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The word “Outward RDC” is a monitoring concept in use by Royal Mail tracking package deliveries.
Royal Mail, established in the United Kingdom as well as numerous other nations, is among the most reputable postal services in the world.
In 1516, the business was established. Royal Mail had already built a strong reputation in the shipping industry for decades, and according to data, the company carried 1.2 billion packages in 2017 while in 2018, it rose to 14.4 billion.
Royal Mail follows a particular set of regulations and procedures to guarantee that the shipment is done smoothly.
Whenever people utilize Royal Mail facilities, customers will be given a URL to monitor the progress of their package in real-time.
The status of the client’s parcel will alter depending on the monitoring stage, which will be indicated in various situations. In other words, whenever a user ships a package with Royal Mail, you’ll be provided with a code to monitor it.
You’ll note that the shipment updates from period to period with various tag names if users use their parcel tracking system.
Few individuals are acquainted with the monitoring aspects that are employed by the corporation for shipments, therefore we’ll just centre on such phrases in this post.

Among the all too many common words that may also have come across while monitoring a package is Outward RDC.
Most individuals are perplexed by such terminology. A Regional Distribution Center is shortened as RDC. The regional distribution centre resembles a giant storehouse wherein thousands of items from multiple businesses are distributed each day.
These locations receive a large number of shipments each day which can be difficult to even get cargo into.
We have a number of arrangements that enable freight to also be carried in a centralized fashion, as well as by keeping a truck on-site, helping simplify the operation faster.
Whenever this occurs, RDC’s digital signatures mostly on the gateway will indicate that now the freight has reached on location. The POD would also show once the task is finished.
A regional distribution centre abbreviated as RDC is a facility that is given to a number of businesses rather than a particular organization.
When you see outward RDC on the package’s active state, it signifies that delivery will be on its route to the regional distribution centre, where it will be prepped for more delivery.
Outward RDC – Volumetric Acceptance
What Is Volumetric Acceptance?
Volumetric acceptance in an Outward RDC (Regional Distribution Centre) is the process of verifying that outgoing shipments meet the expected cubic volume and space utilisation criteria before dispatch.
This ensures that freight is optimised for transport, reduces unnecessary costs, and improves operational efficiency.
Why Is Volumetric Acceptance Important?
Accurate volumetric acceptance helps:
- Optimise transport space: ensuring trucks are loaded to the right capacity.
- Prevent revenue leakage: by charging the correct volumetric weight for outbound parcels.
- Maintain service levels: avoiding rejected shipments due to incorrect dimensions.
- Support planning & forecasting: giving RDC teams visibility on load utilisation.
How Does Volumetric Acceptance Work?
The process usually follows these steps:
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scan Consignment ID / Label | Links parcel to outbound manifest. |
| 2 | Capture Dimensions (L × W × H) | Using automated dimensioners or manual entry. |
| 3 | Weigh the Parcel | Captures actual weight and compares with declared. |
| 4 | System Validation | Compares volumetric weight with physical weight, flags discrepancies. |
| 5 | Accept or Reject | Accepts correct parcels or routes flagged ones for rework. |
Best Practices for Volumetric Acceptance
- Regularly calibrate dimensioning and weighing equipment.
- Train staff to handle exceptions (oversize/overweight shipments).
- Maintain clear documentation of rejected items for reconciliation.
- Ensure live system integration with TMS/WMS for real-time updates.

Outward RDC – Handheld Acceptance
What Is Handheld Acceptance?
Handheld acceptance refers to using mobile scanning devices to record the acceptance of outgoing parcels and pallets during the loading process.
This ensures full visibility of what leaves the RDC and confirms that shipments match the planned manifest.
Why Is Handheld Acceptance Necessary?
- Reduces manual errors by scanning instead of keying data.
- Provides real-time visibility for last-mile carriers and central operations.
- Improves accountability by linking scans to users and time stamps.
- Supports Proof of Handover for audit and reconciliation.
Typical Handheld Acceptance Workflow
| Stage | Handheld Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Login & Select Outbound Trip | Associates user with trip data. |
| 2 | Scan Load Unit / Parcel | Confirms that the right item is being loaded. |
| 3 | Confirm Quantities | Ensures all parcels for that route are scanned. |
| 4 | Close the Trip | Marks the trip as “Ready for Dispatch.” |
| 5 | Sync Data | Uploads scan data to central WMS/TMS. |
Best Practices for Handheld Acceptance
- Keep handheld scanners fully charged and updated.
- Train loaders to handle exceptions such as missing or duplicate scans.
- Set up real-time error alerts to prevent missed parcels.
- Conduct random audits to ensure scan compliance.
Let us look into some of the other terms that are updated depending upon different situations apart from Outward RDC
Royal Mail assigns you a postal ID which users input into their tracker to monitor their package.
When your package is processed, the data will be stored in the monitoring system, maintaining customers informed about the status of the package.
It’s important to remember that now the number of scans required varies depending on the provider. The terminology listed below is just some of the most commonly used in the monitoring system.
Outward RDC Monitoring System
Item Has Been Delivered
You notify Royal Mail when you have shipped your post once you actually posted it. It allows customers to keep their postal tracking info up to date.
Item Has Been Received
This essentially signifies that the package has also been delivered and is now being processed by Royal Mail.
When you choose shipment confirmation only, you would only be notified whenever the product has been delivered, based on the package you select.
Royal Mail Customer Support received this item.
Your item was sent to Customer Support with the following information: address, date, and minute. The data is then maintained for monitoring on the Royal Mail system.

Technical Issues on the Inside
This indicates that the Royal Mail has encountered technical network problems which have disrupted regular postal operations.
While in Transit
The order will be booked for dispatch once it is acquired. It is subsequently labelled «In Transit» as it made its way through the process on its way to being delivered.
The state and location specifics are attached so you’ll be able to monitor it by using the reference id
Pending
The charge to settle – occurs whenever the shipper refuses to pay the shipping expenses or if the goods are subjected to a customs duty.
Redirection – By ordering a redirection option, the receiver may modify the mailing address. This adds another day or two to the delivery time.
Keepsafe Item – by ordering a Keepsafe service, the receiver may request that the product be held at the distribution centre for a longer period of time.
Attempted the delivery- Royal Mail may well have difficulty locating the destination, so delivery may be tried.
They are just struggling to obtain information about the mailing address. The goods might then be attempted to be delivered the next day.

Getting Ready to Ship
Until you select the Keepsafe option, your goods would be shipped as quickly as feasible after it has been labelled prepared for delivering. On the tracking network, your arrival status would be changed alongside your track id.
Delivered to a Secure Location
You may not have been available to receive your goods due to unforeseen events therefore you choose to get them transferred to a secure location. Your item state shall be changed after it has been transported to the secure location.
Item for Retention
A Retention Service is a service that covers days when a service is closed. The goods will be sent only once they are available, not on these dates.
Collected
Once the receiver has picked up the goods following shipment this is displayed.


