Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile

    Office Depot Rolls Out Wireless Tracking System

    By
    eWEEK EDITORS
    -
    June 11, 2001
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Office depot is rolling out a wireless handheld computer system that allows customers to track deliveries on the Net in real-time. The move is designed to improve customer service and cut down on lost or disputed deliveries.

      While FedEx, United Parcel Service of America and the U.S. Postal Service have long allowed consumers to track packages on the Internet, Office Depot is one of the first — and biggest — retailers to implement a wireless delivery tracking system.

      The office supply chains Office Depot Signature Tracking and Reporting System (ODSTAR) is being rolled out in nine locations, and the company plans to have it operating in 20 markets by the end of the year, said Dennis Andruskiewicz, the companys senior vice president of distribution.

      “This will ensure that our customers get the products they want, when they want them, and our drivers can resolve any customer issue more efficiently and accurately,” Andruskiewicz said.

      Office Depot, in Delray Beach, Fla., operates 820 office supply superstores in North America, sells more than $1 billion in products annually on the Internet and handles about 100,000 deliveries daily. Electronic signatures make it easier to reconcile disputed deliveries with signatures stored in a database, Andruskiewicz said.

      The system should save Office Depot millions of dollars each year since it no longer has to write off deliveries that it cant easily prove it made.

      In part because of its adoption of cutting-edge technologies, Office Depot is doing more than double the volume of its closest competitor online, said Andrew Bartels, research leader for e-business at Giga Information Group, a research firm.

      “They started really early and theyve been working at this for a while,” Bartels said. “Theyve had time to work out the kinks and bugs.”

      Office Depot launched its online operations in 1995 and previously had a very successful mail-order catalog business, which helped the company establish a strong infrastructure for its online business, Bartels said.

      The wireless initiative is another way to meet the needs of its electronic commerce and other customers, said Lauren Garvey, company spokeswoman. It makes it easier for customers to pinpoint when to expect deliveries, she said.

      On its trucks, Office Depot uses Symbol Technologies SPT 1700 Palm computers and wireless software by Aether Systems. The system allows Office Depots drivers to scan each item in a shipment as it is loaded onto a truck, automatically creating a document thats viewable on the companys Web site.

      Once the driver inserts the handheld into the trucks docking station, data is sent over a wireless network to the main computer.

      At delivery, the driver again scans the order and has the recipient sign for it electronically. The signature is then transmitted to the companys main computer system. The unit can also act as a miniature point-of-sale device for accepting payments.

      “The Office Depot rollout is an example of the new empowered mobile work force, a global trend now emerging in retail and other industries,” said Tomo Razmilovic, president and CEO of Symbol.

      eWEEK EDITORS
      eWeek editors publish top thought leaders and leading experts in emerging technology across a wide variety of Enterprise B2B sectors. Our focus is providing actionable information for today’s technology decision makers.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×