Advanced Warehouse System

In-house Applications

With our new bespoke state of the art in-house applications we have the ability to handle your consignments through all processes that modern logistics requires. From the moment you place your orders with suppliers, to the point of dispatch, to loading onto the international vehicles, our system has got it covered.

Our Advance Warehouse System receives information on book consignments due to arrive at our depot. It records each stage of consolidation from actual receipt, through sorting, processing, checking and confirmation. Thanks to our continued creative development we can offer ground breaking facilities, including bar-coded parcels and pallets which have been electronically checked weighed to ensure accuracy and traceability. Electronic scanning of documents into our document management system gives our customers access to incredible consignment detail via our web portal, and provides the added benefit of auto-generated electronic shipping documents.

We understand and embrace the need for continued development and are committed to continued improvements to our IT and systems. We are always open to suggestions and requests and are delighted to inform customers that our dedicated teams of IT professionals are on hand to amend and cater our systems for every possible need.

With the introduction of our bar-coding system every single consignment, from envelope size through to parcel or pallet, is given a unique reference number providing easy consolidation and control. We treat every consignment individually and follow the instructions set by our customers.

The overall benefits of our systems allow our customers to have peace of mind, knowing that their shipments and stock are treated as our own. We have the ability to answer the questions.

Track & Trace System

With the introduction of our new warehouse applications and the development of our databases we can now offer within our new secure area an improved track and trace facility.

In 2004 WBS created our pioneer online services. We were one of the first to be able to offer these facilities, providing immediately accessible information on customer consignments in our depot via our ‘awaiting shipment’, on the move via our ‘despatch summaries’, and extensive consignment history via our ‘archives’. Straightforward accounting options were added soon after.

The significant 2011 upgrade brings a totally secure environment with multiple added benefits

• The introduction of individual user accounts and secure connection to our website
  
• The ability to export reports into PDF and MS Excel, including your Awaiting Shipments and Dispatch Summaries
  
• A more advanced search function with every page having a quick search ability at the top right corner
  
• The facility to view securely copies of all supplier invoices scanned onto our system
  
• The exciting provision of an automatically generated  shipment pack available immediately after shipment containing a Customs Invoice (if required), dispatch summary, together with and all supplier invoices in a single easy to access PDF file.
  
  (WBS intends this development to save the requirement for endless printed paper runs making our system the most environmentally sound yet).

In comparison with our previous system, track & trace is now updated every 30 minutes giving you the most up to date information as it happens. The added benefit of online messaging and chat really does put you in touch with our team and ensures that we carry out the tasks you set us.


We plan whole host of additional facilities for 2011, which include: Secure payments by both Credit card and bank transfer, the introduction of PubPay to our online services, details of book returns including POD’s, extension of the status of parcels with the possibility of seeing parcels on route to us and finally the last piece of chain, the final delivery information to your door.

Electronic Data Feed from Publishers

Our latest improvement to the information flow. We have developed with several leading UK Publishers and Distributors an EDI link, sending us an electronic data feed of all consignments en route to us. This gives us the ability to dynamically advise the publisher of any parcels wrongly delivered or not received. The supplier can use this information to investigate or replace missing items, which in turn improves the supply chain and brings the benefit of a more efficient and quicker service for all.

We are always working hard to add publishers and suppliers to this chain. We have ambitious targets.

EDI information received is migrated into our systems providing quicker and more detailed information from the source, rather than reliance on manual input.

As part of this project we are introducing to our track & trace pages the ability to access information provided by your publishers. From a single screen you will be able to review data on consignments dispatched from the publisher and their location in the supply chain.