Weird Fish has implemented the NetDespatch cloud-based shipping solution to rationalise its order fulfilment process. The NetDespatch parcel data management platform seamlessly connects the company’s order management system – Select Commerce from Webselect – with its parcel delivery network, Royal Mail, and has reduced order processing and despatch time by 50%.
Cheltenham-based Weird Fish has been manufacturing clothing for 22 years. After operating as a wholesaler for six years, the company opened its own stores, and then began selling online in 2005 via its own e-commerce website, and in 2010 via Amazon and eBay. Weird Fish now ships around 50,000 consignments per year to destinations all over the world, and last year sold its millionth “macaroni” sweatshirt.
With annual growth of around 20%, Weird Fish needed to introduce a more scalable order fulfilment process that would also help to streamline its despatch procedures.
The NetDespatch Retail Solutions team discussed the integration options available, and then implemented a solution that has totally automated the order fulfilment procedure; processing orders automatically through the secure NetDespatch servers, producing the correct 2D barcoded tracked shipping labels and notifying Royal Mail that parcels are ready for collection.
The NetDespatch solution was implemented in November 2014, coinciding with the launch of Weird Fish’s new website. A massive 39% of the company’s sales now take place online, with e-commerce sales increasing by 45% in the first four months of 2015.
“Implementation of NetDespatch was easy and there were no issues at all,” said James Lloyd, E-commerce Manager, Weird Fish. “The system didn’t miss a beat, even on ‘Black Friday’, and easily managed the record sales we had last year. Our despatch time is now half what it used to be.”
NetDespatch is retained by postal and parcel carriers to provide innovative shipping solutions for their customers through an easy to use secure web-based platform that automates the connection between order processing, despatch and delivery, even if the orders are received in one location and despatched from another. There are no costs involved for installation, training or support, and the system is available instantly online.
