26


Issue 1 2012


///IT OPINION The future of freight is in the clouds


GT Nexus Europe managing director Andy Stinnes has been looking into his crystal ball to try and guess what 2012 has in store as far as freight industry technology is concerned. With the floods in Thailand, the Japanese Tsunami and the volcanic ash cloud in 2010, companies such as Dell and Canon have seen their revenues hit due to problems with shipment and production.


Andy Stinnes


The world is naturally volatile – and the technology we currently have in place within the supply chain to react to changes isn’t adequate. As supply chains become increasingly complex – longer, riskier, more segmented and with competition from every corner - businesses


Wherever you go. . .


Companies have spent a lot of money on internal IT operations such as ERP job scheduling to automate processes like manufacturing and accounts payable.


In 2012 the biggest


opportunity will be for companies to connect these internal processes that stretch across the businesses and link them to the wider supply chain. Ensuring these processes are linked and uploaded to a cloud- based supply chain platform gives all partners complete access to all the relevant information needed to manage supply chains effectively and become more connected to their broader network of suppliers and 3PL providers.


As we have discussed, connectivity with other networks in the supply chain provides a wealth of data, but companies need to take this multi-enterprise data and turn it


into something more. We


think 2012 will be the year that big data becomes manageable and useful. Next year we’re start seeing the analytical capabilities


need an effective way to control that. There will no doubt be more natural and man-made disasters in 2012, and we expect businesses to be better prepared at dealing with them and look at ways to ensure better and faster information across the value chain.


The next stage – the cloud community The concept of a ‘Cloud


community’ will be the next big thing


– using the learning from


interior cloud operations and implementing this in a wider business network. There are hundreds of business processes that companies engage in with external partners in the supply chain which will all become part of a cloud community. This means that all parties concerned can see the same data, and discuss them, Facebook-style. Not only does this result in greater efficiency, but allows companies to get a much better sense of how to operate as a network and respond to changes more quickly.


Data in the supply chain


and tools of a cloud-based supply chain being used to take this massive set of interconnectivity data and turning


it into something


valuable. These platforms become a supply chain memory, holding a vast amount of data that fuels a number of other interior systems in a standardised and usable format.


New London port selects CNS


. . . NetFreight goes with you.


Web-based NetFreight combines forwarding, Customs, warehousing and CRM in a single system that uniquely runs on an iPad, as well as any other web-enabled mobile device, or PC/laptop with internet connection. Give quotes, track shipments and do clearances any time, any place.


NetFreight: the world is your office.


Find out more: 0845 4590416 or www.impatex.org/software/netfreight


Community Network Services (CNS) has won the contract to develop DP World’s London Gateway’s Port Community System. CNS’s existing Compass system, introduced in 2010, will link port and terminal operators, regulatory bodies such as HMRC, Port Health and DEFRA, shipping lines, freight forwarders, logistics operators and hauliers. Customers will have a single


electronic point of access to register manifests, declare imports and exports, track containers in temporary storage and arrange pickup and delivery


of cargo. CNS, a wholly owned subsidiary


of DP World Southampton, is one of the UK’s Community Systems Providers (CSP) inventory ports,


control airports services and


providing to


terminals


at Southampton, Tilbury, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Portsmouth, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead. CSPs provide electronic access to the HMRC CHIEF system for the automatic clearance of goods crossing UK frontiers,


along with inventory


control systems and links to port and terminal systems.


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