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Ecourier
Page 49
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'Happiness delivered', thanks to Larry Ecourier's slogan is 'happiness delivered'. The fast-growing, high-profile, London-based courier company uses an advanced computer algorithm, affectionately called 'Larry', to match couriers to incoming orders and work out the best routes. Its founder, Jay Bregman, claims this unique technology has enabled Ecourier to reduce potential office staff and costs by 35% and achieve 25% increased productivity; for every £1 invested in telematics there is a £4 payback in savings.
When Bregman and his business partner, Tony Allason, founded the firm in 2004 having themselves been courier customers frustrated by low service standards they were completely new to the business and quickly discovered the sector to be fragmented, with low entry barriers. Most existing firms were small and competed solely and savagely on price, discouraging investment in new technology. Despite blue-chip corporate clients such as multinational banks service levels were low.
"We knew the industry was ripe to professionalise. Courier technology had remained largely unchanged since the 1970s," states Bregman.
Around 85% of Ecourier bookings are made via its website, which also allows customers to watch the delivery van's progress on their computer screens. Job completion is confirmed by email. When routeing vehicles, the one shown by GPS to be closest to a pickup point may not be the most effective to send. For example, being on the other bank of the Thames means it could take longer to collect than a vehicle further away but on the same side. The firm pays its couriers £7.50 minimum per dropROp per mile and claims these are "the best rates in the business.'