Zip Xpress Experiences Rapid Growth with ROADVision

Zip Xpress, Inc., based in Holland, MI, provides LTL, Headload, Blanketwrap, and Expedited transportation services from Michigan to the West Coast, Texas, and Florida. Utilizing their own local fleet and a consortium of long-haul carriers and marketing partners, Zip Xpress specializes in providing creative solutions and extraordinary customer service for high value products. In a relatively short period of time, they have developed a first-rate reputation for delivering shipments on time and in perfect condition.

For information on Zip Xpress visit their website at www.zipxpress.net.

Zip Xpress was founded in August of 2001 by Dina McKnight, President and CEO, with a modest 5-door terminal in Zeeland, MI. Together with a handful of employees and a "homegrown" software program, Zip Xpress was able to quickly develop a solid presence in the marketplace. However, in the fall of 2002, Dina realized that to continue growing, Zip Xpress would need a transportation management system that would not only help them grow but be flexible enough to meet their specific needs.

In early 2003, Dina chose ROADVision's ASP transportation management system. "Our goal was to move forward to improve our information technology," said Dina, "as well as develop programs to continually save our customers money. With ROADVision's hosted service, it was plain to see that we could achieve these goals without making a large information technology investment." In addition, "ROADVision was willing to provide customization to fit our every need."

One of the first things ROADVision did was to incorporate the Transite Continental rating tariff into its Rating & Billing programs. The Continental rating has been an important part of Zip Xpress' business from the beginning. In addition, ROADVision's powerful and flexible rating engine has allowed Zip Xpress to implement a number of additional tariffs specific to headloads and blanketwrap shipments.

An important piece to the ROADVision implementation at Zip Xpress was the ability to produce customized trip costing reports and manifests. According to Dina, "Our costing reports have been the cornerstone to our operational success." Working closely with Dina and her operations staff, ROADVision was able to develop an interactive costing program that would allow dispatchers to maximize the revenue and profitability of each shipment without compromising service levels. "They not only incorporated our custom reports into ROADVision, they took it one step further and added real-time, interactive screens showing the same information," added Dina.

Another integral part of the implementation at Zip Xpress was ROADVision's Document Imaging module. Zip Xpress could scan all of their important documents, automatically index them to the Pro numbers, and retrieve those images instantly. This ability dramatically enhanced their efficiency and allowed them to offer even better customer service.

The next step in the process was to integrate many of the ROADVision service features into Zip Xpress' web site. Working with ROADVision's programming staff, Zip Xpress is able to offer a full compliment of real-time shipment tracking tools on their web site. "We now offer our customers the same web tools as the big national carriers," said Dina and "ROADVision was able to provide this at an amazingly low cost." Their customers can trace shipments by pro number, bill of lading number, consignee purchase order number, and even a marketing partner's pro number. In addition, customers can instantly retrieve their own copies of bills of lading and proofs of delivery. This is all part of Zip Xpress' total commitment to superior customer service.

Today, Zip Xpress generates revenue in excess of $10 million and this year moved into a brand-new 14-door facility in Holland, MI. When asked about Zip Xpress' amazing growth, Dina replied that "our business has grown by 350% over the last 2-1/2 years and ROADVision has been an indispensable part of that growth. ROADVision does everything we need it to do, is very easy to use, and is able to grow as we do."

Did ROADVision exceed Dina's expectations? "Absolutely without question" answered Dina. "Our number one focus has been and still is Customer Service. ROADVision helps us maintain that focus."