
With NetDespatch you’re able to print your Royal Mail labels to any printer, not just thermal printers; you can also use any browser as well as PCs, Macs and mobile devices.
I thought you might be interested to see an example of the Royal Mail 2D Barcode label produced by NetDespatch. https://bit.ly/1GG1AhF
The NetDespatch solution is completely free to retailers, and we can work with you to make the solution work with your current business process, or advise you in ways you can make your life easier.
If you’d like to find out more information about NetDespatch, visit our Retailers page (www.netdespatch.com/services/retailers) or alternatively speak to your Royal Mail Account Manager.
I have my “Discount Code” from Royal Mail, you get it from the DMO Migration team at Royal Mail, so i think your eligible when you move from OBA to DMO.
You can get the printer for £150.00 plus VAT, so a worth while saving.
Also, its worth remembering that Royal Mail supply the labels, so you will make a continuous saving if you currently buy your own address labels.
Lee