Warehouses that run their own fleet alongside couriers or third-party hauliers often grapple with logistical friction.
Dispatch staff juggle conflicting schedules, handle duplicate paperwork, and chase delivery updates across multiple systems. This can be inefficient, costly, and can quickly spiral out of control, especially as volumes grow.
Minster Edge, an advanced warehouse management system (WMS), tackles this complexity head-on by centralising dispatch in one clear, intuitive platform.
The Real Costs of Multi‑Channel Dispatch
When warehouses blend their fleet with third-party carriers, even straightforward tasks become cumbersome.
For instance, every courier and haulier has its own cut-off times and paperwork requirements, often requiring repetitive manual tasks. The resulting missed delivery windows, half-empty vans, and duplicated processes all quietly drain resources and profit.
How Minster Edge Simplifies Dispatch Operations
Minster Edge brings clarity by consolidating dispatch into a single, unified control board. At its core, it’s designed specifically for warehouses running mixed dispatch modes – your fleet, pallets, parcels, and hauliers – all managed through one intuitive interface.
Unified Dispatch Board and Smart Route Planning
Minster Edge presents all outbound loads on one screen. Operators simply assign deliveries to available vans, rigids, articulated lorries, or carrier trailers. The system automatically verifies weight, volume, and loading constraints to eliminate guesswork and prevent overloads.
To ensure optimal routing, Minster Edge natively integrates with route optimisation tools like Optrak and Paragon. Planned routes feed back into Minster Edge, ensuring vehicles leave fully utilised and drivers receive the most efficient routes, saving fuel, labour, and time.
Dynamic Prioritisation Keeps Dispatch Smooth
Because Minster Edge is smart enough to organise tasks based on real-world constraints, operators no longer need to guess priorities.
For example, if DPD always arrives at noon, those orders are automatically picked first. A trunker bound for Scotland is prioritised earlier in the day to guarantee a timely departure. Busy local routes with multiple drops float to the top of pick lists, ensuring that your team completes the most critical tasks first.
Dispatch then becomes proactive rather than reactive, significantly cutting down late dispatches or costly overtime.
Automation of Labels, Paperwork, and Electronic Proof of Delivery (EPoD)
Minster Edge removes repetitive manual tasks. As soon as orders are confirmed for dispatch, labels and manifests print automatically, tailored to each carrier’s exact specifications.
Electronic Proof of Delivery (EPoD) technology integrates directly into the platform, capturing signatures, photos, discrepancies, and returns seamlessly, providing instant, auditable records.
Real-Time Visibility for Complete Control
Real-time dashboards and GPRS tracking built into Minster Edge provide complete visibility of each vehicle and load status. Warehouse managers spot delays or issues instantly, enabling proactive customer communication and rapid issue resolution. This transparency reduces phone calls, firefighting, and miscommunication across the entire logistics chain.
Additionally, seamless integration through IntaData, Minster Edge’s built-in data connector, ensures order status, tracking numbers, and delivery confirmations flow automatically into your ERP, e-commerce platforms, or customer portals, removing manual updates entirely.
A Day in the Life with Minster Edge
Imagine an average morning. Minster Edge immediately surfaces critical dispatch information: a van with 50 local deliveries, a pallet load bound for Scotland, and courier pick-ups due throughout the day. Tasks automatically issue to warehouse staff in perfect sequence, guided by voice-picking for maximum accuracy. Labels and paperwork print automatically, removing downtime between tasks.
Your team picks, packs, and loads efficiently. Your courier shipment is ready exactly at noon; manifests are transmitted electronically, and tracking is instantly available to the end customer. Later, a space opens up on a returning vehicle, which Minster Edge immediately flags for potential collections, increasing fleet utilisation effortlessly.
Minster Edge achieves this thanks to its 99.98% pick accuracy, all while cutting dispatch processing times by up to 80%.
Ready to Simplify Your Dispatch?
Managing dispatch for mixed fleets doesn’t need to be complex. Minster Edge provides clarity, control, and efficiency in one streamlined solution. Deployment doesn’t require months of consultancy, either; the platform is cloud-based and can be live in a matter of days.
Arrange a quick, 15-minute demonstration
to see exactly how Minster Edge simplifies dispatch, reduces waste, and turns your multi-channel challenges into a competitive advantage.
