MARLOW, England, July 17 /PRNewswire/ --     The Isle of Man's largest distribution company, Manx Independent
Carriers, is rolling out an innovative system for tracking parcels and
freight using a new international 'databank' called PODXchange. Developed by
Marlow-based NetDespatch, PODXchange is a web portal for proof of delivery
(POD).

Manx drivers are being equipped with special mobile devices incorporating
barcode scanners and a touchscreen. When deliveries are made and signed for,
details of the shipment held in the barcode can be transmitted live to the
web portal along with the captured electronic signature. Scan and POD data as
well as signatures are then transformed into the appropriate carrier format
and transmitted to Manx's customers that include most major UK parcel
carriers.

The portal accepts data from any POD system - for any parcel - and then
makes it available via the Internet to any carrier. Manx is already 
delivering on behalf of all the major parcel carriers including Fedex, UPS,
DPD, Citylink, Parcelnet and Amtrak. Using one device, Manx can now provide a
live signature POD to any of these companies. The intelligent system
recognises the carrier from the barcode on the parcel ensuring that each
carrier only retrieves data on their own parcels.

"We are a carrier's carrier delivering anything for anyone across the 
island. That makes us quite unique in the UK transport sector and since
we deliver for so many other carriers it creates real challenges. So any
technological innovation that helps is very welcome and PODXchange has far
reaching benefits for us especially in service delivery," says Michael
Coleman, Director of Manx Independent Carriers.

"With all the carriers running their own bespoke POD systems, adopting
all of those systems was never going to be a practical option. We wanted to
take a lead and give our customers an advantage through real-time information
on their Isle of Man deliveries. We see PODXchange as one of the biggest
advances in delivery management and it will provide our mainland partners
with instant PODs from the Isle of Man for the first time - boosting the
appeal of their services," continues Coleman.

First used in the Highlands of Scotland for parcel deliveries handled by
AJG, the system is being implemented by Manx so that is can be used for all
types of deliveries. "We travelled to Inverness to see the first PODXchange
implementation in action with courier firm AJG parcels. It was immediately
evident that it had real potential and we realised we could develop the first
true multi-service POD solution giving our customers live updates on anything
we delivered whether a parcel, pallet, an item of plant or a fresh food
delivery," says Coleman.

"We want to build on our success as a carrier's carrier and the breadth
of services we offer is a key selling factor. Applying new technology across
such a diversity of services is a big challenge but as the biggest operator
on the island we know we need to take a lead in technology. PODXchange allows
us to deliver the service advantage and that will be backed by an advanced
mobile solution supplied by Spirit Data Capture and a traffic management
system from Haultech," continues Coleman.

Photos are available on request.

Website: http://www.netdespatch.com