Retail Distribution System™ (RDS)
BearWare’s Retail Distribution System™ (RDS) allows clients to track freight outbound from a client’s distribution center (DC), consolidator or DC bypass facility to a third party transportation provider, in and out of that transportation provider’s terminal, and on through to store delivery. For the transportation providers, the inbound load planning, routing, rating, and invoicing features of RDS help them more efficiently run their business and service their customer’s stores.
RDS is a PC-based, network-aware, carton level freight tracking system that sits in the 3rd party transportation provider’s terminal. Using Microsoft Windows Mobile™ scanning devices, RDS allows the 3rd party transportation provider to pre-load the shippers electronic manifest for a smart inbound scan, generate an over, short and damage (OS&D) report, verify any manual sortation of the freight at the store level, outbound scan the freight onto delivery trucks, and preload delivery scanners so drivers can perform a smart scan of the freight at store delivery. RDS also handles inter-market transfers and store returns. All data collected in RDS can be transmitted back to the shipper and/or to BearWare’s webTMS on-line freight visibility system.
RDS reflects the best practices of its specialty retailer clients from the last twenty years. Because of the ever-changing nature of specialty retail, RDS is built to flex and grow with changes in the industry. System enhancements are driven by BearWare’s Steering Committee made up of its specialty retailer clients and industry leading transportation providers.
BearWare has rolled out its RDS system across new shippers’ transportation networks in a matter of months. Generally, the only customization points for a new shipper are the push/pull of the carton-level, electronic advance ship notice, adding the shipper’s carton barcode to the scan program, and delivery bill of lading design.
With over 140 third party transportation providers in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico currently using RDS, and more than two dozen shippers relying on the data collected by RDS to track their freight, BearWare’s RDS system is a proven solution for carton level freight tracking.