Discount Freight Express is widely accepted as the leading technological innovator in its industry with over 65% of our clients embracing our track and trace technology which we refer to as Star Track.

We have spent a great deal of time and effort over the years developing our infrastructure to support StarTrack and we will continue to invest heavily in this area as we firmly believe that it is the key which will allow us to achieve our goals of providing the best possible service at the lowest possible price.

How StarTrack works

• The client accepts orders from their suppliers.
• The orders are dispatched through the clients normal dispatch process.
• As part of the dispatch process each parcel to be shipped is allocated a unique identifying number.
• The above number is printed as a bar code on the shipping label to be applied to the parcel.
• The client generates a consignment note number, and prints the consignment note, for all parcels going to the same receiver that day.
• When the goods are shipped the client generates and transfers electronic data to DFE with details of all consignments and label numbers generated for that day.
• With this information, DFE knows where the goods are going and when they are due to arrive. The goods are then tracked throughout their journey within our network by means of the bar code on the label until final delivery.
• The information is also used to automatically sort parcels in our Sydney and Melbourne depots.

Our role in the PECC project

The PECC and DOMEDI projects extend the above concepts in the supply phase to incorporate electronic transmission and receipt of order, scan packing of goods at despatch point, electronic transmission of an ASN (Advanced Shipping Notice) to the receiver as well as the carrier and receipt of goods by scanning the unique tracking number and relating it back to the ASN. We are working closely with the PECC team to provide tracking through the transport phase of its pilot project between HSA (Hospital Supplies of Australia) and Ballarat hospital.

Our Technology

• DFE has invested heavily in the following technology to make Star Track a reality.
• All 24 company depots are equipped with local area networks and Novell servers.
• All local area networks are connected via Frame Relay and ISDN to form a wide area network centred around our head office at Pymble.
• All drivers are equipped with hand held bar code scanners.
• 7 major depots are equipped with omni directional scanners above conveyor belts.
• Sydney and Melbourne depots are equipped with tunnel scanning and automatic sortation.
• All delivery trucks are equipped with mobile data terminals to:
• Transmit delivery information captured on the driver's hand held scanner back to our central server in near real time.
• To automate the allocation of bookings to the appropriate truck.
• All agents are being equipped with hand held scanners, modems and terminals, to extend the reach of StarTrack to all of our deliveries.

Standards

• DFE can sort and track freight with either international standard EAN serial shipping container codes (SSCCs) and messages (variously referred to as the EAN Way, the Myer Way or DOMEDI) or with DFE proprietary labels and messages.
• On line inquiry
• Clients that embrace Star Track are able to access freight tracking and proof of delivery information via the internet. Currently this via a telnet session to our freight tracking server, however access via a web browser will be available in the near future.
• EDI billing
• Electronic invoices are available via email on request.
• Paperless Trading
• DFE currently still asks clients to supply a consignment note with all goods picked up, however we are currently in the process of using the data transferred above to replace customer generated consignment notes for automatic billing and Proof of delivery. This project is known internally as the paperless trading project and is scheduled to be fully implemented by February 1999.

For any related enquiry, please contact: -

Mr Joe Earl

National Systems Manager

Ph: (02) 9391 5111

Fx: (02) 9488 7161

e-mail: integral@multigroup.com.au

Mr Kevin Quirke

General Manager Sales

Ph: (02) 9391 5129

Fx: (02) 9488 7161

e-mail: kenrickc@multigroup.com.au

Proud to co-sponsor the PECC Project.