ByBox, provider of locker based solutions for the field services market has won a new contract with Vista Retail, the UK's leading IT service and support organisation dedicated to the retail market. Vista Retail's fleet of engineers use ByBox' extensive electronic locker (iBox) network to receive and return parts. This alternative delivery method is widely used in the field services sector and is a convenient and cost-effective way of distributing parts and equipment.

With 1,500 lockers across the UK, located at convenient sites such as petrol stations, supermarkets, sports grounds and retail parks, the service is used by 25,000 engineers daily and ByBox makes over 20 million deliveries a year. Working through the night, ByBox delivers parts pre 8am so that engineers can collect from lockers before the start of their working day.

Vista Retail, who maintain the in-store technology of some of the UK's leading retailers, understands the pitfalls of traditional delivery methods. Having engineers wait at home for parts to arrive or having to travel to depots to collect them is inefficient and a misuse of engineer's time. With the ByBox service, there are no such constraints and there is the added benefit of the easy-to-use returns process. Engineers simply deposit faulty/used parts into any one of ByBox' lockers with a bespoke label and ByBox ensures they are routed to the correct return destination.

When a piece of equipment, such as an Electronic Point of Sale terminal, a till or a monitor breaks down, it is important it is repaired or replaced quickly to ensure minimum downtime for the customer. Lengthy delays can lead to customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue; the ByBox service ensures engineers can react fast and improve their daily productivity.

All stages of return and delivery are tracked via ByBox' unique software system Thinventory™ which ensures there is complete visibility in the supply chain. Customers can trace the movement of parts in real-time over the web and so as a result, end up spending less money on sameday transport and unnecessary stock holding.

The ByBox service works 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This flexibility is extremely useful for Vista Retail as it enables them to carry out vital emergency repairs and get customers equipment back up and running during peak times. Working with major high street chains, Vista Retail recognises that a broken down pin pad or cash register can have huge ramifications for a retailer and so it is pivotal that faulty machinery is replaced quickly.