Varsity ShipSoft customers receive annual rate updates in time to install, test and ship with complete accuracy.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 18, 2005 -- Varsity Logistics, Inc., the pioneer of integrated shipping solutions for the IBM iSeries, announced the successful completion of the annual UPS and FedEx shipping rate update. To ensure Varsity's customers were ready to go live with the new rate change, rate and manifest updates were available for electronic delivery or via mail, well in advance of the effective date of January 3, 2005.
"Our customers ship over a million packages each day. They depend on Varsity to deliver timely and accurate rate updates to prevent any disruption in their shipping," said Tony Phillips, Director, Product Management for Varsity Logistics.
This year's update was more challenging than usual. In addition to changing the shipping rates, both FedEx and UPS changed their calculations for Declared Value shipments and added new Hundredweight service types for shipments to Alaska and Hawaii.
Varsity follows a four step process to ensure timely and accurate rate updates:
>> Pro-active Development. As a result of long-standing carrier relationships, Varsity receives advance notice of carrier plans for rate changes, new specifications and services. Early notification provides the opportunity to plan for and manage the timely delivery of quality updates.
>> Deliver Quality. Varsity has over fifteen years of experience incorporating carrier rate changes into existing products. This expertise enables the rapid assessment and incorporation of each carrier's unique specifications without compromising software reliability.
>> Internal and Beta Test. To ensure the highest level of rate accuracy, Varsity follows rigorous testing procedures involving over 120 man-hours of testing for each carrier's new rates.
>> Flexible Distribution. Varsity customers can choose to receive updates via FTP, CD or tape. To allow time for internal testing, updates are always available in advance of carrier deadlines. In addition, Varsity extends live customer support center hours during rate updates to include nights and weekends.
"Varsity provided everything we needed to execute the rate update in a timely and reliable manner," said Clint Williams of Mid America Motorworks. "We have never experienced any downtime during the update. In fact, the entire process becomes more streamlined each year."
In addition to UPS and FedEx, Varsity supports all major parcel carriers including BAX Global, DHL, Airborne, Purolator, and the U.S. Postal Service.
About Varsity Logistics
Founded in 1989, Varsity Logistics, Inc. is the leading provider of IBM iSeries and AS/400 shipping systems. Varsity's software supports the full spectrum of parcel, truckload and LTL shipments, including rate shopping, manifesting, parcel packing, international shipments and invoice auditing. Deployed in more than 1,000 distribution sites, Varsity helps North American organizations of all sizes improve shipping efficiencies, increase customer satisfaction and reduce shipping expense. Varsity is based in San Francisco, California.