Edinburgh Assay Office Introduces the Virtual Assay Office

The Edinburgh Assay Office (EAO) has launched an innovative new service targeted at online jewellery retailers, combining hallmarking and fulfillment with final mile delivery, opening up UK and EU markets for companies importing precious metal jewellery from overseas.

For the first time suppliers can distribute or fulfill orders directly after hallmarking, cost effectively. Single and bulk shipments are sent direct to the EAO for hallmarking from where each individual order is later delivered to the end consumer.

The pay as you go, just in time model means there is no need for upfront investment in stock or distribution infrastructure and the supplier does not need to operate a local distribution center.

The hallmarking and fulfillment service dovetails with Virtual Assay Office, the EAO’s world-leading web-based order submission and tracking system. This end-to-end service enables customers to integrate their stock systems and eCommerce platforms with the Edinburgh Assay Office’s systems, meaning they can access real-time updates on the progress of their order, from arrival through to hallmarking and onward delivery to the end consumer.

Final mile delivery to anywhere in Europe is available, bulk orders can be broken down after hallmarking, and popular lines with retail packaging can be held in stock for fast delivery as well as providing an effective drop shipping solution. The Edinburgh Assay Office also offers a fast and effective returns and alterations service.

Scott Walter, Assay Master and CEO of the Edinburgh Assay Office, said: “Protecting consumers is at the heart of what we have done for the last 550 years. Hallmarks give consumers the confidence that what they are getting is the real thing. In order to continue to provide that protection we are constantly adapting our processes to support a range of different retail business models.”

He continued: “Hallmarking and fulfillment coupled with a systems integrated solution has allowed us to create a win-win situation for online retailers and the consumer. The Edinburgh Assay Office has operated cloud-based integrated tracking solutions for over five years and, as a result, we continue to lead the world in our approach to hallmarking. In 2012 we launched Assay Assured, the world’s only dedicated jewellery trust mark for online retailers, and our hallmarking and fulfillment service further strengthens our offering to both the online jewellery retailer and the online jewellery shopper.”