Hauliers across Britain are set to benefit from a new vehicle booking system (VBS) being officially launched in the New Year by DP World Southampton.
The operator of the terminal, which services on average 1,500 trucks a day, is bringing in the new booking system called VBS Premium to further enhance supply chain efficiencies for customers.
A trial of VBS Premium with 13 of the terminals largest hauliers has been described by the container port as an “overwhelming success” to date.
Steve McCrindle, Head of Operations, said: “The aim of VBS Premium is to make the back-office management of containers and bookings easier, making the transport booking process even more productive. “Having pioneered VBS in 2005, we are industry leaders and have spent the past year developing this IT system in-house to further enhance supply chain efficiencies for customers. Built from the ground up, the feedback we have received from the port industry to date is that it has been an overwhelming success.
“Customers are reporting that they are saving time with our new booking system – what could take up a morning can now be done within just 30 minutes or so.
“VBS Premium will be available to all hauliers calling at the terminal from January 1st, 2013, and we will be listening carefully to how they feel the service is going.”
Advantages of VBS Premium include:
• Ability to upload lists of containers into the system which are automatically tracked for booking status i.e. cleared etc.
• One page to manage containers and one page for bookings.
• Click and drop facility to combine containers and appointments.
• Appointment availability shown in in real time with automatic refresh.
• Expected location in terminal (allowing you to combine import and export boxes in one transfer area).
The introduction of VBS Premium follows a record-breaking year for productivity at the port, which also won a national award for being the most reliable port for rail feed service of its kind in the UK.
Gate-to-gate turnaround times for hauliers at DP World Southampton are reportedly the best in the UK with an average of less than 30 minutes.
DP World
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