CitySprint News

CitySprint, the UK's largest privately owned SameDay distribution network, sponsored the event for the launch of Snow Valley's Online Retail Delivery in the UK 2010 report which took place at the Groucho Club on 20th January 2010. Now in its fifth year, the Online Retail Delivery in the UK report is the industry authority on the delivery services that UK retailers are providing to their customers.
 
The fact that the report identified same-day delivery as a growing trend meant CitySprint was an ideal choice of sponsor as, towards the end of 2009, CitySprint launched a new SameDay courier service which is changing the face of online retail by offering customers more control and flexibility over their deliveries. CitySprint launched the service with online retailer ASOS.com and is now working with a number of other retailers who are keen to offer their customers this leading-edge delivery choice. At the event, ASOS.com was presented with the 'Golden Chariot' award. They achieved the top-spot as a result of its value for money, customer service and flexibility of delivery options. ASOS.com was followed by runners-up Ebuyer, PC World, and Amazon.

Amongst the other key recommendations in the report were 'more Saturday, nominated day and time of day options' and 'more detailed online order tracking'. All areas in which CitySprint can help retailers excel.

CitySprint operates a national network 365 days a year 7 days a week. In a time when many organisations have chosen to streamline their locations CitySprint has remained committed to its national network. It is this geographic presence and round-the-clock service which makes the Retail solution possible. Even with cut off times factored in, in order to offer such a responsive solution to retailers it is vital that the logistics partner has fleet located close to the retailer's distribution centres.

In addition CitySprint's investment in technology can help retailers provide their customers with unrivalled levels of transparency regarding their delivery. Each of CitySprint's couriers are equipped with hand-held GPS devices. CityTrakkers, which transit information to and from CitySprint in real-time.  Essentially this enables CitySprint to know, and be able to view, the exact location of each of their couriers located throughout the UK. The customer benefit of this investment is the unrivalled transparency it offers. Once a courier electronically acknowledges acceptance of a delivery this becomes 'live' on the system. From this point forwards the customer can view the real-time location of the courier making their delivery. Retail customers can either use this information themselves or open the system up to their customers providing added-value levels of customer service.

Bel Shergill, CitySprint's Retail Sector Development Manager, said; "CitySprint was delighted to sponsor this event. As the UK's largest privately owned SameDay Courier network and leading provider of retail delivery solutions, we are fully committed to excellence in e-commerce fulfilment and that is exactly what this event was about. As a supplier of delivery services to ASOS.com we were pleased to see them take the top-spot as a result of their flexible delivery options."