click2ship – the latest online service launched by AMI Express in mid 2010 - has got off to a strong start, representing 15% of the division’s business after just 6 months of operation, and contributing to the 30% of all AMI Express business now booked online.

    95% of the click2ship business is totally new to AMI Express, made up mostly of traffic from freight forwarders. There has also been strong support from courier companies, and some migration from AMI’s mainstream airport2door cargo services.

    The profile of click2ship bookings – originally expected to be mostly documents weighing 0.5 kg or less – has also taken AMI Express by surprise, with 20% of traffic exceeding 10kgs per shipment.

    click2ship enables freight agents and courier companies to compare services from leading suppliers and obtain instant, all-inclusive quotes. One of click2ship’s key features is its ‘collect and deliver’ function, which enables customers to choose to have consignments collected from their own premises, or direct from their shipper anywhere in the UK mainland.

    click2chip customers can obtain quotes, check close-outs and transit times and make bookings in a few mouse clicks. It features extensive on-screen help, with an instant ‘live chat’ help facility linked to AMI Express customer service staff. The system remembers previously-entered data to auto-fill data fields, and prints consignment notes and labels. After booking, customers can track their shipments online through and print PODs.

    To preserve AMI’s renowned trade-only neutrality, access to click2ship is password protected; new users must pre-register, while existing AMI customers can log in with their usual details.

    As AMI Express adds further to the destinations served and services offered, so click2ship continues to grow, says General Manager Patrick Walsh: “We have recently added UK Domestic services, with timed delivery options of before 0900 and before midday. Later in the year, we also plan to add import services. We anticipate click2ship growing to become 25% of our total business by the end of 2011.”

    AMI intends to replicate the click2ship product across all its international bases throughout the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China and Europe.

(Source:http://www.transportweekly.com)