Virtual Delivery Source Offers Web Based Transportation Management Tools For Home Deliveries - Coming To High Point Show

Furniture World Magazine

Virtual Delivery Source based in Conyers, GA, was created in 2001 to provide consulting and web based software solutions to the maturing last mile home delivery industry. We now are providing the most powerful transpiration web based management and collaborative tool in the furniture industry. The “VDS”, “One Look System”, as well as the “VDS”, “ One Look Delivery Manager”, and much more. We had been asked by our customers to provide the link between line haul furniture carriers and the last mile home delivery providers to service the consumers market.  “Yes there are others in this space”, says Don Phelps VP of Sales and co-founder of VDS.  “But no one has acted on the cry from customers to have great customer service, real-time information, and choice in the level of service that fits their needs”. “VDS has now goes one step beyond the competition while developing technology that is five years ahead of the competition.” Says, “Edward C Tracey President.  Tracey further states that “The reaction by companies in the fortune 500 realm that VDS is currently working with is actually surprising, because these companies have not spent much money on modern technology and certainly not on web based technology designed to manage the entire supply chain inclusive of  the last mile into the consumers home.”   “They seem to build legacy systems that are not agile and have difficulty keeping up with their more mobile customer base.”  VDS offers the web based technology for the last mile delivery companies that link them together with the specialized furniture carrier, the manufacturer and the retailer to allow total visibility and collaboration between all parties.  Last mile delivery companies for years were too small to afford the technology that would bring them into the 21st century.  Edward C Tracey President and CEO of VDS says, “When we first tried to accomplish this as the President and co-founder of Consumer Delivery Network in the early 90’s, the last mile delivery companies were just getting their first fax machines and cell phones were not affordable for small businesses either.” He continues the internet is a cheap resource today and we now have the free flow of information to any place in the world through it.”   Tracey continues to say,  “ If you do not provide solutions to the companies at the end of the supply chain who actually perform the most important piece of  the entire delivery process, the industry will continue to be frustrated and not mature to the same degree that the small package industry has with FEDEX and UPS”. VDS has just concluded agreements to partner with eight well established and well known specialized furniture carriers that call themselves the North American Furniture Transportation Group (NAFTG).  VDS is providing the technology that will allow the eight to collaborate and offer a seamless web based flow of information to each other and their customers as well as linking the entire last mile delivery world together.  This has enabled the NAFTG group to begin offering door to door seamless home delivery solutions to their customers.  VDS offers linkage to Target Logistics freight forwarding service as well as North American Home Express solutions to the customers of the entire VDS network of retailers, manufactures and furniture carriers.  A recent agreement with two national assembly firms allows VDS to offer seamless delivery and assembly of KD and other furniture throughout the USA and Canada. “As if all of the collaboration from above wasn’t enough VDS is tying in over 250 independently owned and operated non branded home delivery companies that will give us a unique position in the home delivery marketplace” says Phelps.  “We are looking for more companies who want to join this collaboration and tie into the seamless network that provides all the tools to service the delivery needs of big and heavy home delivery throughout the USA and Canada like it has never been done before”.  With the expansion of the network with office delivery companies, installation companies, furniture repair companies and courier companies to name a few we can offer the customer one stop shopping for all their delivery needs. The VDS partnership with Mercury Gate International, Televox Corporation, and Customer Podium makes us the leader in providing the complete technological solution to the entire home delivery world.  Having complete management of all modes of transportation in one system with rate management, freight tendering, tracking though every leg of the shipment, billing, claims management and more, while offering automated pre call technology, and real time voice POD at the time of the delivery, VDS surpasses any network or solution being offered in 2004 and beyond We offer additional technology that completely tracks ocean, rail and air freight shipping from around the globe, making it possible for you keep track of any inbound or outbound shipment from your web browser with a simple user name and password as well as offering private labeled web based systems for those who want to create their own collaborative group.  In co-operation with Business Integrated Solutions we can now offer powerful RFID and other state of the art warehouse technologies With this transition from being strictly a consultant company and reseller of technology to being a manager of home deliveries we can take the past experience of our founder and offer the manufacturer and retailer the most comprehensive home delivery service in the world. Edward Tracey President and CEO stated “for the almost 18 years working in the capacity as  an owner, President or consultant  in the home delivery business with companies like CDN, RDS, Bekins HDUSA, and North American Home Express, the same challenges could not be resolved.  For instance moving furniture safely from manufacturer to the final mile delivery service provider with no damage, how to have real time information available through the web to reduce the workload on customer service, how to notify the consumer when the product has arrived at the final mile delivery center and set up a convenient delivery time quickly, and then to finally get a POD in a timely manner.  VDS has solved these challenges by using web based systems that generate email, automated pre-calls upon the freights arrival at the final mile carrier and real time voice POD that will capture the consignee’s voice at time of delivery and immediately notify the dispatcher and interested parties of any exceptions at time of delivery.  Like a carpet that gets soiled during the delivery by the delivery team and within minutes a carpet cleaning service is hired to clean the carpet.  All because that voice POD is emailed within 45 seconds to the appropriate parties and before you can say soiled carpet the consumer receives a phone call arranging for the carpet to be cleaned   What about the short ship, or wrong model number?  How valuable is it for you to know that these exceptions can be handled in minutes while the consumer is right there on the site and instead of having an angry consumer turning that challenge into a positive by the way the exception is handled in a professional timely manner.  “That is market advantage VDS customer”, says Tracey. “While people are involved in the process it will never be perfect, but there is no reason why we shouldn’t strive to make it a pleasant experience”.  Our Vision- is to be the most admired and respected business for our industry in the world, serving the business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) market place, while always providing vision, leading edge technology, consulting and logistics services to the furniture, appliance, and big ticket industries. Our Mission- is to minimize our clients’ transportation costs, by improving productivity, integrating our clients customer service while maximizing their end customers’ satisfaction, by providing superior web based transportation management technologies with end to end collaborative capabilities. Our Focus- is to provide a platform to make Supply Chain integration seamless and visible for our clients.  Our Values - To become the most respected name in our industry; we will endeavor to conduct our business of reflecting Christian values in every aspect of our business.  We will go the extra mile for our clients. We will strive to honor and serve God in all that we do! VDS will be available to meet with potential customers during the High Point Furniture Show in October. Just email or call for an appointment. For more information go to www.v-ds.biz or email etracey@v-ds.biz tel: 678-414-3616 • mobile: (678) 414-3616