Royal Mail parcel services must have barcode

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bharris

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Dec 30, 2014
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  • #1
    i have recived an email from Royal Mail as below:
    Royal Mail are introducing a 2D Barcoding system for all parcels and packets going through their system to help improve customer information and operational efficiencies.

    This means by October this year, all Royal Mail customers need to have some sort of shipping solution in place in order to generate the barcodes.

    Is anyone else aware of this and can someone explain what it actually means, when i spoke to them they didn't really know and just tried to make me use their despatch manager software and pay extra for a tracked service (which costs more than a courier)?
     
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    YesMan

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    Apr 10, 2015
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  • #3
    I have heard that Royal Mail are trying to get customers to move over to their DMO system rather than OBA.

    I received a couple of standard RM 24 (not tracked or signed for) parcels today, and they were printed using DMO labels and had a QR Barcode on, so perhaps this is the 2D barcode they are describing.
     
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    bharris

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    Dec 30, 2014
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  • #5
    We currently send about 1500-2000 PA. DMO looks a right pain in the bum! (don't you have to individually enter the parcels details including address, weight and size? This would take ages)
    We have some parcels that are very low value which cost more to post than the actual product so we do need a cheap and quick method of posting. We also have quite a few customers at the top of Scotland and the islands which has been one the the problems of moving to a courier.
     
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    YesMan

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    Apr 10, 2015
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  • #6
    bharris said:
    We currently send about 1500-2000 PA. DMO looks a right pain in the bum! (don't you have to individually enter the parcels details including address, weight and size? This would take ages)
    We have some parcels that are very low value which cost more to post than the actual product so we do need a cheap and quick method of posting. We also have quite a few customers at the top of Scotland and the islands which has been one the the problems of moving to a courier.
    Click to expand...

    How do you currently process your orders? I believe DMO allows you to upload your addresses via a .csv file, so you wouldn't have to sit there typing every address.

    I've read a lot about this supposed changeover, but the consensus seems to be that Royal Mail are trying to push certain customers who use certain services over to DMO - but OBA isn't going away (anytime soon, anyway)
     
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    Chris34

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    Feb 3, 2009
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  • #7
    They will be moving everyone over to DMO for one simple reason, REVENUE PROTECTION.

    If every parcel has a barcode on it then when they are being processed there won't be a single parcel that can slip through the network without payment. Currently the system is based on trust, I think there are a lot of people that abuse this trust.

    Chris.
     
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    bharris

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  • #10
    YesMan said:
    How do you currently process your orders? I believe DMO allows you to upload your addresses via a .csv file, so you wouldn't have to sit there typing every address.
    Click to expand...
    Curently we print the order on a picking note/invoice which has a label that has the customers address printed along with our PPI stamp depending on what service the customer has selected (24, 48 etc) we then pick, pack stick the label on the box weight the total for each type of post and put them into the post sacks ready for collection. The problem with automatically printing the bar codes is that we also upgrade from 48 to 24 as depending on the total weight it can be cheaper to send more by 24 than it is to send via 48 (we just simply stick a printed ppi label over the original label. DMO sounds restrictive and a pain. Do you actually have to fill in the size and weight of each parcel?
     
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    bharris

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  • #11
    Does anyone here actually use DMO. I had a play with the demo and it looks like the average weight of parcels can no longer be used this will cost me a lot as we normally have several light parcels and only a couple of heavy ones normally making the average weight less than 1kg (the lowest parcel price on OBA. Is this correct? It has been mentioned that you can link the DMO with the eCommerce software but i cant see how the final weight of each parcel can be filled in (unless you are sending single items).
     
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    Karimbo

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    • Nov 5, 2011
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  • #12
    royal mail is archaic. their online postage buying service is so annoying to use that sometimes i feel like just hand writing the addresses and putting a stamp on it rather than using their web form to generate postage.

    I mean why do you have to copy the address line by line and past it onto the website. Why can't you just copy and paste the entire address and the website identify and validate the format of the address. Basic scripting would do this, but noooo you have to copy and paste the door number, first name, last name individally in each cell and then the website just joins it all up together like it originally was anyway
     
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    JamieM

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    Mar 22, 2006
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  • #13
    bharris said:
    Does anyone here actually use DMO. I had a play with the demo and it looks like the average weight of parcels can no longer be used this will cost me a lot as we normally have several light parcels and only a couple of heavy ones normally making the average weight less than 1kg (the lowest parcel price on OBA. Is this correct? It has been mentioned that you can link the DMO with the eCommerce software but i cant see how the final weight of each parcel can be filled in (unless you are sending single items).
    Click to expand...

    I have used it but ditched it in favour of OBA with the exception of the odd signed for parcels which are easier to do in DMO.

    I think DMO still calculates average weights per service when you do the end of day process. You would need to check with RM but I'm sure someone told me that.

    Not sure about linking the weights in from an ecommerce integration.
     
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    Abe Choi

  • #15
    DMO calculates the weight of each parcel individually and not on an aggregate average basis like OBA. We're doing an integration into Royal Mail so we've had to meet these requirements.

    The good news is if you do use DMO and 24/48 then you get effectively "free tracking" via the 2D/QR code that will be generated. For those selling on marketplaces like Amazon or Ebay, it should bump up your seller rating as you will have free "tracked service" on what used to be an untrackable product. This will definitely reduce fraud as we have all dealt with buyers that have received the product but claim they have not.

    The only thing is getting rid of having to use DMO. So what we've done is actually started our own integration. If you have a technical resource, you guys should check out the Royal Mail api and take it into your control.
     
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    bharris

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    Dec 30, 2014
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  • #16
    Not having average weight will really effect us. Looks like i will have to send even more by a courier.
    Not having any luck with Interlink exprees/DPD cant even get a quote form them.


    Abe Choi said:
    The good news is if you do use DMO and 24/48 then you get effectively "free tracking" via the 2D/QR code that will be generated.
    Click to expand...

    How does that work, does it qualify for lost parcel compensation form Royal Mail or does it just satisfy the ebay seller protection?
     
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    Jessie77

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    Jul 25, 2013
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  • #18
    I was told that the new bar coding system works on the average weight so I will be annoyed if it doesn't. We have been working on this since January and the support from RM is dreadfull. B Harris we are the same as you with our packing system are you using it yet as I am trying to work out how this is going to effect our packing systems
     
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    Jeff FV

    Jeff FV

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  • #20
    Despite all the deadlines, doom-mongering and denials, I have ignored all prophecies of calamity that you must be using DMO by October/the New Year/April* (* delete as required) and carried on using Royal Mail OBA as I have done for the last 5+years to no ill effect.

    I think RM would dearly love us all to move to DMO as it suits them, but there is no advantage to us, the customer, and I don't think that they (RM) have sorted out all the problems yet, hence I think it is a can that will continue to be kicked down the road for a while yet.
     
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    SamStones

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    Mar 1, 2010
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  • #22
    I have just re read this thread from the beginning and I have to say that there is a load of wrong information and answers, especially over last summer.

    There's a post from myself asking some questions and making some assumptions in June, when no one really knew what was going on. Anyway, by September we were using DMO and it's great.

    To set the record straight:

    It DOES charge you on an average daily weight like with OBA

    You DO have to input the weight of each individual parcel , and the system works out the average weight for you at the end of the day.

    There is an easy(ish) csv file import option or an API option so you can interface with DMO from your existing software.

    The live import Java applet really IS that crap - go with the API if you can. That said, once it's set up the applet does work.

    The Item Not Received claims DO drop as the barcodes (QR codes) look a lot more professional.

    It is NOT a "free tracking" service as has been mentioned further up the thread. Royal Mail still have a long way to go in installing the hardware in their hubs, depots etc. There's no user accessible tracking, although they do say you can contact your account manager for them to look through the scans of something is claimed to have gone missing.

    The sooner people move onto this, the better it will be for everyone*

    Please feel free to ask any questions.



    * with the exception of people who's business models rely on screwing Royal Mail by not paying correct postage. -Those guys are f*cked.
     
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    Jessie77

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    Jul 25, 2013
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  • #23
    Thank you Sam for responding that puts my mind at rest. We are nearly there just have write the import from our system to theirs importing the addresses. Can I ask you at the moment we use integrated labels which prints the packing note and address. Storeman pick and packs and slaps the address label on. Weighs it and records the amount in our system which we then do an end of day report which gives us a break down and average weight we then key in to OBA with the different classes of post. At what point do we get the Bar Code Label out . Trying to work out if we can get the barcode onto our integrated label before we do anything . Then we key in the weights directly into DMO . I just can not get my head round the picking and packing bit and when we get the barcode bit printed . x
     
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    SamStones

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  • #24
    As far as i know you can't print the label first and add the weights later - you need to include the weight when you create the label.

    There is no native way in DMO to use integrated labels, and personally I've never used them (too time consuming) but I did find a guy here:

    http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/t...g-labels-onto-integrated-label-sheets.353658/

    who has developed some software to allow you to use integrated labels. I'm guessing his software relies on you having the weight of all your products recorded into your system to begin with.

    I think the closest you're going to get to your current system is to:

    Print the invoice / packing slip on paper
    Store man gets order, packs it and weighs it
    Scans barcode at top of packing slip which brings the order up on the system ready for him to input weight
    Enters weight on your system
    Clicks a button to print Royal Mail label via csv download / Api call

    Personally:
    We weigh all products when we initially list them.
    System calculates total weight of order based on products within it , then it looks at all available couriers for the order, taking into consideration the postage speed requested, the size and weight of the items in the order and the post code of the customer. It then picks the cheapest service available and the order is ready to send - divided up by courier , but not by speed of postage.

    In the warehouse they print out a picking list per courier which includes all the products awaiting shipment, this list is ordered by location and grouped by product sku (no order grouping)

    Items are picked and taken to the packing bench. Item is barcode scanned at the packing bench, and the system finds an order for the product that's just been scanned. This is ordered with oldest order first , but also by postage class - with express shipping orders getting priority.

    Picking lists can be printed for priority orders, standard orders or all orders depending on what your objective is.

    Our system works great, but we sell mostly one sku to each customer. If we were selling multiple skus per order we would need to pick differently.

    We did overhaul the picking and packing last summer as part of our move to DMO, but for us it was about operational efficiencies , and DMO tied into this perfectly.

    One of my projects over the next few months is to improve the picking and move away from paper pick lists to a barcode driven picking system. Still need to find some hardware that I'm totally happy with for this though. Suggestions welcome.

    Again, any questions please let me know.
     
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    Jessie77

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  • #25
    Thanks Sam that has been a great help . We are a party company so we do not know the weights until packed as you can imagine they can range from a 100gm Large Letter to a 5kilo parcel we do not know until we pick and pack. I guess we will have to pick and pack and then print the bar code out separately with an identifier to cross reference the parcel bit of a pain . Our other company is a Ecommerce company so we have in house developers so we can try one way and if not successful or too time consuming we can change it at little cost to us. We are just waiting on our new website and are going down the barcode driven pick lists too. This has just come at the wrong time when we are in between trying to make it work with old system not spending too much time on it as it will have to be redone with the new system x
     
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    bharris

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    Dec 30, 2014
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  • #28
    We actually moved over to DMO a few months ago, as Royal Mail claimed that there will be a price increase for people not using DMO. Changed all our processes etc. its now a real pain in the bum and most annoyingly there is still no cost saving. Luckily (well not really) we don't have 100's of orders to process every day so we can cope. My advise would be to stay using OBA until you are no longer able to or there is a cost incentive. We currently still use OBA for the international signed for and special delivery items as the DMO options are not there or they actually seem to cost more (try to get you to use their tracked system). After all this bending over backwards for Royal Mail it annoys me having to pay them to pick up my post, particularly when they also empty the post box next to us at the same time. erhhhhh
     
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    alanc

  • #30
    I've been working on an API integration for my website. One thing has emerged - no matter what weight you assign a parcel, it is rounded up to 1kg,2kg and 5kg breakpoints. I brought this to the attention of my integration helper at Royal Mail. At first I was told this was in line with the averaging used by the OBA, but eventually (after a lengthy investigation) they decided it was an 'issue'. It is going to take them some time to fix this.

    A post in this thread says you can't change the weight after assigning the parcel. With the API, you can change the weight and delivery address and reprint the label if necessary.
     
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    alanc

  • #31
    SamStones said:
    I'm currently planning on using the 7" Amazon Fire tablet and a handheld Bluetooth scanner but open to ideas which leave the pickers hands free
    Click to expand...
    I use an iPad for stock management. I found that with the iPad, a Bluetooth scanner has take over as the keyboard, so once it's switched on, there is no keyboard entry. Watch out for this is you're planning a wireless system.
     
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    SamStones

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  • #32
    alanc said:
    I use an iPad for stock management. I found that with the iPad, a Bluetooth scanner has take over as the keyboard, so once it's switched on, there is no keyboard entry. Watch out for this is you're planning a wireless system.
    Click to expand...

    Hi,

    Thanks for the reply, I met up with another UKBF'er last year who was using iPad's and he put me onto a specific bluetooth scanner which you can "deactivate" with the touch of a button on the scanner itself (only has 3 buttons) and then the keyboard pops up, so I'm hoping that's not going to be too much of an issue. Ideally I would like something wrist or arm mounted to leave the arms free, but not found anything yet.
     
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    SamStones

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  • #33
    alanc said:
    I've been working on an API integration for my website. One thing has emerged - no matter what weight you assign a parcel, it is rounded up to 1kg,2kg and 5kg breakpoints. I brought this to the attention of my integration helper at Royal Mail. At first I was told this was in line with the averaging used by the OBA, but eventually (after a lengthy investigation) they decided it was an 'issue'. It is going to take them some time to fix this.

    A post in this thread says you can't change the weight after assigning the parcel. With the API, you can change the weight and delivery address and reprint the label if necessary.
    Click to expand...

    In terms of the rounding this is obviously a concern for the average weight system, or do they still bill you correctly on the daily average weight?
     
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    alanc

  • #34
    @SamStones
    SamStones said:
    Hi,
    I met up with another UKBF'er last year who was using iPad's and he put me onto a specific bluetooth scanner which you can "deactivate" with the touch of a button on the scanner itself
    Click to expand...
    Mine one has two buttons - on/off and scan. You have to turn it off to enable the keyboard. And on an iPad, the focus won't automatically set to the scan field.

    SamStones said:
    In terms of the rounding this is obviously a concern for the average weight system, or do they still bill you correctly on the daily average weight?
    Click to expand...
    I haven't gone live yet - partly because of this problem. I don't see how the billing can be correct when the parcels are all listed in DMO as either 1kg,2kg or 5kg. The true weight appears to be lost.
     
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    paretowasright

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    Jan 2, 2009
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  • #37
    Has anyone had any update from RM about this?
    I had contact a few months ago about new software (click and drop) that enables you to use OBA and print the barcodes with an import for e-bay which seems quite handy for small qtys of parcels. I am guessing at some point they will stop the old OBA impressions and migrate everyone.
     
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    DanH

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    • Jan 5, 2010
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  • #40
    Hello...2 years later.

    We use OBA and have done for years and in a similar situation to Jessie77 and Bharris above in the way we print pick lists and batch print onto integrated labels.

    Nothing really came of the barcode situation in terms of it being forced onto us, however, we recently had a letter talking about a withdrawal of one of the products we use in favour of a barcoded product. The letter is still as vague as the ones we recieved in 2016 and I wonder if many people have adopted barcodes in the meantime, especially using the API?

    We would have to spend money integrate the API into our current ERM system and hope that it does not slow us down too much as we send hundreds of letters/parcels a week in a very streamlined and efficient manner.

    I would rather hear from people who use it rather than talk to RM themselves as they are not a great help at the best of times.
     
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