Greek Courier Adopts Mobile Printing Technology for Seamless Real-Time Proof of Delivery
BIXOLON Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of BIXOLON, the global manufacturer of advanced receipt, label, and mobile printers, is pleased to announce its partnership with ACS Postal Services (ACS), a leading Greek courier service provider. This collaboration integrates BIXOLON’s mobile printing technology into ACS’s proof of delivery system, enhancing operational efficiency across ACS’s European courier landscape. This integration project has been managed by Mobile Technology, a BIXOLON Certified Partner.
Enhancing Visibility Across the Delivery Chain
Established in 1981, ACS Postal Services is a leading Greek courier company, with over 750 service points across Greece, Cyprus, Albania, and Bulgaria. Boasting a fleet of 2000 delivery vehicles and 10 fully automated sorting hubs, ACS handles 50 million shipments annually, supported by a workforce of 3700 skilled employees.
In response to an increase in daily shipments in 2015, ACS upgraded its IT infrastructure with BIXOLON’s technology to strengthen connectivity between couriers and the central system using Bluetooth V4.1 (Classic + LE), while prioritising customer service. The company’s modernised IT setup streamlined the delivery of advanced automated services, including Track & Trace, Cash on Delivery, shipments redirection, and more.
The project goal was to implement a comprehensive proof of delivery application, enabling real-time updates to the host system upon completion of deliveries. The application also empowers couriers to print vouchers instantly upon receiving parcels and generate receipts for customers opting for cash on delivery.
Mobile Technology Integration
The related integration project, and eight-year long collaboration, has been successfully led by Mobile Technology, a BIXOLON Certified Partner. Mobile Technology, BIXOLON and ACS successfully deployed 2,057 of BIXOLON’s SPP-R310 3-inch (80mm) Direct Thermal Mobile Receipt and Label printers throughout ACS’ courier network. Mobile Technology’s role has been pivotal, as it has ensured a seamless integration of the Greek language in BIXOLON’s devices.
In addition, Mobile Technology provides ongoing support services to ACS for this initiative. This includes regularly maintaining its couriers’ hardware remotely. This approach extends the lifecycle and uptime of devices, resulting greater productivity of couriers – it also removes the need for devices to be sent back to Mobile Technology and BIXOLON for repairs and services more frequently too. Further, Mobile Technology provides ACS with a dedicated call centre as part of its ongoing technical support to ACS couriers if and when required.
Improving Proof of Delivery
The resulting deployment of BIXOLON’s SPP-R310 mobile printers has empowered ACS to establish a robust proof of delivery application with real-time updates to the host system, providing complete visibility into the logistics chain. Couriers can now efficiently print vouchers and receipts on the spot, enhancing customer satisfaction and streamlining operations.
Ioannis Vratsos, IT Director of ACS, emphasised the significance of the partnership, stating, “Our collaboration with Mobile Technology and BIXOLON Europe has been instrumental in optimising our courier services. The BIXOLON SPP-R310 mobile printer perfectly aligns with our requirements, offering the comfort and speed our staff needs for productivity. It’s a testament to the success of our partnership that we continue to rely on this solution to this day.”
Jay Kim, Managing Director of BIXOLON Europe, added, “We are proud of the lasting impact our collaboration with ACS Postal Services has had on its logistics operations. The deployment of our mobile printers has facilitated real-time updates, empowering ACS couriers to print vouchers and receipts on the spot, providing customers with a robust proof of delivery system.
“Since initially deploying these printers almost a decade ago, they have proven their durability and value, supporting ACS through increased workloads, especially during the pandemic. We remain committed to providing ongoing support and introducing new applications to enhance efficiency for ACS Postal Services, its customers, and the wider logistics industry.”
