Articles
Sponsored

What You Need to Know About Selecting a Dock Appointment Scheduling System
Q: What is dock appointment scheduling? A: Dock scheduling is a means for managing the timeliness of inbound and outbound transportation (truck traffic) at your loading docks in order to maximize the efficient operation of those docks. Q: What is the difference between Appointment Management and a Dock Scheduling System? A: Appointment management usually takes […]
Read MoreWhat to Expect From Your 3PL
Q: As supply chain operations continue the migration from an afterthought in the warehouse to a priority in the boardroom, what are some questions a shipper should ask before adding a 3PL to their supplier base? A: It largely depends upon what level of partnership a carrier is seeking. Managing spot capacity is very different […]
Read More
Supply Chain Complexity: What’s Behind Supply Chain Disruption and Why You’re Not Achieving Consistent ROI Improvement
In a 2016 Gartner survey, 63 percent of supply chain leaders reported “increasing supply chain complexity” as the highest risk to business continuity. A second survey from Gartner identifies supply chain complexity as #4 in the list of obstacles to achieving supply chain goals. As supply chain leaders face these challenges, they should focus on […]
Read More
How Small Retailers Can Compete with Retail Giants
Q: What is the biggest thing for shippers to consider in their supply chain? A: The one constant trend is the growth in the way we reach consumers. E-commerce sales increased 15.6 percent in 2016, and there are no signs that this trend will slow in the future. Direct to consumer is here for the […]
Read More
Does Your TMS Provide you a ClearView?
Q: What are you seeing as the biggest opportunity for TMS functionality? A: Transportation management software (TMS) was developed for the simple task of enforcing carrier routing and producing a shipping label. Web rating, or rate shopping, was a major advancement to the TMS technology industry 10 years ago. Today, very few TMS companies offer […]
Read More
Advice for Transportation Departments on Gaining Corporate IT Buy-in for TMS Solutions
Q: What pushback should transportation leaders anticipate from IT when proposing a TMS implementation? A: Corporate IT departments are frequently ambivalent about cooperating; sometimes even actively working to undercut the proposed initiative because there’s a perception that any new enterprise software deployment adds significantly to IT’s workload during implementation, integration, and thereafter with respect to […]
Read MoreIs a 3PL Not the Best Fit for You?
Q: While some companies have chosen to rely on 3PLs to manage their logistics, Progressive Converting made the choice to keep its logistics in house. Why? MR: Progressive Converting (Pro-Con) is a service provider to the major paper companies. As such, controlling all aspects of the supply chain is critical in delivering value to our […]
Read More
The Answer to Logistics Problems is Always in the Data
Q: How can data solve logistics problems for shippers? A: The right data can create the intelligence required to know where to begin to solve many common problems. These can include freight costs that are too high, transit times that are too long or not charging enough for freight. Many shippers have good rates, but […]
Read More
The Advantages of a Pop Up Supply Chain
Q: How can I keep up with volume surges with minimal disruption? A: If you find yourself looking at a significant volume surge that is temporary, it is a good time to think about a pop up supply chain. Surges like this can put strain on the current infrastructure you have built and disrupt daily […]
Read More
Can Exception Management be Automated?
Q: Managing exceptions in freight settlement is, by definition, a manual process even when a shipper has a transportation management system (TMS) and freight payment/audit solution in place. Why can’t exception management be automated? A: The truth is, it can be, and to a surprisingly high degree. Significant exceptions such as large discrepancies in rates […]
Read More
The Wave of New Technologies in Logistics Requires Data Management Excellence
Q: Technology seems to be having its moment in the logistics space. What do things like the Internet of Things, Big Data, and Blockchain mean for shippers and logistics providers? A: These elements are becoming critical parts of modern supply chains because they allow companies to harness data they might already have, or incorporate previously […]
Read More
Shopping for a Transportation Management System: Factors to Consider
Is your organization seeking to replace its current Transportation Management System (TMS) or obtain a TMS for the first time? Besides the obvious factors, such as overall cost, functionality that meets your requirements, and the ability to integrate with your current system and trading partners, below are five points to consider when shopping for a […]
Read More
Global Trade Network: A Strategic, Competitive Asset
Q: Why do companies have such a hard time embracing global trade management? A: The Amazon effect is wreaking havoc on supply chains globally. Consumers are buying online from everywhere in the world and expecting delivery in one to two days. International shipping presents real challenges for suppliers and shippers attempting to keep up with […]
Read More
Increased Capacity and Flexibility
Rust-Oleum turned to Celtic International for an intermodal solution to quickly move shipments.
Read More
Consumer Demand Helping Drive 3PL Industry Growth
In recent years, shippers have encountered new standards of velocity, market choice, and cost for their products. Consumers are demanding better variety and greater availability at the lowest possible cost. These demands put increasing pressure on retailers, who in turn, pass that burden on to their suppliers—further increasing complexity and intensifying pressure on supply chains. […]
Read More
Gaining Visibility Through Data
Q: Data impacts the way many organizations make decisions. Can a freight audit and payment system provide added visibility? A: If shippers don’t have valid insight, they can’t make valid decisions. Data analysis and benchmarking can provide this visibility, allowing shippers to identify outliers in performance and cost. Yet most companies don’t have the technology […]
Read MoreLeading Logistics Provider Closes More Business, Develops Stronger Customer Relationships
The Challenge With its growing international customer base, this global logistics and transportation service provider for the chemical and process industries recognized the need to automate its contract management and pricing process and to expand its global operations. However, the logistics team realized it would be very difficult to handle the increased number of contracts […]
Read More
Achieving Greater Visibility and Agility
Pressure for lower FOB prices while dealing with the upward movement of production is the biggest challenge for retailers today. And all of this comes at a time when companies are under intense pressure to meet the fast-evolving demands of every-channel retail, where consumers expect a more convenient shopping experience, as well as a superior […]
Read More
TMS Launches New Era: Control Tower Visibility
It wasn’t long ago that top executives around the world had to be convinced why they needed accounting software to run their companies. Today it is unthinkable of any company operating without accounting software to manage their company’s finances. The importance of technology in shipping is starting to reach this same critical point for most […]
Read MoreAuditing Beyond Compliance
Evaluating the continuing alignment of customer requirements, acceptable associated risk and service provider capability.
Read More