How Odyssey’s Transaction Services Is a Game Changer

Posted by James Lusk on

Contracts with the Department of Defense offer excellent opportunities for businesses. The chance to support members of the United States Armed Forces in their missions, coupled with a steady and consistent demand for supplies contribute to a rewarding and profitable arrangement. In addition, as part of its strategic goals and mission, the DoD actively seeks out opportunities to award contracts to small businesses. In fact, according to its small business procurement scorecard, over 24 percent of the DoD contracts awarded in 2018, an estimated $72 billion, were to small businesses.

But for small businesses who have recently landed a DoD contract without any prior experience, learning and complying with the stringent and numerous specifications required to successfully fulfill each shipment can make or break that business’s future. Specifications for packaging, labeling, tracking and shipping must be followed to the letter to avoid rejected shipments or delayed payments that could put the business in jeopardy.

Odyssey is changing the game for new and existing DoD suppliers with its new Transaction Services. Odyssey’s Transaction Services is a one-off service where Odyssey provides all the required MIL-STD 129 R and (if required) MIL-STD 130 N labels, and loads all required documents into the Defense Logistics Agency’s online invoice and tracking system, iRAPT/ WAWF, on the customer’s behalf.

Odyssey Transaction Services act as an incubator to help companies that are new to DoD contract work and trying to build their business. The service can also offer support to companies that don’t do a lot of business with the government, perhaps only sending a handful of shipments per year, and simply don’t have the infrastructure in place to ensure compliance. Lastly, Transaction Services can offer existing Odyssey customers the opportunity to process awards that may be one-offs in their environment, such as MIL-STD 130 N UID or MIL-STD 129 R Item Level RFID. If a customer has access to Odyssey software, but not one of the add-on modules, they can engage Odyssey to complete the one-off transaction. This way, the customer avoids having to purchase the entire module.

Odyssey understands the demands its customers face and created Transaction Services to help facilitate an easier shipping process. Signing up for the Transaction Services is simple, and requires minimum input from the customer.

The process is as follows:

  • Customers provide award information and shipment configuration
  • Odyssey provides a quote to perform the work
  • Upon receipt of signed quote, Odyssey will initiate work on the labels and contact the customer to fill in any unknown information (weights, dimensions, etc.)
  • Customer receives proof of labels for approval
  • Upon approval, Odyssey ships labels to customer or other designated location
  • Customer provides the corresponding government invoice number
  • Odyssey uploads the Advance Ship Notice and Commercial Invoice via server-to-server integration, together representing a combo or any other form of submission required by the contract

There is a one-time fee for Transaction Services, plus charges for labels and shipping. Odyssey guarantees a 100 percent compliant process and will stand by the transaction until it is accepted in WAWF and the pay cycle has begun.

To learn more about Odyssey’s Transaction Services, or for any other inquiries about our products and services, contact us.