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APC Overnight's fast track to

the top
By Freddie Pierce
May 17, 2020 5 mins

Written by Iestyn Armstrong-Smith Each month,

APC Overnight collects, routes and delivers more
than 1.4 million parcels throughout the UK. It is
the ne...

Written by Iestyn Armstrong-Smith

Each month, APC Overnight collects, routes and

delivers more than 1.4 million parcels throughout
the UK. It is the next day delivery courier of choice
for many thousands of small and medium sized
enterprises; the very companies that are essential
for getting the nation back to a healthy economy.
APC is the UK’s largest next day delivery network
with more than 120 local depots covering all
geographic areas, which enable entrepreneurial
companies to gain easy access to a range of next
day delivery services that suit their business needs.

APC specializes in timed deliveries, offering a

choice of convenient morning or afternoon
options as well as a Saturday service. It is owned
and managed by independent local delivery
specialists connected into a strong managed
system. It was originally created by a consortium of
47 UK same-day delivery companies in the early
1990s.

The company recently announced an increase in

pre-tax profits to £3.4 million for the 2010-2011
period, with its revenues growing by 10.34 per cent
and its turnover reaching almost £58 million. Due
to the ever-expanding business, APC Overnight
will embark on building a new purpose-built
multimillion pound hub soon. The new 128,000
square-foot midlands sortation hub will have
more than double the capacity of the existing site
in Essington near Wolverhampton.

The company uses innovative technology,

including scanning systems carried by drivers to
online ordering and tracking designed to keep
customers up-to-date and to integrate with
company ordering systems. It regularly upgrades
its fleet of local delivery vehicles and HGVs. It
recently invested in new tractor units and
aerodynamic trailers that give improved fuel
consumption and lower emissions and it is
investing in innovative lifting deck trailers that
improve both safety and efficiency.

What makes APC significantly different from other

courier firms is its industry leading delivery
performance and customer service, together with
its unique personal service approach. This has
expanded business at a local level and is helping
SMEs to lead the UK out of recession. APC’s
“Handled with Care” services are also helping fresh
produce, wine and food companies extend their
reach nationwide. Handled with Care allows
forward-looking food producers reach all areas of
the UK with their fresh food without complicated
refrigerated transport arrangements. They simply
send their products in suitable packaging for next
day delivery, with APC ensuring they arrive fresh
and in perfect condition.

For example, Cheshire fresh meat producer and

retailer Chestnut Meats has seen its business grow
by 25 per cent year on year since selecting APC
Overnight “Handled with Care” next day deliveries.
The fast and accurate service ensures that
Chestnut Meat home farm reared goat, beef and
pork products reach customers in perfect
condition without the need for specialized
refrigerated transportation.

“We’ve been able to grow the business with APC

Overnight looking after our next day deliveries. The
local APC depot is flexible and supportive. Each
member of the team understands our business
and the importance of ensuring meat orders are
handled carefully and delivered on time,” says Tim
Dobson, co-owner of Chestnut Meats.

“With fresh produce, deliveries need to be treated

with urgency because there are no second
chances and APC knows how critical this is to us.
Even at busy times, such as Christmas and other
holidays, the depot has been there for us and
made sure we provide good service to our
customers.”

The local APC branch installed a special web-

based parcel collection booking system for
Chestnut Meats. This is called NetDespatch
Velocity (many APC customers use this system to
help speed order fulfillment). This provides fast
and simple booking, label printing and
consignment tracking with proof of delivery. By
interrogating the system, Chestnut Meats can
locate any consignment and find out who signed
for it. This provides the traceability the company
needs for its fresh produce.

APC branches, like their customers, are very

entrepreneurial. For example, APC Western
Couriers in Caerphilly, Wales, saw a gap in the local
market for a high street style parcel post service
for the public. The “retail counter” uses the same
web-based booking and tracking system
mentioned above. The retail counter is open until
7 p.m., Monday to Friday and until 12 noon on
Saturday. It is fully equipped with weigh scales and
offers a packing facility should customers require
it. Customers simply call in with their
consignments, pay with cash, credit or debit card
and the job is booked in using the web system.

Other depots such as APC Thistle Couriers, the

local depot for Aberdeen, Scotland, are making use
of other web technologies to extend service
offerings. Using special web software
(NetDespatch eTrader), customers can send a
parcel to anywhere in the UK from the comfort of
their own home and without setting up an account
with the courier. Customers simply book a
collection online and the courier collects the
parcel from their doorstep. The innovative system
provides security of payment for APC Thistle
Couriers and a competitive, high-quality traceable
door-to-door delivery service for customers
throughout the UK.

For more information on APC Overnight and its

unique, high quality, cost-effective next day
delivery services, please visit www.apc-overnight.-
com

SUPPLY CHAIN DIGITAL NEXT DAY DELIVERY

UK NEXT DAY SHIPPIN

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