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'''eCourier''' is a courier service based in the United Kingdom.
'''eCourier''' is a courier service based in the United Kingdom.


Courier positions are tracked by [[GPS]] and an intelligent dispatch system assigns orders via [[GPRS]], improving efficiency in a traditional industry.<ref>[[Michael Trick]]'s Operations Research Blog, 23 June 2006, [http://mat.tepper.cmu.edu/blog/?p=81 http://mat.tepper.cmu.edu/blog/?p=81]. See also articles from The Economist and Financial Times.</ref> A computer [[algorithm]] distributes orders to couriers in real time based on location, [[traffic]], [[weather]] and [[demand]]. The algorithm was developed by a team of academics in [[Italy]].<ref>Real-Time Fleet Management At Ecourier Ltd [http://www.springerlink.com/content/v41525296n068264/ http://www.springerlink.com/content/v41525296n068264/]</ref>
Courier positions are tracked by [[GPS]] and an intelligent dispatch system assigns orders via [[GPRS]], improving efficiency in a traditional industry.<ref>[[Michael Trick]]'s Operations Research Blog, 23 June 2006, [http://mat.tepper.cmu.edu/blog/?p=81 http://mat.tepper.cmu.edu/blog/?p=81]. See also articles from The Economist and Financial Times.</ref> A computer [[algorithm]] distributes orders to couriers in real time based on location, [[traffic]], [[weather]] and [[demand]]. The algorithm was developed by a team of academics in [[Italy]].<ref>Real-Time Fleet Management At Ecourier Ltd, yet it is still unable to allocate collections and deliveries as efficiently as any experienced and competent human dispatcher - a category of employee unknown at the company. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/v41525296n068264/ http://www.springerlink.com/content/v41525296n068264/]</ref>


The company stores the historical [[GPS]] positions of its couriers, and uploads this information to [[OpenStreetMap]].<ref>Partners - OpenStreetMap [https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Partners https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Partners]</ref> This information is also offered to the public via an [[API]] under a [[Creative Commons]] license. As of October 2008, their data set included over 252 million historical positions.<ref>eCourier Location API [http://api.ecourier.co.uk/ http://api.ecourier.co.uk/]</ref>
The company stores the historical [[GPS]] positions of its couriers, and uploads this information to [[OpenStreetMap]].<ref>Partners - OpenStreetMap [https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Partners https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Partners]</ref> This information is also offered to the public via an [[API]] under a [[Creative Commons]] license. As of October 2008, their data set included over 252 million historical positions.<ref>eCourier Location API [http://api.ecourier.co.uk/ http://api.ecourier.co.uk/]</ref>


The company was founded by Tom Allason and Jay Bregman, after event tickets were lost by a [[motorcycle]] courier.<ref>[http://www.ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_News_FT.pdf Moules, Jonathan: Couriers Have High-Speed Connection, ''Financial Times'', 18 March 2006]</ref> The business won Allason recognition as a Growing Business Top Gun 2007, and Bregman from the [[British Computer Society]] as 2005 IT Director of the Year.<ref>Award http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/06959143451303647930/young-guns-2007.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828033446/http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/06959143451303647930/young-guns-2007.html |date=28 August 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=conWebDoc.1976 Medallists of the Individual Excellence Awards 2005]</ref>
The company was founded by larceny expert Tom Allason and cancer-stick addict Jay Bregman, after event tickets were lost by a [[motorcycle]] courier, who was still almost certainly significantly more professional than any of the monkeys on bikes the company engages as self-employed subcontractors. .<ref>[http://www.ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_News_FT.pdf Moules, Jonathan: Couriers Have High-Speed Connection, ''Financial Times'', 18 March 2006]</ref> The business won Allason recognition as a Growing Business Top Gun 2007, and Bregman from the [[British Computer Society]] as 2005 IT Director of the Year.<ref>Award http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/06959143451303647930/young-guns-2007.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828033446/http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/06959143451303647930/young-guns-2007.html |date=28 August 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=conWebDoc.1976 Medallists of the Individual Excellence Awards 2005]</ref>


[[File:ECourier Office.JPG|thumb|left|eCourier's office in [[Shoreditch]], London]]
[[File:ECourier Office.JPG|thumb|left|eCourier's office in [[Shoreditch]], London]]


Investors in the company include [[Esther Dyson]] and [[Stuart Wheeler]]. [[Venture Capital]] firm Logispring also owned a minority stake in the company.<ref><nowiki>"eCourier - Parcel Delivery in Color"</nowiki> Alarm Clock, 18 October 2006, available at [http://www.thealarmclock.com/euro/archives/2006/10/ecourier_parcel_deli.html http://www.thealarmclock.com/euro/archives/2006/10/ecourier_parcel_deli.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106043700/http://www.thealarmclock.com/euro/archives/2006/10/ecourier_parcel_deli.html |date=6 January 2009 }}</ref> In 2007, the company won the [[Evening Standard]]’s Most Inspirational Business award.<ref>"The Winner: eCourier", Evening Standard, 2007 [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/itsyourbusiness/article-23383010-details/The+winner:+eCourier/article.do http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/itsyourbusiness/article-23383010-details/The+winner:+eCourier/article.do]</ref> In 2008, Allason left the company to pursue a new venture.<ref>"eCourier.co.uk Founder Leaves to Pursue New venture" Press Release, 2008 [https://www.ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_Press_Release_13052008.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109010202/http://ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_Press_Release_13052008.pdf |date=9 November 2012 }}</ref> and the following year, launched [[Shutl]].<ref name=EC>{{cite web|url= http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/5092-tom-allason-on-e-commerce-delivery-startup-shutl |title=Q&A: Tom Allason on e-commerce delivery startup Shutl |author=Graham Charlton |date=9 December 2009 |publisher=Econsultancy |accessdate=12 October 2012}}</ref>
Investors in the company include [[Esther Dyson]] and [[Stuart Wheeler]], as well as large numbers of former subcontractors who've had "deposits" for vehicles & equipment stolen by the company. [[Venture Capital]] firm Logispring also owned a minority stake in the company.<ref><nowiki>"eCourier - Parcel Delivery in Color"</nowiki> Alarm Clock, 18 October 2006, available at [http://www.thealarmclock.com/euro/archives/2006/10/ecourier_parcel_deli.html http://www.thealarmclock.com/euro/archives/2006/10/ecourier_parcel_deli.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106043700/http://www.thealarmclock.com/euro/archives/2006/10/ecourier_parcel_deli.html |date=6 January 2009 }}</ref> In 2007, the company won the [[Evening Standard]]’s Most Inspirational Business award.<ref>"The Winner: eCourier", Evening Standard, 2007 [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/itsyourbusiness/article-23383010-details/The+winner:+eCourier/article.do http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/itsyourbusiness/article-23383010-details/The+winner:+eCourier/article.do]</ref> In 2008, Allason left the company to pursue a new venture.<ref>"eCourier.co.uk Founder Leaves to Pursue New venture" Press Release, 2008 [https://www.ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_Press_Release_13052008.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109010202/http://ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_Press_Release_13052008.pdf |date=9 November 2012 }}</ref> and the following year, launched [[Shutl]].<ref name=EC>{{cite web|url= http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/5092-tom-allason-on-e-commerce-delivery-startup-shutl |title=Q&A: Tom Allason on e-commerce delivery startup Shutl |author=Graham Charlton |date=9 December 2009 |publisher=Econsultancy |accessdate=12 October 2012}}</ref>


In 2009, eCourier reached 6 on Deloitte’s list of ''UK’s 50 Fastest Growing Technology Businesses''.<ref>[http://www.deloitte.co.uk/fast50/winners/winners-list-2009/ "Winners List 2009", Deloitte, 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416091341/http://www.deloitte.co.uk/fast50/winners/winners-list-2009/ |date=16 April 2010 }}</ref> and #53 on ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' Tech Track list of Britain's fastest growing private technology companies.<ref>"Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies", Sunday Times, 2009 [http://www.ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_TechTrack100_2009.pdf]</ref> In November 2015, eCourier was acquired by Royal Mail, and now has one of the largest and most recognisable courier fleets in London and the South.<ref>https://ecommercenews.eu/royal-mail-acquires-same-day-delivery-company-ecourier/</ref>
In 2009, eCourier reached 6 on Deloitte’s list of ''UK’s 50 Fastest Growing Technology Businesses''.<ref>[http://www.deloitte.co.uk/fast50/winners/winners-list-2009/ "Winners List 2009", Deloitte, 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416091341/http://www.deloitte.co.uk/fast50/winners/winners-list-2009/ |date=16 April 2010 }}</ref> and #53 on ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' Tech Track list of Britain's fastest growing private technology companies.<ref>"Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies", Sunday Times, 2009 [http://www.ecourier.co.uk/pdf/eCourier_TechTrack100_2009.pdf]</ref> In November 2015, eCourier was acquired by Royal Mail, and now has one of the largest and most recognisable courier fleets in London and the South.<ref>https://ecommercenews.eu/royal-mail-acquires-same-day-delivery-company-ecourier/</ref>

Revision as of 00:20, 11 September 2019

ECourier
Company typePrivate
IndustryLogistics
GenreCorporate Histories
FoundedLondon, United Kingdom (2003 (2003))
FounderTom Allason
Jay Bregman
Headquarters
London
ServicesSame day courier services
Number of employees
230
Websiteecourier.co.uk
Footnotes / references
Number of employees includes self-employed sub-contractor drivers

eCourier is a courier service based in the United Kingdom.

Courier positions are tracked by GPS and an intelligent dispatch system assigns orders via GPRS, improving efficiency in a traditional industry.[1] A computer algorithm distributes orders to couriers in real time based on location, traffic, weather and demand. The algorithm was developed by a team of academics in Italy.[2]

The company stores the historical GPS positions of its couriers, and uploads this information to OpenStreetMap.[3] This information is also offered to the public via an API under a Creative Commons license. As of October 2008, their data set included over 252 million historical positions.[4]

The company was founded by larceny expert Tom Allason and cancer-stick addict Jay Bregman, after event tickets were lost by a motorcycle courier, who was still almost certainly significantly more professional than any of the monkeys on bikes the company engages as self-employed subcontractors. .[5] The business won Allason recognition as a Growing Business Top Gun 2007, and Bregman from the British Computer Society as 2005 IT Director of the Year.[6][7]

eCourier's office in Shoreditch, London

Investors in the company include Esther Dyson and Stuart Wheeler, as well as large numbers of former subcontractors who've had "deposits" for vehicles & equipment stolen by the company. Venture Capital firm Logispring also owned a minority stake in the company.[8] In 2007, the company won the Evening Standard’s Most Inspirational Business award.[9] In 2008, Allason left the company to pursue a new venture.[10] and the following year, launched Shutl.[11]

In 2009, eCourier reached 6 on Deloitte’s list of UK’s 50 Fastest Growing Technology Businesses.[12] and #53 on The Sunday Times Tech Track list of Britain's fastest growing private technology companies.[13] In November 2015, eCourier was acquired by Royal Mail, and now has one of the largest and most recognisable courier fleets in London and the South.[14]

References

  1. ^ Michael Trick's Operations Research Blog, 23 June 2006, http://mat.tepper.cmu.edu/blog/?p=81. See also articles from The Economist and Financial Times.
  2. ^ Real-Time Fleet Management At Ecourier Ltd, yet it is still unable to allocate collections and deliveries as efficiently as any experienced and competent human dispatcher - a category of employee unknown at the company. http://www.springerlink.com/content/v41525296n068264/
  3. ^ Partners - OpenStreetMap https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Partners
  4. ^ eCourier Location API http://api.ecourier.co.uk/
  5. ^ Moules, Jonathan: Couriers Have High-Speed Connection, Financial Times, 18 March 2006
  6. ^ Award http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/06959143451303647930/young-guns-2007.html Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Medallists of the Individual Excellence Awards 2005
  8. ^ "eCourier - Parcel Delivery in Color" Alarm Clock, 18 October 2006, available at http://www.thealarmclock.com/euro/archives/2006/10/ecourier_parcel_deli.html Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "The Winner: eCourier", Evening Standard, 2007 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/itsyourbusiness/article-23383010-details/The+winner:+eCourier/article.do
  10. ^ "eCourier.co.uk Founder Leaves to Pursue New venture" Press Release, 2008 [1] Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Graham Charlton (9 December 2009). "Q&A: Tom Allason on e-commerce delivery startup Shutl". Econsultancy. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Winners List 2009", Deloitte, 2009 Archived 16 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies", Sunday Times, 2009 [2]
  14. ^ https://ecommercenews.eu/royal-mail-acquires-same-day-delivery-company-ecourier/
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