July 2002

As Texaco's RelayStar pickup point service is rolled out across the UK, it has emerged that the company is placing initial emphasis on the business-to-business appeal of the system. In this respect it echoes the trend among other unattended delivery solution providers such as BearBox and Collectpoint.

Pilot RelayStar business users in the UK and Benelux included IBM, NCR and Sabre Supply Management, and one of its carrier partners, Securicor Omega, has been concentrating on deliveries to field service engineers. Jonathan White, Omega Sameday's national sales manager, describes the over-the-counter solution as "a major benefit to field-based companies for their part collection and return services."

Other carrier partners are Parcelforce Worldwide, UPS and Vision Logistics Solutions, a Hampshire-based specialist express operator.

RelayStar adds, however, that its pickup points are also available to customers buying goods on the Internet or through catalogues.

The service is now available at 935 locations in the UK and 430 in Benelux.