Night Star Express partners with what3words for more accurate location searches

For even more reliable delivery, Night Star Express has been working with the localization technology what3words since mid-March. The technology is being gradually integrated into the IT system of the night express service provider. This will significantly simplify the work for delivery personnel in the future, eliminating the need to search for precise locations of depot sites.

(Unna) what3words has divided the world into a grid of 3×3 meter squares, assigning a unique combination of three words to each square. The technology from the London-based provider converts the three words into GPS coordinates. This simple system allows locations to be pinpointed and shared accurately.

Addresses are often not precisely assigned or found. Especially in rural areas, there are often no street addresses. For example, in emergencies where every minute counts, it is crucial to quickly reach the location where help is needed. The new technology thus helps to quickly locate people in distress so that assistance can be provided.

Diverse Applications

what3words is already being used in the fields of travel, passenger transport, and navigation. With precise location determination, it can also ensure that locations are found quickly and easily in the world of drones, voice-controlled devices, and driverless cars in the future. Many car manufacturers are already integrating what3words into their navigation systems.

Gradual Implementation

Jens Schoneboom, who is responsible for IT at Night Star Express, explains the steps for implementing what3words: “Initially, we created the possibility to store a three-word address in our depot database. The service will be gradually expanded until we can utilize all the benefits for our drivers.”

Significant Advantages for Logistics

Night Star Express sales coordinator Benjamin Mäße explains the benefits for Night Star Express delivery personnel: “Especially during night deliveries, it is important to communicate the exact drop-off location to our delivery staff.

At night, there is no contact person on-site. On large industrial sites, it is often not easy to find the depot box or drop-off location, especially for new employees. Particularly in the current pandemic situation, where it can happen at any time that unfamiliar drivers have to take over routes from sick colleagues, the three words greatly facilitate delivery. With what3words, we can store the three words of the drop-off location in our system and achieve a smooth and quick delivery. I see this as an improvement in service and a simplification of the delivery process.”

Chris Sheldrick, CEO and co-founder of what3words, adds: “With a three-word address, customers can narrow down their delivery location to an exact 3 x 3 m square. This simplifies delivery and increases customer satisfaction. We are very pleased to work with Night Star Express to provide a better delivery experience for customers and delivery personnel alike.”

Helpful not only in rural areas

Further advantages of the three-word service can arise from the service expansion for new customers: During the onboarding process, the three-word address of the drop-off location can be directly stored. Many existing customers located in rural areas can also benefit.

Benjamin Mäße highlights the benefits for delivering to stud farms and recipients of agricultural machinery manufacturers: “In rural areas, what3words provides valuable support in specifying locations. Here, delivery is often not easy for our drivers. Finding the right drop-off location on large estates is often like searching for a needle in a haystack. With what3words, we can narrow down the exact delivery location to a square of three by three meters, eliminating the search.”

Photo: © Night Star Express