FreestyleXtreme, the action sports retailer, has replaced its existing carrier management platform with Route Genie as it looks to drive further efficiencies across its online fulfilment. The retailer has deployed the innovative software from iForce, the fastest growing fulfilment and returns specialist in the UK, to streamline its carrier management as it embarks on the next stage of its growth.

Based from its headquarters in Bristol, FreestyleXtreme is witnessing a 40% year-on-year growth in business with approximately 70% of orders now coming from overseas. As a result, the retailer was eager to replace its existing carrier management platform with an improved solution that offered greater efficiencies, stronger reporting features and superior customer service benefits. After conducting market-wide research, FreestyleXtreme chose to implement Route Genie for an initial three-year period.

Route Genie integrates with each of the leading domestic and international carriers, allowing retailers to process and manage those providers efficiently whilst reducing operating costs. By using the solution, FreestyleXtreme can quickly determine how best to utilise their carrier relationships and even divert traffic if any of their carriers have service issues. In addition, Route Genie volumes can be spread across multiple carriers, helping the retailer to effectively manage the strain of future peak seasons and extraordinary circumstances. The solution also enables FreestyleXtreme to customise messaging delivered at chosen trigger points along the delivery process for both home delivery and Click & Collect. This will help the retailer to create a consistent customer journey for all online shoppers, which enhances the overall brand experience.

FreestyleXtreme is also using Route Genie data to determine the overall profit and loss made on all shipments across the business, which is especially useful for those items being sent overseas. The statistics can be exported from Route Genie and fed into the retailer’s dedicated ‘profit and loss dashboard’ within its CRM system in just 24 hours. This allows FreestyleXtreme to have greater transparency over service costs and problems with product pricing.

The Route Genie software has formed an integral part of the iForce proposition for several years and continues to underpin iForce Pathfinder, the company’s carrier management solution, which is currently being utilised by leading retailers such as Dunelm, Waitrose Cellar and Paperchase. Due to its success, Route Genie was launched as a SaaS (Software as a Service) application last year.

Ben Richardson, Co-Founder, FreestyleXtreme, said: “FreestyleXtreme is an independent, family-run business, selling more than 100 brands in 13 different languages and retailing to almost every country on the planet. Therefore we required an innovative carrier management platform like Route Genie that provides extra functionality and delivers additional benefits as we continue to grow our brand across the world.”

Richard Tucker, Head of Sales, Route Genie, said: “Route Genie was developed and built from a logistics point of view, not just a software point of view, and is supported by a whole host of exclusive additional features that are geared towards providing the highest levels of service to retailers and the end consumer. We look forward to supporting FreestyleXtreme streamline its operations as online sales continue to flourish.”