Above & Beyond – Inbound Logistics https://www.inboundlogistics.com Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:05:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://www.inboundlogistics.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Above & Beyond – Inbound Logistics https://www.inboundlogistics.com 32 32 Convergint Technologies Ensures Safe Shipping with EchoInsure+ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/convergint-technologies-ensures-safe-shipping-with-echoinsure/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 09:29:29 +0000 https://www.inboundlogistics.com/?post_type=articles&p=39950 Convergint Technologies, a banking security technology organization, ships a great deal of high-value commodities to top-tier banking companies around the country. From ATMs, safes, conduits, and an array of security instruments, keeping these important commodities in prime condition is essential to Convergint’s business.

The Challenge

As a high-value shipper which operates largely in the LTL space, Convergint keeps a close eye on key performance indicators such as cost per commodity, on-time-in-full delivery performance per carrier, and claims ratios.

For one such high-value shipment, Convergint needed to move a large quantity of ATMs. These banking machines needed to be secured properly in order to maintain proper functioning upon arrival. To prepare for this, the devices had been equipped with wheels to move more smoothly between trailers and docks in the loading process.

Despite explicit instructions from Echo, the ATMs were accidentally loaded onto faulty pallets by the carrier. As a result, the products could not be secured as required during transit. Upon arrival, the pallets had broken, leaving the high-tech devices damaged and in need of significant repair.

“It was almost a total loss,” said Raj Dharamsi, supply chain manager at Convergint. “The damage was significant, and we were worried our products would not be able to be salvaged.”

The Solution

In 2023, Echo Global Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services, introduced EchoInsure+, a means to add an extra layer of protection to LTL shipments. This shipping solution offers best-in-class coverage as a simple addition to loads booked through Echo and includes claims paid in as fast as 10 days, zero deductible up to $10,000, broader protection with fewer exclusions, and full-value coverage rather than limited carrier liability.

Fortunately, Convergint had included EchoInsure+ on its damaged ATM shipment. Convergint’s client was able to receive reimbursement for 75% of the value of the product, and the parts from the machines were able to be salvaged. The turnaround for filing and resolving the claim was swift, and the time lost and the damage dealt was resolved much more easily than if the shipment had not been insured.

With EchoInsure+, the shipping and claims process is significantly easier, and in the event of lost or damaged goods, the client payout much more accurately retains the value of the product. Now, Convergint ships nearly every load with EchoInsure+, providing peace of mind when transporting their business’s valuable products.

“We were thankful that we had included EchoInsure+ on this particular shipment,” Dharamsi said. “It quickly allowed us to turn a major roadblock into a readily available solution. We’re able to continue to ship our high-value products worry-free with Echo’s help, and we’re grateful for the support of their innovative services and dedicated team.”

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Convergint Technologies, a banking security technology organization, ships a great deal of high-value commodities to top-tier banking companies around the country. From ATMs, safes, conduits, and an array of security instruments, keeping these important commodities in prime condition is essential to Convergint’s business.

The Challenge

As a high-value shipper which operates largely in the LTL space, Convergint keeps a close eye on key performance indicators such as cost per commodity, on-time-in-full delivery performance per carrier, and claims ratios.

For one such high-value shipment, Convergint needed to move a large quantity of ATMs. These banking machines needed to be secured properly in order to maintain proper functioning upon arrival. To prepare for this, the devices had been equipped with wheels to move more smoothly between trailers and docks in the loading process.

Despite explicit instructions from Echo, the ATMs were accidentally loaded onto faulty pallets by the carrier. As a result, the products could not be secured as required during transit. Upon arrival, the pallets had broken, leaving the high-tech devices damaged and in need of significant repair.

“It was almost a total loss,” said Raj Dharamsi, supply chain manager at Convergint. “The damage was significant, and we were worried our products would not be able to be salvaged.”

The Solution

In 2023, Echo Global Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services, introduced EchoInsure+, a means to add an extra layer of protection to LTL shipments. This shipping solution offers best-in-class coverage as a simple addition to loads booked through Echo and includes claims paid in as fast as 10 days, zero deductible up to $10,000, broader protection with fewer exclusions, and full-value coverage rather than limited carrier liability.

Fortunately, Convergint had included EchoInsure+ on its damaged ATM shipment. Convergint’s client was able to receive reimbursement for 75% of the value of the product, and the parts from the machines were able to be salvaged. The turnaround for filing and resolving the claim was swift, and the time lost and the damage dealt was resolved much more easily than if the shipment had not been insured.

With EchoInsure+, the shipping and claims process is significantly easier, and in the event of lost or damaged goods, the client payout much more accurately retains the value of the product. Now, Convergint ships nearly every load with EchoInsure+, providing peace of mind when transporting their business’s valuable products.

“We were thankful that we had included EchoInsure+ on this particular shipment,” Dharamsi said. “It quickly allowed us to turn a major roadblock into a readily available solution. We’re able to continue to ship our high-value products worry-free with Echo’s help, and we’re grateful for the support of their innovative services and dedicated team.”

]]>
ScottsMiracle-Gro: Getting the Right (Logistics) Players in Place for Its Big Game https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/scottsmiracle-gro-getting-the-right-logistics-players-in-place-for-its-big-game/ Tue, 11 Oct 2022 15:09:49 +0000 https://www.inboundlogistics.com/?post_type=articles&p=33973 Like football, many companies and their logistics operations have their own “Big Game”—a peak shipping season with make-or-break importance to their success. And like with every winning team, success only comes with a lot of preparation, hard work, and enhanced partnerships.

For ScottsMiracle-Gro, its critical time is the final lead-up to spring after a six-plus month build of inventory and getting their products delivered to key retailers all around the country. Winning means shelves are stocked full of ScottsMiracle-Gro products right when people around the country start thinking about their lawns and gardens as temperatures warm.

Prioritizing Service

ScottsMiracle-Gro has a strong history of high service expectations, but it always strives for more, especially as the market is forever evolving. So, back in October 2021, Tony Botos, ScottsMiracle-Gro director of logistics, began preparations for the company’s 2022 spring season with a frank and honest review of what its lawn and garden distribution network could do better and drive its competitive advantage—world-class service.

Carrier performance management is a critical part of ensuring the season is a success. A service-focused mindset in logistics is driving on-time performance and high tender acceptance rates.

On the heels of two challenging years due to COVID and difficult freight market conditions in general, Botos saw an opportunity to make some enhancements. The time was right to reevaluate its logistics processes, including everything from its day-to-day operations, reporting and analytics, and ScottsMiracle-Gro’s portfolio of carrier partners.

Focused Priorities and Goals

After a lot of internal discussion and meetings with key partners, Botos and his team decided to prioritize some high-impact areas and focus on finding a smaller, tighter group of carrier partners. This included a new strategic partnership approach that eventually centered on a few key partners, one of them being Echo Global Logistics.

Not surprisingly, central to the initiative by ScottsMiracle-Gro, was utilizing technology as a key enabler. Looking to bring more visibility to their shipping operation for quicker identification of problems and speed time to resolution, ScottsMiracle-Gro built a process to leverage data analytics using Tableau.

Each morning, for example, the logistics team is able to see actionable shipping information in real-time, including awarded volumes, routing guide positions, loads not picked up—all of which help to drive more productive solution-oriented action.

The Results

The good news is that in 2022, ScottsMiracle-Gro has improved its delivery goals with the help of one of its strategic partners, Echo Global Logistics, amongst others.

“Leading into this year, Echo was already an established partner, but the greater connection we’ve made over the past eight months has helped us exceed our on-time delivery goal of 95%. Since March, Echo has been one of Scotts’ main carriers,” said Botos. “We’ve become more aligned on core company values, which has proven itself valuable through better service performance all around.”

ScottsMiracle-Gro’s competitive strength in-store includes always having products in stock. The simple expectation that their products will be available at the right time is the result of a lot of hard work, planning, and partnership.

]]>
Like football, many companies and their logistics operations have their own “Big Game”—a peak shipping season with make-or-break importance to their success. And like with every winning team, success only comes with a lot of preparation, hard work, and enhanced partnerships.

For ScottsMiracle-Gro, its critical time is the final lead-up to spring after a six-plus month build of inventory and getting their products delivered to key retailers all around the country. Winning means shelves are stocked full of ScottsMiracle-Gro products right when people around the country start thinking about their lawns and gardens as temperatures warm.

Prioritizing Service

ScottsMiracle-Gro has a strong history of high service expectations, but it always strives for more, especially as the market is forever evolving. So, back in October 2021, Tony Botos, ScottsMiracle-Gro director of logistics, began preparations for the company’s 2022 spring season with a frank and honest review of what its lawn and garden distribution network could do better and drive its competitive advantage—world-class service.

Carrier performance management is a critical part of ensuring the season is a success. A service-focused mindset in logistics is driving on-time performance and high tender acceptance rates.

On the heels of two challenging years due to COVID and difficult freight market conditions in general, Botos saw an opportunity to make some enhancements. The time was right to reevaluate its logistics processes, including everything from its day-to-day operations, reporting and analytics, and ScottsMiracle-Gro’s portfolio of carrier partners.

Focused Priorities and Goals

After a lot of internal discussion and meetings with key partners, Botos and his team decided to prioritize some high-impact areas and focus on finding a smaller, tighter group of carrier partners. This included a new strategic partnership approach that eventually centered on a few key partners, one of them being Echo Global Logistics.

Not surprisingly, central to the initiative by ScottsMiracle-Gro, was utilizing technology as a key enabler. Looking to bring more visibility to their shipping operation for quicker identification of problems and speed time to resolution, ScottsMiracle-Gro built a process to leverage data analytics using Tableau.

Each morning, for example, the logistics team is able to see actionable shipping information in real-time, including awarded volumes, routing guide positions, loads not picked up—all of which help to drive more productive solution-oriented action.

The Results

The good news is that in 2022, ScottsMiracle-Gro has improved its delivery goals with the help of one of its strategic partners, Echo Global Logistics, amongst others.

“Leading into this year, Echo was already an established partner, but the greater connection we’ve made over the past eight months has helped us exceed our on-time delivery goal of 95%. Since March, Echo has been one of Scotts’ main carriers,” said Botos. “We’ve become more aligned on core company values, which has proven itself valuable through better service performance all around.”

ScottsMiracle-Gro’s competitive strength in-store includes always having products in stock. The simple expectation that their products will be available at the right time is the result of a lot of hard work, planning, and partnership.

]]>
Collaboration Provides Unification, Visibility, and Reporting on Key Factors https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/collaboration-provides-unification-visibility-and-reporting-on-key-factors/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/collaboration-provides-unification-visibility-and-reporting-on-key-factors/#respond Thu, 17 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/collaboration-provides-unification-visibility-and-reporting-on-key-factors/ When an organization has a large, nationwide network, each with different software systems, methods, and management, it can be challenging to optimize the supply chain. Without integration, visibility, and the proper metrics, it is difficult to identify, let alone remedy, bottlenecks in the process. The team at TForce Worldwide understands these complexities to find a workable solution.

Tackling a Complex Network

A large industrial manufacturing client was experiencing challenges with their freight payment and auditing company. They had an immediate need for this role, but took it as an opportunity to standardize and streamline network processes and make better business decisions.

With a complex network of more than 50 distributors, they had difficulty getting their goals and objectives aligned under a single platform. They had made several previous attempts to implement a single solution across their network, without much success.


RFPs were sent to a number of logistics businesses to see who would be the best partner for them. Ben Manion, owner of the TFWW Office in Charlotte, and his team put together a solution that resonated with them.

TFWW’s approach centered on understanding the client’s unique challenges, goals, and key factors causing them to want to make a change. Their corporate proprietary system was not being utilized for supply chain, and with the numerous, conflicting systems and methods across their network, they needed a partner who could merge everything in one system.

A Unified Platform Supports Decision Making

The TFWW Charlotte team held countless meetings with the client, and utilized TFWW’s teams from operations, finance, and IT to build the system that met the client’s needs and wants, while ensuring the solution met all systems and operational requirements. They collaborated to bring the client one, unified platform that is simple to use and provides complex data to aid in making better business decisions.

Using TFWW Connect, full system integration was recommended with their SAP. This would serve to provide them with unification from order placement through invoice payment, across their network, with the visibility and reporting they wanted.

KPI metrics were created based on touchpoints the client wanted to track in order to find where they had bottlenecks. This included reports such as "Days to Ship," which demonstrated the length of time from order receipt to shipment to delivery. This was something they were keenly interested in and had wanted to get data on for a number of years.

This solution was the result of a combination of continual communication and tremendous teamwork, especially from TFWW Charlotte. Said James Yates, VP of sales & business development in Charlotte, "Through collaboration and partnership we implemented solutions that enabled a standardized methodology for managing all supply chain and transportation needs across the United States and Canada, provided a single point of accountability, integrated multiple IT systems while providing real-time tracking/traceability, leveraged the global spend from multiple modes of transportation to reduce cost, and reduced risk by enforcing a fully DOT compliant, certified, and insured carrier base."

Optimizing Processes and Delivering Significant savings

The integration of the client’s SAP system and successful conversion of their network to TFWW Connect allowed them to identify strategic locations from which to ship their product, add distribution locations in order to optimize delivery, and discover bottlenecks to improve efficiency. They have also improved their freight payment and auditing processes, providing them the ability to reposition their own assets. Best of all, the client has saved nearly $1 million over the prior fiscal year.

Ben and his team in Charlotte have provided continued support, and their ongoing relationship with the client has helped implement new features and improvements to the system.

]]>
When an organization has a large, nationwide network, each with different software systems, methods, and management, it can be challenging to optimize the supply chain. Without integration, visibility, and the proper metrics, it is difficult to identify, let alone remedy, bottlenecks in the process. The team at TForce Worldwide understands these complexities to find a workable solution.

Tackling a Complex Network

A large industrial manufacturing client was experiencing challenges with their freight payment and auditing company. They had an immediate need for this role, but took it as an opportunity to standardize and streamline network processes and make better business decisions.

With a complex network of more than 50 distributors, they had difficulty getting their goals and objectives aligned under a single platform. They had made several previous attempts to implement a single solution across their network, without much success.


RFPs were sent to a number of logistics businesses to see who would be the best partner for them. Ben Manion, owner of the TFWW Office in Charlotte, and his team put together a solution that resonated with them.

TFWW’s approach centered on understanding the client’s unique challenges, goals, and key factors causing them to want to make a change. Their corporate proprietary system was not being utilized for supply chain, and with the numerous, conflicting systems and methods across their network, they needed a partner who could merge everything in one system.

A Unified Platform Supports Decision Making

The TFWW Charlotte team held countless meetings with the client, and utilized TFWW’s teams from operations, finance, and IT to build the system that met the client’s needs and wants, while ensuring the solution met all systems and operational requirements. They collaborated to bring the client one, unified platform that is simple to use and provides complex data to aid in making better business decisions.

Using TFWW Connect, full system integration was recommended with their SAP. This would serve to provide them with unification from order placement through invoice payment, across their network, with the visibility and reporting they wanted.

KPI metrics were created based on touchpoints the client wanted to track in order to find where they had bottlenecks. This included reports such as "Days to Ship," which demonstrated the length of time from order receipt to shipment to delivery. This was something they were keenly interested in and had wanted to get data on for a number of years.

This solution was the result of a combination of continual communication and tremendous teamwork, especially from TFWW Charlotte. Said James Yates, VP of sales & business development in Charlotte, "Through collaboration and partnership we implemented solutions that enabled a standardized methodology for managing all supply chain and transportation needs across the United States and Canada, provided a single point of accountability, integrated multiple IT systems while providing real-time tracking/traceability, leveraged the global spend from multiple modes of transportation to reduce cost, and reduced risk by enforcing a fully DOT compliant, certified, and insured carrier base."

Optimizing Processes and Delivering Significant savings

The integration of the client’s SAP system and successful conversion of their network to TFWW Connect allowed them to identify strategic locations from which to ship their product, add distribution locations in order to optimize delivery, and discover bottlenecks to improve efficiency. They have also improved their freight payment and auditing processes, providing them the ability to reposition their own assets. Best of all, the client has saved nearly $1 million over the prior fiscal year.

Ben and his team in Charlotte have provided continued support, and their ongoing relationship with the client has helped implement new features and improvements to the system.

]]>
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What Makes a Go-To Ecommerce Partner? Ask Baboon To The Moon https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/what-makes-a-go-to-ecommerce-partner-ask-baboon-to-the-moon/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/what-makes-a-go-to-ecommerce-partner-ask-baboon-to-the-moon/#respond Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/what-makes-a-go-to-ecommerce-partner-ask-baboon-to-the-moon/ THE CLIENT

Baboon To The Moon: Best-in-class adventure essentials. Go-bags made of the highest-grade materials meant to survive everything from the zombie apocalypse to that guy at the airport hurling your bag across the runway. All products come with a lifetime warranty and all packaging is made from recycled materials.

THE PARTNER

Port Logistics Group (PLG) enables established and emerging retailers to express their brands through exceptional order fulfillment, offering omnichannel logistics services including retail distribution, wholesale distribution, and ecommerce fulfillment. With a strategic mix of 6.5 million square feet of warehouse space backed by intelligent technology and automation, PLG provides the critical link between brands and consumers.

Baboon To The Moon, a rising direct-to-consumer and adventure brand and maker of fashion-forward carryalls, such as duffel bags and backpacks, tapped into the yearning for travel when it was founded in 2017 by entrepreneur Andy Person.


Challenged to keep up with demand for their colorful carryalls, the company began looking outside their space in Manhattan’s garment district for help in fulfilling the crush of orders coming in and the SKUs that were multiplying as they added sizes, colors and accessories.

Baboon To The Moon needed to keep up with the demands of fast delivery. They had a brand image to protect; late deliveries or mistakes wouldn’t do. As they grew, shipping had to be done right and customer service had to be impeccable.

The Baboon to the Moon – PLG Connection

The growing brand ultimately chose PLG for a number of reasons. Chief among them was the value they saw in PLG’s technology stack powered by its scalable, proprietary ecommerce platform Whiplash.

Since starting with PLG in July 2018, Baboon To The Moon has the logistics and fulfillment structures in place to continue its to-the-moon growth trajectory. "Port Logistics Group has added value at every stage of our adventure," says Andy Person, CEO. Sales in Baboon To The Moon’s first year with PLG saw more than 4X year over year growth as a new startup. Even with pandemic restrictions, Baboon To The Moon sales continue to expand rapidly since spring 2020.

As a growing brand, Baboon To The Moon needed hassle-free integrations between their systems and those of PLG. Setting up their account and systems was as fast and furious as a rocket launch. The Whiplash ecommerce platform easily integrated with Shopify, Baboon To The Moon’s shopping cart platform.

Notably, Whiplash gives the company command over inventory as well as every order, return and exchange. "Baboon To The Moon can still be hands-on with inventory, shipment tracking and customer service," said Brian Weinstein, senior vice president of business development at PLG. "On Whiplash, it’s all right there in front of them in a single, friendly system."

But what put Baboon To The Moon over the moon was PLG’s commitment to support the company’s outsource requirements on a comprehensive basis.

PLG’s connections with carriers translate to priority for delivery and negotiated discounts. The omnichannel logistics provider’s vast distribution network enables Baboon To The Moon to get their products out to customers across the U.S. within 24-72 hours using the market’s lowest available shipping rates.

PLG has proven to be a right-fit, scalable solution for Baboon To The Moon, saving them from capital and talent investments. For example, PLG’s use of LocusBots collaborative robots in its Secaucus, N.J., fulfillment center helps streamline warehouse efficiencies, including smoothing out shipping peaks.

As Baboon To The Moon leads the new wave of conscious and connected travelers, the company can worry less about details and delegate more, knowing PLG will provide the customer experience they’ve built and branded.

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THE CLIENT

Baboon To The Moon: Best-in-class adventure essentials. Go-bags made of the highest-grade materials meant to survive everything from the zombie apocalypse to that guy at the airport hurling your bag across the runway. All products come with a lifetime warranty and all packaging is made from recycled materials.

THE PARTNER

Port Logistics Group (PLG) enables established and emerging retailers to express their brands through exceptional order fulfillment, offering omnichannel logistics services including retail distribution, wholesale distribution, and ecommerce fulfillment. With a strategic mix of 6.5 million square feet of warehouse space backed by intelligent technology and automation, PLG provides the critical link between brands and consumers.

Baboon To The Moon, a rising direct-to-consumer and adventure brand and maker of fashion-forward carryalls, such as duffel bags and backpacks, tapped into the yearning for travel when it was founded in 2017 by entrepreneur Andy Person.


Challenged to keep up with demand for their colorful carryalls, the company began looking outside their space in Manhattan’s garment district for help in fulfilling the crush of orders coming in and the SKUs that were multiplying as they added sizes, colors and accessories.

Baboon To The Moon needed to keep up with the demands of fast delivery. They had a brand image to protect; late deliveries or mistakes wouldn’t do. As they grew, shipping had to be done right and customer service had to be impeccable.

The Baboon to the Moon – PLG Connection

The growing brand ultimately chose PLG for a number of reasons. Chief among them was the value they saw in PLG’s technology stack powered by its scalable, proprietary ecommerce platform Whiplash.

Since starting with PLG in July 2018, Baboon To The Moon has the logistics and fulfillment structures in place to continue its to-the-moon growth trajectory. "Port Logistics Group has added value at every stage of our adventure," says Andy Person, CEO. Sales in Baboon To The Moon’s first year with PLG saw more than 4X year over year growth as a new startup. Even with pandemic restrictions, Baboon To The Moon sales continue to expand rapidly since spring 2020.

As a growing brand, Baboon To The Moon needed hassle-free integrations between their systems and those of PLG. Setting up their account and systems was as fast and furious as a rocket launch. The Whiplash ecommerce platform easily integrated with Shopify, Baboon To The Moon’s shopping cart platform.

Notably, Whiplash gives the company command over inventory as well as every order, return and exchange. "Baboon To The Moon can still be hands-on with inventory, shipment tracking and customer service," said Brian Weinstein, senior vice president of business development at PLG. "On Whiplash, it’s all right there in front of them in a single, friendly system."

But what put Baboon To The Moon over the moon was PLG’s commitment to support the company’s outsource requirements on a comprehensive basis.

PLG’s connections with carriers translate to priority for delivery and negotiated discounts. The omnichannel logistics provider’s vast distribution network enables Baboon To The Moon to get their products out to customers across the U.S. within 24-72 hours using the market’s lowest available shipping rates.

PLG has proven to be a right-fit, scalable solution for Baboon To The Moon, saving them from capital and talent investments. For example, PLG’s use of LocusBots collaborative robots in its Secaucus, N.J., fulfillment center helps streamline warehouse efficiencies, including smoothing out shipping peaks.

As Baboon To The Moon leads the new wave of conscious and connected travelers, the company can worry less about details and delegate more, knowing PLG will provide the customer experience they’ve built and branded.

]]>
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Rolling Out a Major Product Transition Across the Globe https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/rolling-out-a-major-product-transition-across-the-globe/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/rolling-out-a-major-product-transition-across-the-globe/#respond Wed, 16 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/rolling-out-a-major-product-transition-across-the-globe/ THE PROJECT

C3 has been preparing its customers’ transition from Flash to HTML5 for almost two years. This project is unique because it touches every customer using C3’s products. Everyone had to make the switch, not just those wishing to upgrade to a faster and more robust platform. The project began in 2018 and will be complete at the end of 2020.

THE CUSTOMER-PARTNER RELATIONSHIP

C3 Solutions is a supply chain and logistics optimization software firm, focused on offering best-of-breed customizable yard and dock management solutions. The globally recognized enterprise’s mission-critical systems manage the yards and docks of companies across all industries. C3’s clients rely on the platform’s real-time visibility to keep their operations running smoothly and efficiently.


The Dock Scheduling and Yard Management Solution industry leader has been preparing to shift all of its users from its Adobe Flash product version to a brand new HTML5 platform. C3’s Customer Care Team Lead, Nataly Silva—who has almost 20 years in customer service—aimed to smooth out the transition process and ensure clear communication between both parties during what was sure to be a stressful project with a firm and non-negotiable deadline (Flash Player’s end of life was announced for Jan. 1st, 2021).


The main goals

  • Ensure there are no surprises on the client’s side.
  • Customers would receive the necessary level of support, training, and documentation.
  • Create and manage a clear and compelling line of communication, both internally and externally.

cASE 1

  • A customer’s transition to HTML5 didn’t reach the anticipated adoption due to lack of communication and support in the initial stages of the project. They continued to use the Flash version.
  • This is a problem because Flash would stop working at the end of the year, creating significant issues across their organization, leaving them vulnerable and without a functioning system.
  • Nataly noticed a lack of activity on the HTML5 platform during a routine checkpoint and followed up with the client to investigate further. With additional training, documentation, and fixing any glitches, the customer began using the portal.

CASE 2

  • A major retailer communicated concerns about how this transition could impact their suppliers and carriers.
  • C3 realized this as a broader challenge for multiple clients.
  • User Guide Packages were created to smooth out the transition for C3’s customers, and provide extra support for their 3rd party suppliers and carriers. The C3 Team got to work and was able to provide in-depth support documentation and videos.

CASE 3

  • At key moments throughout the project, Nataly ran surveys to determine the level of satisfaction.
  • During one of these one-on-one check-ins, a particular customer voiced dissatisfaction due to a miscommunication related to the timing of a specific HTML5 module delivery.
  • Without this exercise, C3 could have been made aware of this particular client’s issues too late in the process to ensure they would be operating successfully on HTML5 come 2021. Thanks to this open line of constant communication initiated by C3, they could make the necessary changes and revisit the rollout strategy and timeline.

Leveraging the Customer Care team in this massive project was considered an extension of C3’s product mission statement, increasing the level of visibility and communication an organization should have to operate at maximum efficiency. Thanks to Nataly and her team, who created a transparent process, C3 is proud to report near completion of this project with very few critical circumstances.

Visit www.C3Solutions.com for more information.

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THE PROJECT

C3 has been preparing its customers’ transition from Flash to HTML5 for almost two years. This project is unique because it touches every customer using C3’s products. Everyone had to make the switch, not just those wishing to upgrade to a faster and more robust platform. The project began in 2018 and will be complete at the end of 2020.

THE CUSTOMER-PARTNER RELATIONSHIP

C3 Solutions is a supply chain and logistics optimization software firm, focused on offering best-of-breed customizable yard and dock management solutions. The globally recognized enterprise’s mission-critical systems manage the yards and docks of companies across all industries. C3’s clients rely on the platform’s real-time visibility to keep their operations running smoothly and efficiently.


The Dock Scheduling and Yard Management Solution industry leader has been preparing to shift all of its users from its Adobe Flash product version to a brand new HTML5 platform. C3’s Customer Care Team Lead, Nataly Silva—who has almost 20 years in customer service—aimed to smooth out the transition process and ensure clear communication between both parties during what was sure to be a stressful project with a firm and non-negotiable deadline (Flash Player’s end of life was announced for Jan. 1st, 2021).


The main goals

  • Ensure there are no surprises on the client’s side.
  • Customers would receive the necessary level of support, training, and documentation.
  • Create and manage a clear and compelling line of communication, both internally and externally.

cASE 1

  • A customer’s transition to HTML5 didn’t reach the anticipated adoption due to lack of communication and support in the initial stages of the project. They continued to use the Flash version.
  • This is a problem because Flash would stop working at the end of the year, creating significant issues across their organization, leaving them vulnerable and without a functioning system.
  • Nataly noticed a lack of activity on the HTML5 platform during a routine checkpoint and followed up with the client to investigate further. With additional training, documentation, and fixing any glitches, the customer began using the portal.

CASE 2

  • A major retailer communicated concerns about how this transition could impact their suppliers and carriers.
  • C3 realized this as a broader challenge for multiple clients.
  • User Guide Packages were created to smooth out the transition for C3’s customers, and provide extra support for their 3rd party suppliers and carriers. The C3 Team got to work and was able to provide in-depth support documentation and videos.

CASE 3

  • At key moments throughout the project, Nataly ran surveys to determine the level of satisfaction.
  • During one of these one-on-one check-ins, a particular customer voiced dissatisfaction due to a miscommunication related to the timing of a specific HTML5 module delivery.
  • Without this exercise, C3 could have been made aware of this particular client’s issues too late in the process to ensure they would be operating successfully on HTML5 come 2021. Thanks to this open line of constant communication initiated by C3, they could make the necessary changes and revisit the rollout strategy and timeline.

Leveraging the Customer Care team in this massive project was considered an extension of C3’s product mission statement, increasing the level of visibility and communication an organization should have to operate at maximum efficiency. Thanks to Nataly and her team, who created a transparent process, C3 is proud to report near completion of this project with very few critical circumstances.

Visit www.C3Solutions.com for more information.

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A Storehouse of Innovation—WMS for E-Commerce https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/a-storehouse-of-innovation-wms-for-e-commerce/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/a-storehouse-of-innovation-wms-for-e-commerce/#respond Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/a-storehouse-of-innovation-wms-for-e-commerce/ THE CUSTOMER

A fast-growing e-commerce logistics provider who has established an automated fulfillment warehouse that is designed for seamless scaling. Their capabilities span handling the back-end, expanding sales channels, and optimizing fulfillment.

THE PARTNER

Ramco Logistics Software is an integrated platform that provides comprehensive end-to-end solutions to 3PLs, freight forwarders, e-commerce logistics providers, and many others. Complete with optimization, APIs, chatbot, mobility, and analytics, Ramco Logistics Software provides solutions infused with AI and ML.

One of Ramco’s customers, a large e-commerce logistics solutions provider in Atlanta, aimed to tackle peak season struggles, labor contingencies, and holiday delays using automated fulfillment warehouses and cutting-edge technology.


The goal was to build a robotic fulfillment center supported by an orchestration platform. Their vision included a seller portal for retailers to manage all their sales channels in one place, a proprietary order management system (OMS), and a library of ready-made connectors to integrate with shopping carts, carriers, and marketplaces.

To realize this purpose, they needed a warehouse management system (WMS) that integrates and complements their robotics solution’s capabilities while seamlessly communicating with all parties in the ecosystem. Their needs were:

  • Capacity to handle a large number of stock-keeping units (SKUs), high volume, and eaches picking fulfillment.
  • Readily integrating with the ecosystem of shopping carts, order management systems, marketplaces, carriers, etc.

The Ramco Logistics solution offered precisely what they were looking for—a warehouse management system exclusively designed for logistics business spanning distribution and e-commerce logistics.

Ramco WMS comes bundled with a proprietary middleware platform that helps build a technology-agnostic framework and includes multiple file format supporting integrations.

The implementation of Ramco Logistics WMS was notable for:

  • Seamless and tight integration between Ramco WMS and the robotics solution.
  • Standard and open APIs for integrations with carriers, order management systems, and shopping carts.

The key benefits the customer reaped from Ramco WMS included:

  • The primary objective of automation achieved in the areas of order management, order classification, order consolidation, put away and picking for non-robotics orders, package type selection, and carrier selection.
  • Automated order streaming helped in superior dock-to-stock and order-to-dispatch time.
  • Ramco WMS enhanced the movement of goods with optimized pick-path, improving resource utilization and warehouse throughput.
  • With Ramco’sOptimal Package Type Selection, they could choose the right-sized packages for the products, thereby lowering shipping cost.Optimal carrier selectionreduced the shipping cost by allowing them to choose the best transportation available.
  • High resource productivity was enabled by Ramco WMS mobile application.
  • Streamlined inventory visibility upstream and downstream was attained through seamless integration.

These solutions helped lay down a firm foundation for a dark warehouse that is automated with robotics and requires little human interference.


Email contact@ramco.com for all your WMS, TMS, and other logistics software related queries.

]]>
THE CUSTOMER

A fast-growing e-commerce logistics provider who has established an automated fulfillment warehouse that is designed for seamless scaling. Their capabilities span handling the back-end, expanding sales channels, and optimizing fulfillment.

THE PARTNER

Ramco Logistics Software is an integrated platform that provides comprehensive end-to-end solutions to 3PLs, freight forwarders, e-commerce logistics providers, and many others. Complete with optimization, APIs, chatbot, mobility, and analytics, Ramco Logistics Software provides solutions infused with AI and ML.

One of Ramco’s customers, a large e-commerce logistics solutions provider in Atlanta, aimed to tackle peak season struggles, labor contingencies, and holiday delays using automated fulfillment warehouses and cutting-edge technology.


The goal was to build a robotic fulfillment center supported by an orchestration platform. Their vision included a seller portal for retailers to manage all their sales channels in one place, a proprietary order management system (OMS), and a library of ready-made connectors to integrate with shopping carts, carriers, and marketplaces.

To realize this purpose, they needed a warehouse management system (WMS) that integrates and complements their robotics solution’s capabilities while seamlessly communicating with all parties in the ecosystem. Their needs were:

  • Capacity to handle a large number of stock-keeping units (SKUs), high volume, and eaches picking fulfillment.
  • Readily integrating with the ecosystem of shopping carts, order management systems, marketplaces, carriers, etc.

The Ramco Logistics solution offered precisely what they were looking for—a warehouse management system exclusively designed for logistics business spanning distribution and e-commerce logistics.

Ramco WMS comes bundled with a proprietary middleware platform that helps build a technology-agnostic framework and includes multiple file format supporting integrations.

The implementation of Ramco Logistics WMS was notable for:

  • Seamless and tight integration between Ramco WMS and the robotics solution.
  • Standard and open APIs for integrations with carriers, order management systems, and shopping carts.

The key benefits the customer reaped from Ramco WMS included:

  • The primary objective of automation achieved in the areas of order management, order classification, order consolidation, put away and picking for non-robotics orders, package type selection, and carrier selection.
  • Automated order streaming helped in superior dock-to-stock and order-to-dispatch time.
  • Ramco WMS enhanced the movement of goods with optimized pick-path, improving resource utilization and warehouse throughput.
  • With Ramco’sOptimal Package Type Selection, they could choose the right-sized packages for the products, thereby lowering shipping cost.Optimal carrier selectionreduced the shipping cost by allowing them to choose the best transportation available.
  • High resource productivity was enabled by Ramco WMS mobile application.
  • Streamlined inventory visibility upstream and downstream was attained through seamless integration.

These solutions helped lay down a firm foundation for a dark warehouse that is automated with robotics and requires little human interference.


Email contact@ramco.com for all your WMS, TMS, and other logistics software related queries.

]]>
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Scaled 3PL Solutions Heal Pharma’s Supply Chain https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/scaled-3-pl-solutions-heal-pharmas-supply-chain/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/scaled-3-pl-solutions-heal-pharmas-supply-chain/#respond Thu, 02 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/scaled-3-pl-solutions-heal-pharmas-supply-chain/ Being entangled in complexity is typical of some companies’ supply chains. Companies in highly regulated sectors often bear the burden of managing increasingly complex, intricate supply chains while facing a greater level of scrutiny than other businesses. Fines can even be incurred for severe supply chain disruptions.

Hub Group professionals understand, and they regularly apply technologically advanced, scalable solutions to simplify these complexities.

The supply chain team for a large pharmaceutical company realized it needed a third-party logistics (3PL) provider when it was so tied up in the tedious process of assigning carriers for its large portfolio of products—each with a diverse set of compliance and customer requirements—that it couldn’t advance its supply chain strategy. The company sought to consolidate its carrier base and reduce the effort to manage its massive supply chain.


Upon learning of Hub Group’s outsourced 3PL services, the supply chain team saw how it could apply Hub Group’s tools and processes across its entire network to fulfill a simple, central objective: Achieve compliance with the best service at a reasonable cost.

Using optimization tactics, deep carrier relationships and creative thinking, Hub Group has simplified this complex network and continuously pursues even greater efficiencies.

Four Steps to Logistics Simplicity

1. First, Hub Group conducted a full analysis of the company’s outbound network. Its network included hundreds of customers and even more carriers, each with its own unique requirements and processes. The analysis identified portions of the network that were prime candidates for optimization and uncovered carrier payments that were significantly higher than Hub Group’s negotiated carrier contracts.

2. Hub Group then modeled every feasible scenario, sometimes in excess of 40 in the span of just a few weeks. Each scenario was accompanied by recommendations on how to achieve the perfect balance of the customer’s three core variables: compliance, service and cost.

3. Recognizing efficiency that could be achieved with a single point of contact, Hub Group inserted itself as the intermediary between the carrier network and the manufacturer. This change streamlined communication and delivered a single point of accountability for the outbound network while nimbly managing carrier compliance, performance and pricing.

4. Hub Group then applied its leading technology and internal business intelligence teams to develop a customized dashboard tying every point in the customer’s network to a central system. The dashboard provides a financial pulse of its network along with key insights to performance and compliance.

Sustained, Scalable Results

With a focus on stability, Hub Group quickly engineered and executed its scalable solutions to preserve and support customer relationships. The scalability of Hub Group’s services was the highlight of the solution. As the customer identifies a new opportunity or a problematic segment of its supply chain, Hub Group works alongside its team, feeding it data, analysis and recommendations as needed.

Hub Group continues to independently monitor the supply chain, pinpointing inefficiencies in existing solutions, challenging processes and maintaining a collaborative approach to continuous improvement.

Visit www.hubgroup.com for more information.

]]>
Being entangled in complexity is typical of some companies’ supply chains. Companies in highly regulated sectors often bear the burden of managing increasingly complex, intricate supply chains while facing a greater level of scrutiny than other businesses. Fines can even be incurred for severe supply chain disruptions.

Hub Group professionals understand, and they regularly apply technologically advanced, scalable solutions to simplify these complexities.

The supply chain team for a large pharmaceutical company realized it needed a third-party logistics (3PL) provider when it was so tied up in the tedious process of assigning carriers for its large portfolio of products—each with a diverse set of compliance and customer requirements—that it couldn’t advance its supply chain strategy. The company sought to consolidate its carrier base and reduce the effort to manage its massive supply chain.


Upon learning of Hub Group’s outsourced 3PL services, the supply chain team saw how it could apply Hub Group’s tools and processes across its entire network to fulfill a simple, central objective: Achieve compliance with the best service at a reasonable cost.

Using optimization tactics, deep carrier relationships and creative thinking, Hub Group has simplified this complex network and continuously pursues even greater efficiencies.

Four Steps to Logistics Simplicity

1. First, Hub Group conducted a full analysis of the company’s outbound network. Its network included hundreds of customers and even more carriers, each with its own unique requirements and processes. The analysis identified portions of the network that were prime candidates for optimization and uncovered carrier payments that were significantly higher than Hub Group’s negotiated carrier contracts.

2. Hub Group then modeled every feasible scenario, sometimes in excess of 40 in the span of just a few weeks. Each scenario was accompanied by recommendations on how to achieve the perfect balance of the customer’s three core variables: compliance, service and cost.

3. Recognizing efficiency that could be achieved with a single point of contact, Hub Group inserted itself as the intermediary between the carrier network and the manufacturer. This change streamlined communication and delivered a single point of accountability for the outbound network while nimbly managing carrier compliance, performance and pricing.

4. Hub Group then applied its leading technology and internal business intelligence teams to develop a customized dashboard tying every point in the customer’s network to a central system. The dashboard provides a financial pulse of its network along with key insights to performance and compliance.

Sustained, Scalable Results

With a focus on stability, Hub Group quickly engineered and executed its scalable solutions to preserve and support customer relationships. The scalability of Hub Group’s services was the highlight of the solution. As the customer identifies a new opportunity or a problematic segment of its supply chain, Hub Group works alongside its team, feeding it data, analysis and recommendations as needed.

Hub Group continues to independently monitor the supply chain, pinpointing inefficiencies in existing solutions, challenging processes and maintaining a collaborative approach to continuous improvement.

Visit www.hubgroup.com for more information.

]]>
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The Grass is Greener https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/the-grass-is-greener/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/the-grass-is-greener/#respond Thu, 29 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/the-grass-is-greener/
MORE TO THE STORY:

The Customer
The Partner


The demand for Excel Industries’ most popular zero-turn mowers had skyrocketed. While the increase in demand was great news, it meant the company needed a facilities review and a potential supply chain revision. They realized when they forecasted future demand they will need to expand while consolidating locations to increase their daily production.

Excel Industries sought Wagner’s expertise in warehouse layout, daily warehouse management, and WMS capabilities.

Wagner Logistics brought extensive 3PL resources, its experienced team, and the latest technology (IT-in-a-Box) to Excel Industries with a plan to outsource and streamline distribution. The new warehouse near Kansas City was fully functional within a few months. IT-in-a-Box was deployed to accelerate the startup time, and runs on a secured private network to get connectivity throughout the warehouse without having to wait for permanent lines and wiring to be installed.


Moving the finished goods out of a rural location to a better transportation and warehouse market helped bring transportation rates down. Excel was able to use current staff for other manufacturing positions. Outsourcing eliminated the need for staging; finished goods were moved to an improved storage environment, reducing inventories and removing bottlenecks at the end of production lines.

Daily production increased throughout the transition. The facility consolidation reduced duplicate inventory in multiple locations, resulting in fewer back orders. Some quality assurance checks were moved to the new facility, allowing Excel to handle rework offsite versus taking up manufacturing space at the plant.

Several of the components used in the production of the mowers are strategically being transferred to the Kansas City area to free up more space at the main production site. The production facility carries 1-3 days of components, which are delivered to the production facility during off-peak production times to optimize labor planning. Vendor shipments are less frequent and a higher quantity can be ordered with a better overview of overages and shortages. To keep onsite inventory level stocked, Wagner runs 25-30 shuttles a day from the Kansas City area to the production facility, delivering components and returning with finished goods.

Excel has recognized a 37-percent production growth during the transition, consolidated multiple DCs, and moved to a superior freight market using Wagner transportation. Excel has gained better visibility of raw materials and finished goods while still maintaining complete control through outsourcing.

Finding the right logistics partner when your company is experiencing growth, consolidation, or both is challenging. Wagner brings experience, technology, and dedicated people to finding the best solution that works for each company.


The Customer

Excel Industries
Hesston, Kansas
www.excelii.com

Founded in 1960, Excel Industries is a leading manufacturer of premium commercial and residential lawn care equipment under the Hustler Turf Equipment and BigDog Mower Company brands. Excel has a global distribution network of more than 2,200 U.S. dealers and 50 distributors worldwide.

 

The Partner

Wagner Logistics
North Kansas City, Missouri
www.wagnerlogistics.com

A Top 100 3PL for 16 consecutive years, Wagner Logistics offers warehousing, transportation, and packaging in 15 locations with 4,500,000 square feet. Exceptional customer service and superior onboarding processes make transitions seamless. The 3PL produces innovative solutions to lower supply chain costs while increasing speed-to-market.

]]>
MORE TO THE STORY:

The Customer
The Partner


The demand for Excel Industries’ most popular zero-turn mowers had skyrocketed. While the increase in demand was great news, it meant the company needed a facilities review and a potential supply chain revision. They realized when they forecasted future demand they will need to expand while consolidating locations to increase their daily production.

Excel Industries sought Wagner’s expertise in warehouse layout, daily warehouse management, and WMS capabilities.

Wagner Logistics brought extensive 3PL resources, its experienced team, and the latest technology (IT-in-a-Box) to Excel Industries with a plan to outsource and streamline distribution. The new warehouse near Kansas City was fully functional within a few months. IT-in-a-Box was deployed to accelerate the startup time, and runs on a secured private network to get connectivity throughout the warehouse without having to wait for permanent lines and wiring to be installed.


Moving the finished goods out of a rural location to a better transportation and warehouse market helped bring transportation rates down. Excel was able to use current staff for other manufacturing positions. Outsourcing eliminated the need for staging; finished goods were moved to an improved storage environment, reducing inventories and removing bottlenecks at the end of production lines.

Daily production increased throughout the transition. The facility consolidation reduced duplicate inventory in multiple locations, resulting in fewer back orders. Some quality assurance checks were moved to the new facility, allowing Excel to handle rework offsite versus taking up manufacturing space at the plant.

Several of the components used in the production of the mowers are strategically being transferred to the Kansas City area to free up more space at the main production site. The production facility carries 1-3 days of components, which are delivered to the production facility during off-peak production times to optimize labor planning. Vendor shipments are less frequent and a higher quantity can be ordered with a better overview of overages and shortages. To keep onsite inventory level stocked, Wagner runs 25-30 shuttles a day from the Kansas City area to the production facility, delivering components and returning with finished goods.

Excel has recognized a 37-percent production growth during the transition, consolidated multiple DCs, and moved to a superior freight market using Wagner transportation. Excel has gained better visibility of raw materials and finished goods while still maintaining complete control through outsourcing.

Finding the right logistics partner when your company is experiencing growth, consolidation, or both is challenging. Wagner brings experience, technology, and dedicated people to finding the best solution that works for each company.


The Customer

Excel Industries
Hesston, Kansas
www.excelii.com

Founded in 1960, Excel Industries is a leading manufacturer of premium commercial and residential lawn care equipment under the Hustler Turf Equipment and BigDog Mower Company brands. Excel has a global distribution network of more than 2,200 U.S. dealers and 50 distributors worldwide.

 

The Partner

Wagner Logistics
North Kansas City, Missouri
www.wagnerlogistics.com

A Top 100 3PL for 16 consecutive years, Wagner Logistics offers warehousing, transportation, and packaging in 15 locations with 4,500,000 square feet. Exceptional customer service and superior onboarding processes make transitions seamless. The 3PL produces innovative solutions to lower supply chain costs while increasing speed-to-market.

]]>
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Navigating Uncharted Territory https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/navigating-uncharted-territory/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/navigating-uncharted-territory/#respond Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/navigating-uncharted-territory/ THE CUSTOMER: Alfa Laval Aalborg Inc., Miramar, FL

Alfa Laval Aalborg is the world’s leading marine boiler engineering company and a manufacturer and major supplier of inert gas systems, thermal fluid systems, and shell and tube heat exchangers. Alfa Laval’s products are sold in approximately 100 countries. The company is over 125 years old and employs approximately 17,500 people worldwide.

THE PARTNER Geodis Wilson, Iselin, NJ (N.A. HQ)

With 9,000 employees in more than 60 countries, Geodis Wilson is one of the world’s largest freight forwarders and 3PLs, building partnerships and serving customers with integrated supply chain solutions that deliver cargo by air, ocean, and ground worldwide.


Moving large heat transfer, centrifugal separation, and fluid handling systems from manufacturing origin to final destination requires Alfa Laval to rely on logistics partners that can create complete solutions and ensure timely delivery of complex cargo to customers all over the globe.

Rafael Lugo, a repair sales account manager for Alfa Laval, was recently involved in a project that required transporting a large, complex shipment from China to Venezuela. The shipment consisted of approximately 200 tons, and needed to be shipped and delivered at one time.

"The cargo was not a standard size, and it required specialized handling," said Lugo. "We had no idea how to move it to Venezuela, or how to deal with that country’s strict import regulations."


Lugo began looking for a partner to assist him, asking three different freight forwarders for help.

"I reached out to some freight forwarding companies, but I did not feel I received the attention this project deserved," said Lugo.

Lugo then turned to Geodis Wilson. Geodis Wilson presented Alfa Laval with a complete solution, from factory to final destination, explaining how they would handle the shipment, the process, shipping requirements, customs, brokerage, and more.

"Geodis Wilson was more interested in our project and understanding our needs than the others had been," Lugo said. "They were very proactive during the planning and execution of the shipment. They were also involved directly with our customer during meetings to help walk them through the process."

Venezuela was under political unrest when the cargo arrived, which caused further delay. Geodis Wilson again came to the rescue.

"When the cargo was stuck in Venezuela customs, our representative from Geodis Wilson worked directly with customs in order to release the cargo early," said Lugo.

Overall, Lugo said, Geodis Wilson provided personalized services and guidance where others did not.

"We have no knowledge of logistics and handling of a project of this magnitude," he said. "Geodis Wilson provided enough information to make us feel comfortable, dedicated endless hours, and most importantly, open communication to ensure a smooth operation. The delivery was handled with the utmost professionalism and in a timely manner."

]]>
THE CUSTOMER: Alfa Laval Aalborg Inc., Miramar, FL

Alfa Laval Aalborg is the world’s leading marine boiler engineering company and a manufacturer and major supplier of inert gas systems, thermal fluid systems, and shell and tube heat exchangers. Alfa Laval’s products are sold in approximately 100 countries. The company is over 125 years old and employs approximately 17,500 people worldwide.

THE PARTNER Geodis Wilson, Iselin, NJ (N.A. HQ)

With 9,000 employees in more than 60 countries, Geodis Wilson is one of the world’s largest freight forwarders and 3PLs, building partnerships and serving customers with integrated supply chain solutions that deliver cargo by air, ocean, and ground worldwide.


Moving large heat transfer, centrifugal separation, and fluid handling systems from manufacturing origin to final destination requires Alfa Laval to rely on logistics partners that can create complete solutions and ensure timely delivery of complex cargo to customers all over the globe.

Rafael Lugo, a repair sales account manager for Alfa Laval, was recently involved in a project that required transporting a large, complex shipment from China to Venezuela. The shipment consisted of approximately 200 tons, and needed to be shipped and delivered at one time.

"The cargo was not a standard size, and it required specialized handling," said Lugo. "We had no idea how to move it to Venezuela, or how to deal with that country’s strict import regulations."


Lugo began looking for a partner to assist him, asking three different freight forwarders for help.

"I reached out to some freight forwarding companies, but I did not feel I received the attention this project deserved," said Lugo.

Lugo then turned to Geodis Wilson. Geodis Wilson presented Alfa Laval with a complete solution, from factory to final destination, explaining how they would handle the shipment, the process, shipping requirements, customs, brokerage, and more.

"Geodis Wilson was more interested in our project and understanding our needs than the others had been," Lugo said. "They were very proactive during the planning and execution of the shipment. They were also involved directly with our customer during meetings to help walk them through the process."

Venezuela was under political unrest when the cargo arrived, which caused further delay. Geodis Wilson again came to the rescue.

"When the cargo was stuck in Venezuela customs, our representative from Geodis Wilson worked directly with customs in order to release the cargo early," said Lugo.

Overall, Lugo said, Geodis Wilson provided personalized services and guidance where others did not.

"We have no knowledge of logistics and handling of a project of this magnitude," he said. "Geodis Wilson provided enough information to make us feel comfortable, dedicated endless hours, and most importantly, open communication to ensure a smooth operation. The delivery was handled with the utmost professionalism and in a timely manner."

]]>
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Delivering Reliability in a Challenging Market https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/delivering-reliability-in-a-challenging-market/ https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/delivering-reliability-in-a-challenging-market/#respond Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://inboundlogisti.wpengine.com/articles/delivering-reliability-in-a-challenging-market/ THE CUSTOMER:

This global shipper is a leader in frozen and refrigerated (reefer) food products and logistics marketing. They work with supplier partners and customers in more than 140 countries on six continents. They’re one of Maersk Line North America’s top five refrigerated export customers.

THE PARTNER: Maersk Line, Florham Park, NJ

Founded in 1904, Maersk Line, part of the multinational Maersk Group, is a trusted, global transportation partner dedicated to reliable services that deliver its customers’ promises and support their success. Unmatched schedule reliability, extensive resources, and depth of coverage produce optimal results. At Maersk Line’s core is a strong heritage of uprightness, constant care, and innovation.


In a time when operational challenges plague our industry, customer service can make a difference. Such was the case for our customer, a world leader in marketing frozen and refrigerated food products.

Too much or too little product is a problem under any conditions, but when it comes to refrigerated cargo in the complex port of Luanda, Angola, such problems can have costly consequences.

With limited cold storage capabilities in Luanda, it was critical that only a manageable number of refrigerated containers would be delivered each week. Too much cargo would result in additional storage charges and customs clearance delays, while too little cargo would result in missed product delivery to the market. Consistent, reliable delivery was paramount.


Through monitoring of reefers to Luanda, an increase in the number of containers being advanced on earlier than scheduled vessels at the transhipment port was noted, which resulted in too many reefers discharging in Luanda at one time. Seeing this, Maersk Line’s customer service team went into action.

It started with visibility of all refrigerated containers hitting the transhipment port from around the world that were destined for Luanda. Maersk Line customer service monitored, directed, and communicated the proper adjustments associated with operational changes. A customer specific space commitment was developed that would ensure the right number of containers loaded to the right vessel each and every sailing from the transhipment port. This change helped ensure improvements as container movement became more fluid, exceptions reduced, and utilization levels stabilized.

The visibility gained from in-transit data, combined with cross functional communication and teamwork, not only improved reliability for our customer’s cargo to Luanda, but across their entire global operations. This partnership and commitment to excellence resulted in Maersk Line’s customer service team being seen as a strategic partner to our customer’s supply chain.

The shipper remarked, “Your friendly, responsive customer service team in Houston is great. They know our business and are a real differentiator. No other carriers’ even comes close.”

Delivering reliability in a challenging market is difficult. It rests with our dedicated people who provide expert refrigerated cargo service and support worldwide.

]]>
THE CUSTOMER:

This global shipper is a leader in frozen and refrigerated (reefer) food products and logistics marketing. They work with supplier partners and customers in more than 140 countries on six continents. They’re one of Maersk Line North America’s top five refrigerated export customers.

THE PARTNER: Maersk Line, Florham Park, NJ

Founded in 1904, Maersk Line, part of the multinational Maersk Group, is a trusted, global transportation partner dedicated to reliable services that deliver its customers’ promises and support their success. Unmatched schedule reliability, extensive resources, and depth of coverage produce optimal results. At Maersk Line’s core is a strong heritage of uprightness, constant care, and innovation.


In a time when operational challenges plague our industry, customer service can make a difference. Such was the case for our customer, a world leader in marketing frozen and refrigerated food products.

Too much or too little product is a problem under any conditions, but when it comes to refrigerated cargo in the complex port of Luanda, Angola, such problems can have costly consequences.

With limited cold storage capabilities in Luanda, it was critical that only a manageable number of refrigerated containers would be delivered each week. Too much cargo would result in additional storage charges and customs clearance delays, while too little cargo would result in missed product delivery to the market. Consistent, reliable delivery was paramount.


Through monitoring of reefers to Luanda, an increase in the number of containers being advanced on earlier than scheduled vessels at the transhipment port was noted, which resulted in too many reefers discharging in Luanda at one time. Seeing this, Maersk Line’s customer service team went into action.

It started with visibility of all refrigerated containers hitting the transhipment port from around the world that were destined for Luanda. Maersk Line customer service monitored, directed, and communicated the proper adjustments associated with operational changes. A customer specific space commitment was developed that would ensure the right number of containers loaded to the right vessel each and every sailing from the transhipment port. This change helped ensure improvements as container movement became more fluid, exceptions reduced, and utilization levels stabilized.

The visibility gained from in-transit data, combined with cross functional communication and teamwork, not only improved reliability for our customer’s cargo to Luanda, but across their entire global operations. This partnership and commitment to excellence resulted in Maersk Line’s customer service team being seen as a strategic partner to our customer’s supply chain.

The shipper remarked, “Your friendly, responsive customer service team in Houston is great. They know our business and are a real differentiator. No other carriers’ even comes close.”

Delivering reliability in a challenging market is difficult. It rests with our dedicated people who provide expert refrigerated cargo service and support worldwide.

]]>
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