Transportation management Special technology report
On time, on target
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with a variety of key players within the transportation management systems and services market about the scope of solutions currently available and how they can enhance operational efficiencies for today’s increasingly demanding logistics professionals.
T 8
he key expectation of modern logistics operations, whether those run by retail professionals, manufacturer or services offered by 3PLs companies etc., is that they deliver the right goods, in the right condition to the right customer at the right time. They also need to consider their own internal time and cost efficiencies, not to mention keeping an eye on their carbon footprint. The market is now so competitive and demanding that there is little room for second-rate service provision. In this special technology report on transportation management, we look at the
Shaun Coughlin, tmWare: Cost is a huge driver.
current state-of-the-art in the world of solutions and services designed to help logistics professionals to stay on top of their game, and also consider the key talking points in this fast changing and mission critical arena.
Main drivers
For Shaun Coughlin, managing director of tmWare, cost is a huge driver in the transport industry and therefore effects the decisions made within transport management solutions implementation. But what if the implementation of a transport management system could not only pay for itself with the efficiencies it brings to the business, but make the business more profitable through the added value services, attracting new business wins? “A transport company would traditionally be taking a measured risk on the implementation of a new system, shelling out a hefty upfront cost and not seeing the return for 12 to 18 months – now with web-based, pay-as-you-
MANUFACTURING &LOGISTICS
IT October 2010
go systems the monthly outgoing cost is often covered each month by the savings or increased revenue, which is a direct result of the system,” he said. Coughlin added that with new technologies emerging all the time the selection of the right IT partner can enable a transport operation to be at the leading edge of technology and services offered to its customers. “For example the implementation of a Mobile POD solution can see immediate benefits through electronic signature capture, which eliminates the need for paperwork, filing and time spent searching for and faxing copies at the customer’s request,” commented Coughlin. “Instead the customer can access an online enquiry to obtain the information for themselves.”
Bob Harbey, executive director at Microlise, believes one of the key talking points within the industry at the moment between trans - portation companies and leading telematics companies is the integration of tracking units into the vehicles computer system (the >>
www.logisticsit.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52