Mothercare Direct uses MetaPack DMS to reduce home delivery costs

2 March 2004 


MetaPack's Delivery Management System (DMS) has helped Mothercare Direct to reduce the cost of home delivery by 15% without reducing carrier rates 
MetaPack's DMS was selected by Mothercare to deliver a multi carrier environment that would reduce the risk and overall cost of home delivery. Mothercare recognised that utilising a range of carriers would allow them to gain a cost advantage from specific carrier capabilities, and to reduce risk through service contingency. DMS enabled Mothercare to achieve this by automating selection of the carrier to best able to deliver each despatch, and by providing the tools to manage peak volumes and service issues, as they occur.

Mothercare Direct despatches nearly 600,000 parcels per year to its customers using parcel carriers. However, the consolidation of the UK carrier market in 2002 led to increased delivery costs and greater business uncertainty for Mothercare. This change drove them to consider how technology and carriers could be used to reduce future risk while positively impacting delivery costs. 

DMS provides Mothercare with a single interface to a range of carriers. Parcels are automatically allocated to a carrier, taking into account Mothercare's service and cost priorities, and also the specific carrier capabilities such as geographic coverage, delivery services and product handling. DMS supports Mothercare's multi carrier environment prior to parcel despatch, through the generation of standard format carrier labels and electronic manifests.

Tim Curtis, Head of Mothercare Direct said: "We had been using a range of carriers for sometime, but needed a system to ensure automatic carrier selection and integration with WMS processes. The time and resource involved in developing such a system, and then integrating to each carrier, was the main bottleneck that prevented us fully exploiting our strategy to reduce costs and improve service. MetaPack has been the only company that has been able to offer us the flexibility that we require both now and in the future, while enabling us to significantly reduce our overall carrier costs.

Patrick Wall, MetaPack CEO said: "Mothercare's savings have been achieved by matching each parcel to the most appropriate carrier, not by reducing carrier rates. This is a win for the shipper, the customers and the carriers. Mothercare have reduced their costs, carriers have received the business that suits their networks and customers have received an improved service. "

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Useful Links

MetaPack DMS Overview

About MetaPack 
MetaPack is the leading provider of delivery management solutions that enable users of carriers, such as retailers and shippers, to dramatically reduce costs and improve service. This is achieved by combining a range of carriers to leverage their specific capabilities, not by reducing existing carrier rates. 
MetaPack has deep domain expertise in delivery management and works with some of the United Kingdom's top businesses including Boots, Mothercare, Comet and Screwfix. 

About Mothercare 
Mothercare Direct comprises the Direct mail order catalogue, in-store ordering and mothercare.com, the shopping and information web site. These Direct channels extend the reach of the Mothercare brand and provide customers with a convenient way to shop and to access a wealth of information for mums-to-be and parents of young children on a range of topics, including pregnancy and childcare.