Intelligent Logistics

Reseller referral programs are a win-win for companies and referrers. Discussing Position Imaging's new program, Intelligent Logistics host Tyler Kern welcomed Jeff Hoch, the Chief Revenue Officer of ePropertyCare, and Jackie Cournoyer, the Director of Dealer Relations at Position Imaging.Hoch said, “We sell smart building technology to owners, operators and developments of mainly multi-family real estate. We also get involved with single-family and other asset classes, and we saw a great need for a solution around package rooms and secure deliveries. So that's how we started working with Position Imaging.”At Position Imaging, Cournoyer helps to build vendor networks and all the company's partnerships, including with ePropertyCare. She explained, “Whenever we find a company that is selling in the same space, with similar technology, and they don't have something that solves the problem we're solving, we kind of fit together.” The referral program, dubbed the Smart Package Room Partner Programs, is the basis of the partnership with ePropertyCare. “We also have our reseller partnerships… where we are working with installers and dealers and different vendors who purchase the hardware from us and sell it to their clients,” Cournoyer added.At ePropertyCare, the program, according to Hoch, allows them to work with a company where they are “not only… aligned on the value of the technology,” but also “aligned on the values and mission of our companies.”“I think from the top down when we met with the senior team at Position Imaging, we felt that our approach to the industry and how we want to serve our clients is aligned,” continued Hoch.To make this kind of symbiotic relationship, Cournoyer collaborates with partner companies to discuss and find solutions through open communication. “It's great to have a partner like Jeff and ePropertyCare where they're open on working on different projects together,” said Cournoyer.The connection between ePropertyCare and Position Imaging is just one example of the mutually beneficial partnerships that Position Imaging offers through its new partner programs.“We want to be a one-stop shop for customers,” said Hoch, “So by having a robust ecosystem of partners, it makes us exceptionally valuable to [customers].”

Host Daniel J. Litwin welcomed Dan O'Connor, Vice President of Pickup and Delivery Options at Position Imaging, to discuss pick up and drop off options in this ever-changing world where delivery means and methods are evolving to match the needs of society. O'Connor is well versed in the delivery industry, having spent 30 years working for UPS doing, as he says, every job “but fly the plane.” After working in everything from engineering and marketing, O'Connor eventually moved into new product development. “I came across the pickup and delivery options program,” said O'Connor. There he helped develop pickup-delivery stop options in the United States, which had been popular in Europe for many years. In the industry, pickup and delivery options is dubbed PUDO.“The carriers need to make it easy for people to access their network, and the best way to do that is to provide lots of pickup and drop off alternatives,” said O'Connor. The PUDO craze has extended to places like Kroger, too, which wants PUDO at their stores because it increases foot traffic and drives up revenue.For other brick-and-mortar businesses that have closed some physical locations, PUDO also provides an opportunity for stores operating largely online. “Once you get the order, if you don't have the network-- the fleet of stores that you once had, then I think the PUDO network is a great alternative to bring you closer to your customer.”This escalation toward third party deliveries initially saw a pause when the pandemic began and most people were home to receive their packages in person. “All indications are now are that things are back to normal,” said O'Connor. “The growth and use of pickup and delivery options is growing again steadily.”O'Connor predicted that PUDO will increase further in the years to come, because major carriers like UPS and FedEx have increased their rates for residential deliveries. “By shifting… packages into the PUDO network, and creating commercial deliveries instead of residential delivers, the shippers can avoid a constraint on residential delivery times,” said O'Connor.Discussing what needs still exist within the industry, O'Connor said that he hoped it would move toward local consolidation of all carrier volumes for final mile delivery. Then after the packages reach a consolidation point, a smaller group of couriers could perform the final mile deliveries to the PUDO networks. “That would be my vision for the future.”

Reseller referral programs are a win-win for companies and referrers. Discussing Position Imaging's new program, Intelligent Logistics host Tyler Kern welcomed Jeff Hoch, the Chief Revenue Officer of ePropertyCare, and Jackie Cournoyer, the Director of Dealer Relations at Position Imaging.Hoch said, “We sell smart building technology to owners, operators and developments of mainly multi-family real estate. We also get involved with single-family and other asset classes, and we saw a great need for a solution around package rooms and secure deliveries. So that's how we started working with Position Imaging.”At Position Imaging, Cournoyer helps to build vendor networks and all the company's partnerships, including with ePropertyCare. She explained, “Whenever we find a company that is selling in the same space, with similar technology, and they don't have something that solves the problem we're solving, we kind of fit together.” The referral program, dubbed the Smart Package Room Partner Programs, is the basis of the partnership with ePropertyCare. “We also have our reseller partnerships… where we are working with installers and dealers and different vendors who purchase the hardware from us and sell it to their clients,” Cournoyer added.At ePropertyCare, the program, according to Hoch, allows them to work with a company where they are “not only… aligned on the value of the technology,” but also “aligned on the values and mission of our companies.”“I think from the top down when we met with the senior team at Position Imaging, we felt that our approach to the industry and how we want to serve our clients is aligned,” continued Hoch.To make this kind of symbiotic relationship, Cournoyer collaborates with partner companies to discuss and find solutions through open communication. “It's great to have a partner like Jeff and ePropertyCare where they're open on working on different projects together,” said Cournoyer.The connection between ePropertyCare and Position Imaging is just one example of the mutually beneficial partnerships that Position Imaging offers through its new partner programs.“We want to be a one-stop shop for customers,” said Hoch, “So by having a robust ecosystem of partners, it makes us exceptionally valuable to [customers].”

The COVID-19 pandemic forced retail establishments to think creatively. Most developed strategies where consumers could buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) or pick up and drop off (PUDO). Both methods have their benefits and drawbacks but are effective strategies in the modern retail environment.Host Tyler Kern spoke with Mo Cheema, Director of Solutions Design and Implementation at Position Imaging, where he designs omnichannel retail fulfillment solutions for the iPickup platform, about Cheema's role, BOPIS, PUDO and the benefits of both strategies.“BOPIS is a more retailer-centric solution, while PUDO is a more courier-centric solution,” Cheema said. “But PUDO does have some benefit to the retailer, as well, meaning it helps them bring that additional foot traffic to the store.”BOPIS refers towhen a customer orders something online and picks it up in store. It's probably one of the most common ways to order something. It was around before the pandemic but gained steam as retailers and consumers considered new ways to shop.According to Cheema, a common variation of this is the curbside pickup model, where many retailers will put the order in a consumer's car or truck for them.On the other hand, PUDO is where couriers can drop off the packages at locations and customers can pick them up at their convenience. Customers can opt-in for this option, but it also happens when a courier attempts to drop off at a home location but cannot, so they'll leave the package at a store.“Through direct and in-direct research, we've learned that every one-third of the customers who come into the store to pick up a package, whether it's via BOPIS or PUDO, actually shop in the store,” Cheema said.BOPIS is often attractive to retailers because it saves them on shipping costs. PUDO is a strategy for the couriers, though retailers usually pull in foot traffic when consumers show up to pick up their packages.Listen to learn more about these online retail strategies.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, ecommerce underwent a boom the likes of which the world hadn't seen since the advent of online shopping in the first place. This meant a spike in deliveries –and one that coincided with heightened resident and consumer expectations for seamless, contactless delivery.That's all well and good when couriers can simply leave packages outside the front door of single-family homes. But what can multifamily properties and other facilities needing to cater to a large population of people do to meet these new expectations?To find out, Intelligent Logistics host Courtney Echerd was joined by Matt Haynes, Senior Vice President of Sales for Position Imaging.“Online ordering was really increasing rapidly over the last five years,” Haynes said. “But COVID really changed the game. I believe that online ordering probably went up 40% due to COVID, and what that does is increases the number of packages going to apartment communities.”Historically, Haynes said, these properties have managed packages through their leasing offices. Again, though, the pandemic turned the industry on its head, closing leasing offices and forcing properties to come up with a better solution.Smart Package Rooms are that solution, as they allow residents to pick up packages on their own via a simple, touchless process.To learn more, listen to the entire episode to hear more of Haynes's insights.

Data is driving the modern world, every industry the world over is looking for ways to implement innovative technologies and automation to solve its biggest challenges.Retail is no different –in fact, it might be the industry best poised to take advantage of a variety of technologies in order to meet evolving and accelerating consumer expectations.One key to doing just that is the field of intelligent logistics. But what is intelligent logistics, and how can organizations implement this new-age strategy for keeping pace with a rapidly advancing world?To find out, host Hilary Kennedy welcomed Ned Hill, CEO of Position Imaging, to the first episode of the Intelligent Logistics podcast.Position Imaging is a leader in innovative tracking technologies, such as artificial intelligence and computer vision. These technologies have applications up and down the supply chain, from manufacturing to last-mile delivery or retail storefronts.There are many examples of intelligent logistics impacting the way our society moves goods for the better, though one in particular is ripe for innovation. Position imaging is doing incredible work in the “final foot,” leveraging solutions such as its Smart Package Rooms to help people engage in simple, automated, contactless and reliable pickup.

Property technology, or prop-tech for short, is a holistic approach to the way people research, rent, buy, sell and manage a property. Matthew Knoff, VP, Service & Fulfillment at Position Imaging, is an entrepreneur in the prop-tech space.