THE I.T. SECTION\\\


Felixstowe warehouse firm implements Emprica


The Felixstowe Warehousing Company (FWCL), part of the John Good Shipping Group of companies, is implementing the Empirica warehouse management system at its 200,000 square feet facility next to


the port’s container


terminal. FWCL offers a range of


services which include container loading and unloading, BRC approved


food grade storage facilities, UK Customs (CFSP) bonded storage, pick and pack facilities, and UK distribution, along with deliveries from worldwide points of origin and onward shipment to destinations in the UK and mainland Europe. The Empirica WMS will


provide control over all areas of the FWCL warehouse operation. It will also offer automated real-time task management via wireless


handheld devices. FWCL’s


existing Motorola handhelds have been supplemented with additional devices to cater for the anticipated extra users the system will support. The Empirica WMS solution


replaces an existing inventory control solution. Implementation of Empirica within another John Good Shipping Group sister company gave FWCL feedback on the system as part of the evaluation.


Air group to look at e-freight again


The Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) has initiated a review of


the e-freight project


launched by IATA in 2006, and will review other relevant initiatives, to identify the fastest route to paperless transportation. Two areas have been identified


as priority by GACAG members: the electronic air waybill (e-AWB) and the promotion of electronic Customs procedures. Chair of the GACAG E-Commerce


Task Force, Bill Gottlieb, said: “The air waybill is a central document in the air cargo transportation process and an electronic AWB is a natural first step towards creating


a fully paperless environment. The e-AWB will be focused on as a catalyst to drive the adoption and implementation by airlines and forwarders of electronic air waybill procedures.” In addition, implementation of


harmonised electronic Customs procedures worldwide is key to creating a network of routes where air cargo industry participants can benefit from an end-to-end paperless process, GACAG said. GACAG members have


begun


to identify countries where they can engage with the authorities to promote these procedures at national level and internationally


CargoWise moves into European road transport


Logistics technology company CargoWise has moved into the road transport market with an agreement with French logistics provider Dimotrans. CargoWise will implement its ediEnterprise solution across Dimotrans’ 23 French offices providing forwarding and transport management functions. Following implementation in France, Dimotrans plans to extend ediEnterprise throughout its operations in the Far East where CargoWise already has a significant capability. CargoWise said it had invested


heavily in building a major presence in the EU transport and distribution market to complement its strengths in contract logistics, air and sea forwarding, shipping, customs and


warehousing. Dimotrans managing director


Sylvie Billat said that CargoWise had “an excellent forwarding solution and as a development partner, we will help enhance their transport solution to meet the requirements of the European road marketplace.” CargoWise chief executive


officer, Richard White, added: “CargoWise’s rapid growth and success has enabled us to extend our capabilities in EU logistics, including integrating domestic with


international logistics and


improvements to distribution, eTail, and drop shipping. We continue our focus on European and Asian languages support, and have made a significant investment in EU Customs and geo compliance.”


through the World Customs Organization (WCO). Bill Gottlieb added: “Air cargo


still involves the significant production, exchange and handling of paperwork. This is not the most efficient process for our industry. Customers consider it to be outdated, inefficient and adding significant cost. They want to see actual, tangible change, no more rhetoric and a clear shiſt in the way we conduct business.” CACAG also urged the air cargo


industry and national regulatory authorities to continue working together on pilots to test the feasibility and processes for


advance electronic data for air cargo shipments. At a meeting with the Commissioner of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Alan Bersin, in Washington DC on 6 December, it also said that industry and regulatory authorities should also assess whether advance data can help support a risk-based approach to air cargo screening. GACAG further said that


pragmatism, flexibility, and joint evaluation of pilot results will be ‘critically important’ to realising the goals of the Air Cargo Advanced Screening (ACAS) program.


Impatex upgraded


Impatex has upgraded its browser- based multi-modal freight management system, NetFreight. The changes, the largest-ever, says the software specialist, e-Freight capability:


all users can


now send electronic airwaybills in the form of FWB and FHL messages direct from the system. This follows successful trials in the US. NetFreight also now includes a full warehouse management system that stores and updates information such as stock levels, which can be made visible to customers via the internet. There is a new inbuilt report


generator with a high degree of customisation, though customers can still use third-party packages such as Crystal Reports or SQL for reporting, should they prefer. NetFreight administrators tailor-made


can now give users access levels, useful for larger, more


complex organisations where separate departments deal with different


aspects of include shipments.


Inbuilt auditing keeps track of every action by staff dealing with a given shipment, improving accountability. Existing functions have


meanwhile been enhanced. Track and trace screens can now be customised to accommodate customers’ individual data requirements and can even carry their own corporate identities. Customers accessing the NetTrak facility can now print stored documents locally. Emails can now be sent direct


from NetFreight, avoiding the need to open a separate email client. The program’s courier functions have also been expanded and enhanced. In


addition, NetFreight now


generates and sends automatic post flights to customers by email.


Issue 1 2012


27


Kewill integrates INTTRA


Ocean shipping e-commerce platform INTTRA has signed an alliance agreement with Kewill to formalise the integration of its solution into the Kewill Forwarding (KFF) platform. KFF users can now use INTTRA’s shipping solution to facilitate electronic booking requests for shipped consignments and can receive confirmations and status messages when booking


space prior to departure. The system can then accept or reject the request dependent on available space and alert the user to the outcome, replacing manual processes such as phone, e-mail or fax. Kewill added it would continue


to work with INTTRA to integrate additional e-commerce tools into Kewill Forwarding, including its sailing schedules feature.


KN adopts IAS


Kuehne + Nagel has adopted IAS Dispatch for its North American intermodal container haulage activities. Part of the IAS portfolio of collaborative cloud solutions for global container transport and logistics, IAS Dispatch automates placing and tracking of container haulage work orders and directly connects users with their motor carrier communities via the web. KN has rolled the technology


out to more than 100 trucking companies in the US and is continuing to connect additional haulage partners to


the system. Future expansion


is also anticipated in Canada and possibly other parts of the Americas. The IAS web solution is fully


integrated with KN’s transport management system and optimisation engine and helps it to streamline administration, more effectively plan and manage its complex and large-scale inland transport operations, and improve customer service. It also gives customers


information on actual shipment pick-up and delivery times.


RedPrairie system for DHL


DHL Supply Chain is introducing a standardised warehouse management system across its world operations


to improve


accuracy and individual product availability. The system is being supplied by RedPrairie Corporation, a global supply chain and retail technology provider,


and the new deal expands upon an initial global framework agreement between the two companies. Leading-edge WMS and WFM tools will help DHL to design optimised supply chains and


inventory


holding systems which ultimately supports customers in improving their market position.


OOCL moves to automated US manifests


OOCL said on 19 December that it had become the first ocean line to migrate to the new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE-M1) e-Manifest system deployed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It said it would provide much improved visibility on cargo status with clearer and faster messaging


on cargo disposition. Stephen Ng, OOCL’s director for


corporate planning said: “We see ACE as the next generation trade and customs interface platform for international trade. We look forward to even more benefits aſter more participating government agencies are on board.”


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