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Frequently Asked Questions

	What is included and what add-ons are needed?
	How many packages can CPS ship per day?
	Can CPS perform automatic rate comparisons?
	Can CPS use my rates for its automatic rate comparisons?
	Is CPS easy to integrate with our current system?
	Does CPS print any reports and can custom reports be made?
	Does CPS lose data when using “batch” importing and exporting?
	Why use CPS when we have carrier supplied software?
	Why is carrier provided software free and CPS has a yearly cost?
	Can CPS help with broken or lost shipments?
	Can I still receive carrier discounts if I use CPS?
	Can we install CPS ourselves?
	Is there a demo version of CPS?

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What is included and what add-ons are needed?

There are no add-ons needed from Harvey Software for CPS to process any standard carrier. There are just two different types of CPS Packages, the single station version and the Enterprise Edition.  With CPS everything is included - all of the data connectivity tools, the exclusive SHIP eLERT^® shipping notification e-mail, plus support and updates for six (6) months.  All versions of CPS support Endicia^® Internet Postage at no additional cost.  CPS has everything you should need to connect to your data and to ship using any or all of the CPS supported carriers.

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How many packages can CPS ship per day?

Lots!  By design, CPS can handle hundreds of thousands of packages per day, but here are a couple of verified examples from the carriers. For a single station CPS installation, the highest package volume we can verify is the 15,000 - 16,000 package records this carrier receives per day during the peak season from this large shipper. This is a highly automated environment using CPS as the package processing “engine”. Another location shipping up to 30,000 per day uses the CPS Enterprise Edition to ship at 86 different shipping stations. CPS can process big volumes when needed.

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Can CPS perform automatic rate comparisons?

Yes. The published rates for all CPS supported carriers are included in CPS and they can be used for automatic rate shopping. You can setup CPS to compare the rates between any carrier and service and then automatically select the lowest one. This rate comparison can also include the fuel surcharge, which is important since if you lose track of the fuel surcharge, because you pay these and they change monthly!

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Can CPS use my rates for its automatic rate comparisons?

Yes, CPS has settings and utilities to let you enter your company's specific rates in CPS. These rates can then be used for price shopping, including the fuel surcharge.

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Is CPS easy to integrate with our current system?

CPS pioneered a number of ways for shipping systems to use existing data. Special data translation tools for ODBC compliant tables, special features for SQL data, transparent data importing and even a real “hands-off” processing mode. Every situation can be different, so we will be glad to work with you and your technical group to mesh CPS with your existing system.

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Does CPS print any reports and can custom reports be made?

Yes, CPS prints reports. CPS has package shipping reports, cost center reports, carrier required reports, and optional reports. These reports can be printed from either your daily shipping information or from the shipping history information. For custom reports, we find most companies have a reporting tool they prefer. CPS lets you easily export any of the data it stores so that you can use your choice or reporting/analysis programs to get the reports you want.

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Does CPS lose data when using “batch” importing and exporting?

There are issues with batch importing and exporting on any shipping system, but CPS does not lose data.  The problem is when your system makes a new file, it overwrites the older file. If you have not already imported the data into your shipping system, the data is gone. Although you can import shipping data into CPS in a “batch”, the “real time” data tools in CPS are easy to use and eliminate this issue. These CPS data tools are compatible with most sales and order systems, and provide several ways to use your existing data safely and more effectively.

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Why use CPS when we have carrier supplied software?

Carriers have created software to help move packages through their automated systems, this does not necessarily mean it will be more efficient for you. Of course, that carrier software varies from shipper to shipper and can change from year to year.  Shippers using a single carrier have praised superior package processing times with CPS.  Some single carrier shippers take advantage of the considerable savings on declared value insurance through the alternate insurance companies. Still others like the safety net of the multiple carrier capability of CPS.  If the ability of your main carrier to pickup and deliver your packages is interrupted, the multiple-carrier safety net could be the difference in business as usual or a very real “worst case” scenario for your company.  Add to this automatic rate shopping and CPS can really keep money on your bottom line.

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Why is carrier provided software free and CPS has a yearly cost?

This is really a 2-part question:

• Is my “no charge” carrier software really free?

• Is there a yearly fee to use CPS?

In the world of free carrier software, we stay in business when your company profits on its investment in CPS. The carrier provided systems are designed to be good for the carriers, and many articles have been written that detail the high, real-world costs of using separate, carrier provided systems. Is shipping packages “over here” one way for one carrier and “over there” another way for another carrier the most efficient way? Using multiple systems, shipping system expenses increase: shipping staff training; configuring the systems to work with your data; system updates, etc. The “free” systems lock you in and limit how effectively (if at all) you can make shipping choices. CPS users and professional shipping rate negotiators tell us shippers get better rates using third party instead of “free” carrier systems. Negotiate your best deal, and then use CPS to compare rates for your shipping. Plus, use an alternate declared value insurance company and save even more. Just a 1% or 2% edge can add back thousands of dollars to your bottom line.

For question 2, yes, CPS does require yearly updates.  The annual service is billed separately. Compare the cost of the CPS Annual Service Agreement to the cost of the “free” carrier software, and you will see that CPS will reward your bottom line every year.

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Can CPS help with broken or lost shipments?

More than you might think. Sometimes you can only change carriers until the problem is resolved with a given carrier. CPS lets you immediately choose any supported carrier right when the package is shipped, and your shipping staff doesn’t have to be trained on a new shipping system to do this. Unfortunately, there are occurrences of loss and breakage regardless of the carrier. CPS supports the most prominent alternate insurance services, Parcel Insurance Plan and U-PIC, so insuring your packages can cost less, too.

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Can I still receive carrier discounts if I use CPS?

Yes.   Carrier discounts are something that are negotiated between you and the carrier or carriers you plan to use.  Discounts are  generally determined based on your volumes and the commodities you ship.  Having a multi-carrier shipping system like CPS stops carriers from locking you into their services and brings the decision down to just the price of shipping, as it should be.  Many of our clients have told us CPS gave them the ability to receive the best prices from their carriers and to help them maximize the savings with those discounted rates.

"We started using CPS in September. Formerly we used a free carrier provided software product. We have lowered our cost of shipping $0.85 per package for the 4th Quarter. This has save us tens of thousands of dollars. "  -  Health Resources

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Can we install CPS ourselves?

Yes. CPS has been designed since its inception to be easily installed by its user. For those seeking specialized assistance or that require a comprehensive, integrated business solution, Harvey Software Business Partners provide expertise for the most sophisticated situations, for advanced integration with eCommerce and other host systems.

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Is there a demo version of CPS?

Yes.  Harvey Software wants to make sure each customer receives the right solution at the time of purchase.   For this reason Harvey Software offers a live web demo of CPS by appointment.   You can now view a fully functioning version of CPS over the Internet.  There is no cost or obligation to receive a CPS live demo and nothing to install on your PC.  To request a live demo click here...

If you have questions, contact Harvey Software at 800-231-0296 option 5 from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM EST Monday-Friday.  To leave an e-mail message for a Harvey Software Associate, click here...

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