Technology Archives - GlobalTranz

Elevate Your Freight Shipping With TMS Shipping Technology

James Greenlaw — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 05:06:26 +0000

If your company leverages freight shipping as a key part of your logistics strategy, you know that it can be challenging to manage on a day-to-day basis. From trying to track down the best rates to tracking shipments and filing freight claims, it can sometimes be more than most businesses can handle.

Some companies manage to get by with spreadsheets, manual recordkeeping and a patchwork of platforms, but it can end up costing them in time, money and increased errors. If your freight shipping is becoming unwieldy and stressful, it may be time to consider a transportation management system (TMS).

A TMS shipping platform is a comprehensive software solution for managing freight shipments and is particularly helpful in reducing the complexity of less than truckload (LTL) and full truckload (FTL) shipping. A well-designed TMS can add significant value to your business operations in several ways. Here are just four of the reasons to leverage one:

TMS Shipping Benefit 1: Boost Efficiency

By reducing manual input and time spent tracking down information, you can optimize your shipping operations, freeing up your staff's time and energy for other parts of the business. With a freight TMS in place, you can:

Automate paperwork, including bills of lading and shipping labels.
Easily store your address book of frequent senders and receivers to quickly create freight shipments.
Save freight quotes so they're easy to access when you're ready to ship.
Quote and load tender across all modes of freight shipping.
Control tower planning and visibility for increased efficiency.
Real-time tracking and notifications for pickups and deliveries.

TMS Shipping Benefit 2: Get a 360-Degree View

Rather than having your logistics information scattered across databases, a freight TMS brings together many aspects of shipping, so you have increased visibility of your freight operations. With a TMS, you can:

Customize your tracking from a single portal so you get the information you need the way you need it.
Access shipment history with multiple carriers in one place and sort data by delivery status, shipping provider and more.
Explore origin and destination terminal information alongside carrier rates so you get a clear understanding of your freight's journey.

TMS Shipping Benefit 3: Boost Your Bottom Line

Freight shipping rates — along with availability — change frequently, and extra fees (aka accessorial charges) are a norm in the industry. That can make shipping costs hard to manage. Having a centralized source for exploring options can help identify savings opportunities and mitigate the extra charges you incur. A freight TMS enables you to:

Compare rates and transit times from multiple carriers more conveniently.
View rates that include insurance costs as well as carriers' general limits of liability for uninsured shipments, so you don't pay for more insurance than you need.
Review past invoices in detail so you can evaluate expenses and identify ways to lower freight shipping costs in the future.

TMS Shipping Benefit 4: Add Expertise With a 3PL

You have the option of using a standalone freight TMS or working with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider and using their system. While any high-quality TMS will add immense value to your operations, using one provided by a 3PL can yield even more benefits, including:

Built-in relationships. Developing a relationship with a carrier can help streamline operations and make sure you get priority treatment as a customer — something a standalone TMS can't do for you.
Expertise. 3PLs can provide valuable training, best practices and industry-specific knowledge, helping to ensure you're using a TMS efficiently and effectively from day one.
Additional cost savings. A 3PL's established relationships with carriers and transportation providers means they can help you negotiate pricing and often enjoy volume discounts typically reserved for large volume shippers. This translates into favorable rates for your shipping.
Simplified management and support. Implementing and managing a freight TMS requires technical expertise and resources. By using a TMS provided by a 3PL, you can reduce the burden on your IT department and upkeep for your internal team, allowing you to focus on your core business operations.

Ready to streamline your freight shipping with a leading freight TMS? Reach out to GlobalTranz!

GlobalTranz has more than 30 years of success in the logistics industry and helps thousands of shippers of all sizes move products with great efficiency. We are also part of WWEX Group, alongside GlobalTranz and Unishippers. Combined, these three companies make up one of the largest and most diverse 3PLs in the industry, providing shippers with top solutions and shipping technology that help them succeed. That includes a TMS shipping solution that makes shipping easier.

See how GlobalTranz can help you transform your freight shipping. If you are ready to talk, reach out for a free consultation today!

The post Elevate Your Freight Shipping With TMS Shipping Technology appeared first on GlobalTranz.

How To Find the Right Last-Mile Logistics 3PL Partner

Annie Graupner — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 13:00:45 +0000

As a shipper, you know today's competitive marketplace and changing customer expectations have made it imperative that you provide timely, accurate and visible shipping solutions. Technology and e-commerce shipping innovation have empowered customers with vast choices when it comes to selecting a product. In some cases, that choice may hinge on who can provide fast, hassle-free delivery.

That is why shippers owe it to themselves to optimize every phase of their supply chain to meet this customer demand. One phase they often struggle with is last-mile logistics. But by understanding how to implement best practices to offset associated challenges, companies can increase their customer base and build brand loyalty among buyers.

To accomplish this, many shippers have found great success in working with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider that has experience in less-than-truckload (LTL) and last-mile logistics shipping. This ensures they have the tools and resources to meet customer expectations and can pivot their shipping strategy when necessary.

What is last-mile logistics?

As the name implies, last-mile logistics (also known as final-mile logistics) refers to a shipment's requirements for the last leg of its journey and delivery. The length of this phase, however, might be less or much more than an actual mile. During final-mile shipping, a product is loaded on a truck at a fulfillment center or other transition location and is then sent to its destination.

Some very important details to understand about final-mile logistics are:

Shippers have often found this phase difficult since the final location may be in urban, densely populated or very rural areas.
Unloading can also present a challenge if the receiver does not have the proper equipment to handle the shipment.
Selecting the right shipping services is imperative to being successful during this final phase.
Working with a top freight shipping and last-mile 3PL is often the solution to last-mile success.

What To Look For in a Final-mile Logistics 3PL Provider

Despite the challenges, final-mile logistics does present an opportunity for shippers to differentiate themselves from those that do not provide effective services. Those willing to invest in technology and partner with a last-mile 3PL can optimize their solutions and increase revenue and brand loyalty.

GlobalTranz, an industry-leading 3PL service provider with expertise in last-mile delivery logistics, advises shippers to evaluate the following five areas when considering final-mile logistics companies.

Carrier network

When considering final-mile logistics companies, shippers should look for those with a network of qualified carriers that can provide efficient options for a shipment's entire journey. After all, last-mile logistics becomes irrelevant if the product doesn't make it to that phase in the first place.

Shippers should take a careful look at exactly how a 3PL will help you move your product to a fulfillment center and then to the final destination, and why those solutions can ensure your freight will be delivered on time. Final-mile logistics companies should also be willing to provide references that can tell you about their experiences so you will know their solutions have been successful and are not just philosophical in nature.

Shipping technology

A transportation management system (TMS) is an essential shipping technology platform for supporting your last-mile shipping needs. Final-mile logistics companies should offer a robust TMS that helps shippers:

Find the least-expensive LTL linehaul and dedicated last-mile carrier.
Manage freight shipping and maintain visibility of shipments en route.
Combine bills of lading (BOL) and other documentation from the LTL provider and dedicated last-mile carrier into a single document.
Get a multi-modal and unified view of their truckload and LTL shipping.

Final mile shipping speed

Some 3PLs that claim to provide last-mile delivery services rely on LTL providers for both the linehaul and final delivery, which can be problematic. Look for a 3PL that utilizes LTL for the linehaul and a dedicated last-mile carrier that specializes in this service.

This can shorten transit times and ensure your shipments meet deadlines. Your 3PL should be able to offer both and help you determine which carriers are right for your specific shipments.

Accessorial fees and hidden charges

These unexpected charges can add up and impact your bottom line, particularly when operating without the help from a 3PL. In fact, when trying to coordinate carriers for both the linehaul and last-mile delivery, it may be confusing to determine what kind of accessorial fees will be assessed on your invoice.

Common accessorial fees — which often will be tacked on during final mile — include those for redelivery, residential delivery, liftgate usage, inside delivery among others. A last-mile 3PL can help you understand these fees and implement strategies to offset and avoid them.

Prevention and freight shipping insurance

As you know, shipments will be damaged from time to time. It's unavoidable. However, by selecting the appropriate services, carriers and freight insurance coverage, you can do your part to ensure your shipment makes it to its destination undamaged or is protected in the event that it doesn't. A 3PL service partner should provide coverage options and a TMS that allows you to add insurance when you schedule your shipment.

How GlobalTranz Enables Final-mile Success With a Robust TMS

GlobalTranz provides shippers with a full suite of shipping solutions, including last-mile logistics services that help cut costs and keep customers happy. In particular, the GlobalTranz TMS includes an intuitive and efficient final-mile module that automatically provides shippers with a two-carrier move.

The TMS matches the optimal LTL linehaul carrier with carriers that specialize in final-mile logistics. The GlobalTranz final-mile network covers all 48 contiguous U.S. states and can flex to meet any unique need. The system retains critical information regarding the characteristics of pickup and delivery locations, ensuring that the right equipment and service level is provided every time, helping to minimize costly accessorial charges.

By pairing LTL carriers with final-mile providers, the risk of damage is mitigated by a reduction in handling through the shipment's journey. Lastly, the GlobalTranz TMS creates a single invoice and BOL, significantly streamlining and simplifying the payment process.

Solve Last-mile Logistics Challenges With GlobalTranz Shipping Solutions

Navigating the space between various modes can be tricky. The GlobalTranz modal optimization approach is focused on helping our customers determine which mode is best suited to handle their product. Our expert team, backed by our proprietary technology, will assist you.

Our final-mile solutions do not compete with small parcel carriers. Rather, they are a solution that has been purpose-built for businesses with pallet-size (and greater) shipments that would typically be transported via traditional LTL.

GlobalTranz combines the speed and efficiency of an LTL provider with exceptional customer experience at the time of delivery via our dedicated final-mile logistics carriers. Our solution has been designed to take the hassle out of the final mile and allow businesses to get back to what really matters — serving their customers.

Request a consultation with GlobalTranz to learn how your business can benefit from a true "one-stop solution" for your final-mile needs.

The post How To Find the Right Last-Mile Logistics 3PL Partner appeared first on GlobalTranz.

13 KPIs to Track With a Transportation Management System

mzugovic — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 13:00:16 +0000

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are assigned benchmarks for evaluating progress toward your company goals. For shippers, using your transportation management system (TMS) to establish and track KPIs is crucial to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your shipping operations and optimizing for the future.

Deciding which KPIs to track can be difficult. That's why GlobalTranz, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider that offers a full suite of shipping solutions, has created a list of the most important TMS platform metrics you should be monitoring and detail why they are important to your company.

Freight Shipping KPIs To Analyze in Your TMS

Any effective transportation management system provides shippers with the information necessary to make informed decisions and determine the viability of current operations. Transportation management KPIs identify areas of system efficiency and uncover those that need improvement. Understanding KPIs can help shippers know exactly what changes need to be made to improve operations and decrease costs. The core KPIs to track include:

Freight cost for each unit shipped

This KPI is calculated by dividing the total costs for freight shipping by the number of units shipped during a defined time period. This metric is critical to understanding the average per-unit freight spend for your organization.

Outbound freight shipping costs compared to total sales

To determine this metric, shippers must divide outbound freight costs by net sales. This allows your company to differentiate between inbound and outbound freight costs.

Inbound freight shipping costs compared to purchases

Calculating this metric is nearly identical to the outbound freight costs mentioned above. However, in this case, you would divide inbound freight costs by net sales.

Transportation time

Transit time tracking can help you compare the expected shipping time and the actual delivery time for your shipments. This will allow you to make adjustments to your shipping strategies to ensure packages are delivered on time.

Claims versus freight costs

Dividing total loss due to freight shipping claims by overall freight costs helps measure safe delivery for each shipper and carrier. Higher numbers allude to opportunities for improvement, and lower numbers may validate current tactics.

Freight shipping billing accuracy

This KPI is computed by dividing accurate freight bills by the number of freight bills in the period. The goal of this metric is to help you understand whether and how often you are being charged too much for freight services.

Accessorial fees compared to total freight costs

Failure to track accessorial charges inhibits freight shipping management capability. Keep accessorial fees as close to zero as possible and create processes that offset these charges in the first place.

Percent trucking capacity use

Understanding how much capacity you utilize compared to available space on trucks can be determined by dividing the shipment weight by available shipping capacity. This gets tricky with more extensive, volume-based shipping, but it is possible. Bottom line, shippers should understand if utilizing more truck space would save them money.

Mode selection compared to optimal use

Mode selection is another tricky KPI. Focus on the shipments sent via optimal mode by total shipments sent. Obviously, shippers must know what the optimal shipping method is for each item, so it is best to evaluate the lowest-cost shipping mode over a set period of time.

Dwell time per shipment

This KPI measures wait and load times. This is important since you can be assessed dwell time fees by carriers. Extensive dwell time can also cause your shipments to be delayed. There are many ways to measure this, but shippers can simply create a benchmark and make note of the number of shipments above that number. This will give you a concrete data point indicating how often your shipments surpass acceptable dwell times.

Number of redeliveries

Carriers can assess a fee if they must attempt a delivery more than once. Measure the number of times your shipments were assessed a redelivery fee compared to the overall number of shipments to get a health check on the accuracy of your bill of lading (BOL) and other processes.

Damage in transport

Products that are damaged during transport may need to be replaced and redelivered — a compounding effect that will increase expenses. Determine how many products are damaged compared to overall shipments to identify the need for better packing procedures, new carriers or other solutions.

On-time deliveries

Determine what percentage of shipments are delivered on time compared to the overall number of shipments. This is an imperative metric. It will force you to analyze your entire freight shipping operation and your carrier and freight service selections.

Enhance Shipping Efficiency With Transportation Management System Data

Shipping efficiency relies on making the best decisions possible. A transportation management system enables that function. When done properly, KPIs established for your TMS shipping technology can help you make data-driven decisions, eliminate uncertainty by auditing system performance and determine further if operational efficiency is resulting in expected gains.

A Third-Party Logistics Provider Like GlobalTranz Can Help You Track Impactful KPIs

GlobalTranz is an industry-leading 3PL services company, providing best-in-class supply chain optimization, managed transportation (including LTL and FTL freight shipping) and shipping technology solutions to businesses of all sizes across the nation.

The GlobalTranz TMS software empowers shippers to maximize productivity and streamline operations in one easy-to-use shipping platform. Our cloud-based interface allows shippers to rate and shop carriers across multiple modes, optimize routing, create shipping documents, track and tender, and manage the shipment lifecycle from creation through delivery.

Our team of logistics experts will help you set up and analyze KPIs to work towards transportation optimization, save money, increase efficiency and stay ahead of logistics trends.

Are you ready to work with an industry-leading third-party logistics partner? Reach out for a consultation today!

The post 13 KPIs to Track With a Transportation Management System appeared first on GlobalTranz.

Combining Lean and Agile Supply Chains for Top Results

mzugovic — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

As a shipper, you know the supply chain is complex and ever-changing with many parts along the way that can impact your bottom line and customer results. To make it even more perplexing, recent technology innovations — including augmented reality, artificial intelligence and other solutions — have created both opportunities and challenges for shippers who try to keep up with competition in a quickly evolving shipping world.

At one point, many shippers incorporated lean supply chain methodologies into their manufacturing and supply chain management operations with great success. More recently, companies have adopted the newer solutions found in the agile supply chain philosophy.

However, many successful shippers take a hybrid approach to supply chain management, using both lean and agile methods, combining the most effective tools from each to create a robust supply chain strategy. This combination offers a best-in-class approach to supply chain management and logistics. Partnering with a reputable third-party logistics (3PL) provider can help with this sometimes-difficult task.

What is lean supply chain management?

As the name suggests, lean supply chain management allows companies to work and ship more efficiently by removing unnecessary steps and procedures. In other words, the goal is to eliminate waste. The outcome allows companies to ship a steady stream of maximum volume and provide discounted rates for customers. It also allows shippers to deliver better customer service by responding quicker and more efficiently.

It does require companies to analyze every part of their supply chain. But in the end, the result is a well-oiled operation that delivers products to customers at optimal cost and price. Goals of lean supply chain management include:

Eliminate all waste and unnecessary steps in the supply chain
Continuously look for technology and automation solutions
Ensure increased visibility for all members of the supply chain
Reduce lead time and meet customer delivery expectations
Increase speed of production and reduce supply chain variation
Focus on total cost of the fulfillment for long-term cost savings
Create a culture of team communication and collaboration

Lean supply chain strategies are ideal for:

Types of products – Low variability such as personal items and food products
Product demand – Predictable and consistent with little potential change
Life cycle of product – Longer than the average product
Cost – Products priced, produced and delivered at lower costs

What are agile supply chain strategies?

Agile supply chain methodology is different than its lean counterpart because it focuses on the flexibility and quickness in which a supply chain reacts to variation and disruption in the marketplace. In other words, supply chain agility is responsive to what is happening, where lean tries to create consistent patterns in which its supply chain operates.

In fact, agile supply chain relies on real-time data, automation and team collaboration to respond quickly to changes in demand and customer preference and is designed to account for unpredictability in the market. Goals of agile supply chain strategies include:

Respond quickly to market changes
Make better use of resources
Focus on accurate information
Integrate planning and forecasting
Emphasis on risk management
Comprehensive control strategies

Agile supply chain management is ideal for:

Types of products – Products that are currently in demand
Product demand – Changing or based upon the current market
Life cycle of product – Short and quick-to-market
Cost – Varies by product and its demand.

Utilizing Agile and Lean Supply Chain Management Together

Generally, shippers like you have implemented either agile or lean supply chain methodology depending on your business model and product types. Today, however, it is possible and sometimes necessary to implement both and take a combination approach to your supply chain.

In fact, shippers should use every agile and lean supply chain tool at their disposal to save money and increase efficiency. They should also focus on creating supply chain processes that provide consistency and are flexible enough to change in the face of market fluctuation. That means utilizing supply chain agility to respond to unpredictable consumer/market demands (agile supply chain) while cutting waste for better efficiency (lean supply chain). With this hybrid approach, you can:

Focus on reducing costs along the supply chain and pass on cost savings to the customer
Constantly learn from the market and implement both long-term and short-term strategies
Ensure you are meeting customer demand while remaining flexible to market change
Utilize both real-time and collective data to make informed supply chain decisions
Create a shipping strategy that is effective for a wide variety of product types

GlobalTranz Is an Industry-Leading 3PL in Supply Chain Management

Managing a supply chain is a difficult task for shippers. There is great fluctuation in the market that can make profitability elusive. Perhaps it’s time to consider a shipping partner like GlobalTranz. We are an industry-leading 3PL that provides an extensive vendor network and logistics expertise to optimize your supply chain. We also provide a full suite of tools, resources and expertise for shippers.

This allows us to lower your costs and streamline your operations and supply chain management while you focus on your strategic goals. Our expert team creates and implements custom supply chain management solutions that make a positive impact on your bottom line and drive improved customer satisfaction. If you are ready to connect with an expert, reach out to our team today.

The post Combining Lean and Agile Supply Chains for Top Results appeared first on GlobalTranz.

How To Stay Ahead of Logistics Technology Trends (And Understand Where They’re Heading)

mzugovic — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 21:00:23 +0000

The shipping logistics industry moves and changes fast. That means companies of all sizes should consistently look for innovations to streamline operations. This includes looking for solutions to cut costs, deliver faster and meet customer expectations while simultaneously focusing on sustainability.

As in most industries, advanced technology is often the solution to help solve the challenges facing today's shippers. That's why GlobalTranz has identified some of the shipping technology trends and innovations that shippers should focus on now and in the future. As an industry-leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider, we help customers just like you implement shipping technology services and solutions to make shipping easier!

Challenge #1: Sustainable Logistics Technology Solutions

Electronic vehicles. Cutting back on emissions and fuel consumption is the driving force behind electronic vehicles. Smaller vehicles are being used in urban and residential areas for last-mile delivery.
Self-driving trucks. While advancements are still underway, self-driving trucks are helpful in long-distance transporting. They're not left unmanned yet and a driver is there to take over the wheel when necessary. But self-driving trucks can help alleviate driver fatigue and are instrumental in road safety.
Blockchain technology. This source-of-truth technology creates better visibility along the supply chain. Shippers concerned about sustainability can see every link along the entire supply chain and identify risky suppliers that don't follow government requirements in sustainability. It will also help you uncover possible labor ethics violations.

Challenge #2: Warehouse Shipping Productivity

Warehouse management system technology that improves productivity and minimizes error will help businesses reduce costs and gain efficiencies. These warehouse technology trends have been in existence for decades and are becoming more sophisticated.

Automation. Robots improve productivity and reduce safety risks. They're used to load and unload pallets, pick products for fulfilling from high shelves and handle dangerous goods and materials.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology enhances product visibility and is used to locate products, whether in the warehouse or while being delivered.
- Demand planning and product forecasting enabled through AI and ML help shippers whether they're in lean or agile supply chain management camps.
- Warehouse managers can use both to better plan workforce allocation and assign tasks.

Challenge #3: Faster Delivery and Last-Mile Delivery Shipping Technology

As you know, the demand for quick delivery and cheaper rates has never been greater. Shipping technology is answering this call and companies need to adapt these solutions to remain competitive.

Internet of Things. IOT uses real-time data on weather and road conditions to respond quickly to changing conditions. This allows you to plan accordingly and keep shipments on schedule.
Transportation management systems.
- The data that is collected in a transportation management system and stored in cloud-based systems can improve transportation routing and streamline fleet management.
- Shippers can use data to make better-informed choices on mode selections when multi-channel logistics are an option.
- Consolidating shipments and utilizing route planning is done more easily with TMS data.
Drones and self-driving delivery devices. Improvements are still being made, but these small vehicles can deliver smaller packages and get beyond city congestion and areas with difficult or limited infrastructures.

GlobalTranz Is a 3PL Providing Innovative Logistics Technology

As a shipper, you have access to an enormous number of shipping and logistics technology solutions to help you face today's challenges. But not all solutions are created equal. That's why it's important to team up with a shipper partner, like GlobalTranz, that you can trust for a full suite of proven transportation management services. That includes a transportation management system, a warehouse management system and e-commerce integration solutions that can increase profitability and efficiency while keeping your customers happy. We also understand the latest technology trends and pass the learnings on to you. Connect with an expert to learn how we can help you stay competitive and profitable in the face of an ever-changing supply chain.

The post How To Stay Ahead of Logistics Technology Trends (And Understand Where They’re Heading) appeared first on GlobalTranz.

Simplify Your Logistics With Our Shipping Technology

James Greenlaw — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 19:28:26 +0000

In the shipping industry, a truck, airplane or train might be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the movement of products. Those modes of transport are essential, but they accomplish little today without the use and implementation of shipping technology.

Platforms like a transportation management system (TMS), warehouse management system and e-commerce shipping software allow you to make informed decisions and seamlessly make transactions for greater profitability. 3pl technology solutions can also keep your customers happy and turn them into return customers.

But not all technology platforms are equal. Some are based upon antiquated logic and processes, leaving you to do a lot of guesswork that ends up negatively impacting your bottom line.

At GlobalTranz, we provide logistics technology solutions and follow technology trends that make your job easier. We have decades of shipping expertise and keep an eye on the future to help you remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Transportation Management System

GlobalTranz has its own proprietary transportation management system (TMS). Our platforms provide end-to-end transportation management that enables a greater supply chain transparency than our competitors. Our transportation management system offers:

Immediate access to carriers — Select the appropriate carrier for your shipments at a cost that fits your budget. With more than 85,000 full truckload (FTL) carriers and 75+ less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers , we can help you find trucks with capacity, no matter what you're shipping.
Connection to multiple modes — From LTL and FTL to rail and air, GlobalTranz gives you maximum opportunities to choose the best method to ship your products at the speed and price you need — all through our TMS. You can choose a single transportation mode for your shipment or mix them for the best value.
Track-and-trace capabilities and notifications — Get real-time insight into your shipments and resolve any issues as soon as they happen. This allows you to communicate with your customer and plan for potential disruptions. Communication of this kind can help you develop trust with your customers.
Documentation management — Keep all of your online paperwork in one place — from freight quotes to bills of lading, invoices, claim information and shipping labels.
Claims management — Make filing and settling claims with carriers easy with our TMS software. All shipping data is in one place. Plus, you're given step-by-step filing instructions on claims and have access to our support staff to help with the process.
Analytics and business intelligence — Use data from your selections and transform them into a high-level dashboard you can use to discover insights and opportunities for greater efficiencies and cost-savings.

Warehouse Management System

The GlobalTranz warehouse management system (WMS) allows you to organize, control and optimize operations in your warehouses. A WMS helps reduce human error from manual data entry. They can also improve productivity, enable flexibility and reduce operating costs. Some functions of a WMS include:

Warehouse design — Organize products into a workable space with WMS data. This allows you to optimize inventory management and enable an efficient picking process.
Inventory tracking — A WMS provides insight that can help you make better decisions on the supply and demand of goods and allows you to forecast better inventory control — whether you work with a lean or agile system.
Picking and shipping — A WMS indicates where products are stored and updates the inventory count in real-time as activity occurs for greater productivity and accuracy.
Labor management — Get intelligence on inventory levels and order demands by using a sophisticated WMS. You can also plan for needed labor force, assign tasks and improve productivity.
Analytics — Utilize WMS data to make better decisions when balancing inventory levels and storage costs.

E-commerce Shipping Software

Using an application programming interface (API) with a TMS, WMS and order management system provides businesses with a single source of truth. This e-commerce shipping integration software helps companies ensure their online customers get the product they need when they need it. For you (the shipper), the logistics API integration gives you assurance that your shipping operations are running at an optimal level. Our transportation management software and warehouse management system integrates with leading e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and Magento, providing you with:

Seamless online shopping experience — Shipping costs are generated in your e-commerce cart so customers can see charges up front and complete their purchase.
Customers get several shipping methods — Customers get the option to choose freight rates and transit times based upon budget and deadlines.
Create administrative rules for greater control — Customize your customer experience by offering free shipping or the lowest priced carriers.

GlobalTranz Is a Leader In Providing Shipping & Logistics Technology Solutions

As a shipper, you have access to an enormous number of shipping and logistics solutions to help you face today's challenges. But not all solutions are created equal. That's why it's important to team up with a shipper partner, like GlobalTranz that you can trust for a full suite of proven transportation management services. That includes a TMS, a warehouse management system and e-commerce integration solution that can increase profitability and efficiency while keeping your customer happy. Get a quote to learn how we can help you stay competitive and profitable in the face of an ever-changing supply chain.

The post Simplify Your Logistics With Our Shipping Technology appeared first on GlobalTranz.

Measuring Supply Chain Performance: 3 Core Metrics and 10 Soft Metrics

mzugovic — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

It’s no surprise that most supply chain managers consider cost reduction as a major key performance indicator (KPI). It makes sense. After all, cost savings can indicate greater overall efficiency in your operations. However, cost reduction is just one of the critical supply chain performance metrics. As an industry-leading third-party logistics (3PL) company, GlobalTranz is here to provide you with a wider scope so you can broadly analyze your supply chain management (SCM) and make changes where necessary.

3 Common Measures of Supply Chain Metrics That Are Beyond Cost Reduction

Measuring performance in supply chain operationsincludes:Inventory measurement

This is a critical supply chain KPI to consider. Afterall, it took capital expense to procure. The goal is to keep inventory levels at an appropriate level to meet customer needs. A pull system is better than a push system.

What about measuring working capital in the supply chain?

The handful of companies in the top quartile of working capital performance had working capital expenditures as a percentage of overall revenues of between 6-10%. In comparison, the poorest-performing companies in the lowest quartile had a range of working capital between 23-39% as a percentage of revenues.

Isn’t time important in the supply chain?

Time is a critical component of supply chain performance measurement. That includes:

Promise time
Lead time
Cycle time
Transit time
Delivery time
Unloading time
Processing time
Quality assurance time
Processing time
Turnaround time
Receiving time
Shipping time

For clarity, when measuring performance for your supply chain , the focus should be on:

Inventory
Working capital
Time

We can’t forget cost reduction. It is the key performance indicator for supply chain management when measuring performance.

Transportation is measured as a cost rather than what it does for the organization. That’s not to say that cost reduction is an indicator of poorly measuring performance, but it’s not the only supply chain metric to measure when considering transportation.

Other supply chain KPIs to consider measuring as it relates to transportation include:

Managing inventory
Ensuring that lost sales are at a minimum
Supply chain is efficient by transit time

Remember, you should still focus on costs. We should not forget that non-cost-based measurements could prove to be beneficial to supply chain professionals.

10 Soft Supply Chain Performance Metrics When Measuring Performance

Collaboration and communication between supply chain partners

The supply chain has become increasingly collaborative, and supply chain entities are taking note of how collaboration between once-perceived enemies and competitors can help build trust with consumers, maintain compliance with authoritative entities, ensure transparency across the organization, be applied and implemented through different software and further drive customer-centric focus.

Customer service levels

When it comes to how a shipper defines the value of a logistics provider or 3PL, there are often several KPIs, and logistics metrics taken into consideration. Every company knows customer service is important, but it is seldom well-defined and even more rarely measured in logistics operations.

Effective and successful key performance indicators for supply chain management

Effective KPI management starts with some key areas for both parties to understand. These are core principles that will guide the rest of the more detailed and statistical supply chain KPIs.

Using technology to aid in measuring supply chain metrics and efficiency

In today’s highly competitive marketplace, it’s imperative for businesses to innovate new ways to streamline their supply chain and optimize productivity. With the aid of modern supply chain technology applications, you can create better visibility, which will enable you to have more control over your business and stay ahead of the competition. Technology can help to simplify your supply chain management, which will enable your business to operate more efficiently, and give you more visibility and control over your inventory. It will also help to reduce your operational costs whether you use lean, agile or combine an agile and lean strategy for supply chain management success.

RFID, AIDC, and IoT systems

The advantages of using RFID-, AIDC- and IoT-based technologies seem simple. Each of these logistics technologies provides a benefit that meets the demands of its respective driving forces. However, these technologies are poised to give benefits throughout the industry in several other ways as well.

Risk management methods

Supply chain risk management and resiliency are hot-button topics in the industry. However, some supply chain entities do not understand how resilience relates to risk management and what it means for improving focus. As the supply chain continues to grow in complexity and regulation, the opportunities for problems and other events that impact operations negatively will consequently grow. As a result, entities need to understand how risk management and resiliency apply to both good and bad situations and how an organization can improve supply chain risk management and resiliency processes.

Cyber security systems

We are now familiar with the concept of the “Internet of Things.” If you take the manufacturing industry, for example, many manufacturers are now widely operating in an increasingly connected environment and making the most of it.

GPS

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system that depends on satellites to locate vehicles anywhere on earth. It was originally developed by the United States Defense Department. The first such satellites were launched in 1979. A few years later, the GPS system was made available for civilian use.

Supply chain visibility

Supply chain visibility has long been a goal supported by professionals. Until recently, however, technologies that could make this goal a reality have not been available. Today, there is hardly any activity that doesn’t produce some kind of data that can help companies understand what is going on within their supply chains. As the ability to see more clearly and deeper into supply chains improves, operations will become safer and more secure.

Staying Abreast of the State-of-The-art in Supply Chain Management

It’s important to learn about lean initiatives in the supply chain, robotics, and voice of the customer (VoC) to improve performance. View our Trends Resource Section to stay up to speed.

GlobalTranz: Your Complete Supply Chain Operations & Shipping Partner

But we should never forget the major ingredient in measuring supply chain performance. People make it all happen. IT systems and tools truly enhance the supply chain, but without people communicating and collaborating, there is no success.

As a shipper, you have access to an enormous number of logistics solutions and services to help you face today’s challenges in supply chain operations. And you don’t have to do it alone. GlobalTranz offers a quality carrier network, a leading transportation management system delivering data-driven insights, and a team of industry experts available around the clock for support. Connect with one of our experts to optimize your supply chain so your company can save money and increase efficiency!

The post Measuring Supply Chain Performance: 3 Core Metrics and 10 Soft Metrics appeared first on GlobalTranz.

Achieve Supply Chain Visibility With Efficient Technology Integrations

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 14:05:42 +0000

Supply chains are complex and ever evolving. There are often a number of systems working in the background to keep your supply chain running smoothly. But if those systems aren't working together to give you a single source of truth for your supply chain, you could be missing important details and opportunities to run an efficient operation. Technology integrations are an important step for ensuring supply chain visibility for your entire operation.

What are the most important supply chain systems that need to be integrated?

A combination of integrated systems - with functions ranging from reporting to real-time shipping information to accounting and more - will help to efficiently run your supply chain. And when it comes to choosing the right supply chain systems, it's important to ensure that they are able to integrate with each other so you can gather reliable and accurate information for your entire supply chain. Here are four important platforms that should be integrated:

Transportation management system (TMS)

A transportation management system is used to streamline your shipping operations. Your TMS should have the ability to quote and create orders as well as manage shipments throughout the order lifecycle. It should also offer data and reporting with insights into your logistics operations, including on-time deliveries, billing, transportation costs and trends related to shipments and rates.

Tracking system

A tracking system will provide real-time visibility with shipment location tracking throughout an order's lifecycle. There are a number of SaaS tracking providers as well as internally developed tracking applications on the market - but no matter the system you choose, it is important to ensure it can integrate with your TMS. At GlobalTranz, we use internal tracking applications integrated with our TMS so that we can implement automation triggered by tracking events. We are also then able to generate reporting metrics for tracking, such as on-time percentages and days in transit.

Freight audit system

Freight auditing is an essential step in your supply chain. It involves reviewing freight bills and making any necessary adjustments to ensure they are accurate. This system will allow you to streamline your freight audit process. Some inaccuracies that are looked for during a freight audit include:

Differences in freight weight, dimensions and class between the initial quote and the invoice
Additional accessorials not included in the original quote
Instances where freight is reconsigned (i.e., the origin or destination is changed) which directly impact pricing
Fuel rates that do not align with national, regional or negotiated pricing
Missing data elements or documents that are required for invoicing
Warehouse management system (WMS)

A warehouse management system helps you efficiently oversee the operations of your warehouse and distribution centers. It does this by giving you visibility and the ability to generate inbound and outbound orders as well as the capacity to manage inventory and queue shipments.

What are the benefits of integrating your supply chain systems?

It's important to integrate your supply chain systems in order to create a single source of truth for your supply chain. When your systems are all working together, you'll have added supply chain visibility - meaning you'll be able to track materials and goods in transit with better insight into timelines, inventory, and costs. It will also improve your ability to efficiently and accurately manage your overall supply chain operations.

Supply chain systems, like your transportation management system and warehouse management system, collect a ton of data. But if the two systems aren't integrated, you're missing out on a number of insights. Plus, you're missing out on opportunities to measure and improve the efficiency of your operations via KPIs. Your TMS and WMS can integrate to share data on carriers, shipments, routing and billing. Integration can lead to more robust data and analytics, a better understanding of the movement of goods throughout your supply chain, easier resource and labor management, and overall improved supply chain visibility.

How does GlobalTranz help integrate supply chain systems?

GlobalTranz's transportation management system allows shippers to gain control of their logistics operations and shipping costs. We provide end-to-end transportation management with real-time analytics, robust tracking capabilities and access to a best-in-class carrier network. And we understand the importance of TMS integrations with your other supply chain systems.

GlobalTranz makes TMS integrations easier for our customers. We provide detailed documentation that outlines a step-by-step guide for integrating your systems into our APIs. We offer test credentials so you can test your integrations prior to going live. And our team is available to assist with integrations specific to your needs.

Some of the integration capabilities offered by GlobalTranz include:

Integrating your preferred ERP system so you can maintain current processes
Integrating directly with our rating and shipment creation APIs to create and manage LTL shipments
Leveraging batch order creation tools to generate large volumes of orders. These tools include additional functionality such as the ability to consolidate shipments with similar characteristics
Integrating directly with our tracking APIs to pull up-to-date tracking status on orders
Integrating into our APIs to rate shipments from our supported e-commerce platforms, including but not limited to Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento
Integrating into our EDIs for truckload order creation, tracking and invoicing

Partner with GlobalTranz to get access to a best-in-class transportation management system with robust integration capabilities. To learn more about how GlobalTranz can help you improve your supply chain visibility through system integrations, reach out to speak with an expert.

The post Achieve Supply Chain Visibility With Efficient Technology Integrations appeared first on GlobalTranz.

GlobalTranz Secures 4th Consecutive Inclusion in FreightTech 100 2022 Awards

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 15:00:29 +0000

The FreightTech 100 2022 award recipients have officially been released. As an industry leader in 3PL solutions, including managed services, GlobalTranz is proud and honored to secure a spot in the 2022 FreightWaves FreightTech 100, marking the fourth consecutive year of inclusion.

What Are the FreightTech 100 Awards?

The FreightWaves FreightTech 100 awards honor companies that have demonstrated prowess in business over the past year and established innovation and disruption in the freight industry. Winning this coveted spot in the FreightTech 100 positions GlobalTranz as both a core services and technology provider, as well as a thought-leader in the industry.

The list of the top 100 nominations from 2021 is released as the FreightTech 100 2022 award recipients. From there, a panel of industry experts, insiders, and CEOs will vote on those included in the top 100 to determine the FreightWaves FreightTech 25 for 2022.

Why GlobalTranz Was Included in the FreightTech 100 2022 Awards

GlobalTranz and WWEX combined have decades of logistics expertise with the power of innovative technology that optimizes the efficiency of freight movement and logistics solutions by connecting 25,000+ shippers with its network of more than 120 LTL and over 50,000 best-in-class truckload carriers.

During a year of supply chain disruption, GlobalTranz’s logistics experts continue to provide technology-driven solutions to support shippers as they navigate fluctuating markets and uncertain circumstances the cloud-based GlobalTranz TMS helps shippers:

Quote and tender shipments across all modes and geographies with greater ease and efficiency from anywhere at any time.
Tender loads to find dense capacity across the 50,000+ carriers in the GlobalTranz network.
Increase efficiency through automated processes and expert teams to help discover consolidation opportunities
Optimize routes based on changing conditions and outcome-driven route planning.
Create, track and share shipment documents, boosting visibility along the way.
Leverage predictive analytics to turn raw data into rich, actionable insights that enable meaningful cost reductions and streamline shipping execution.

GlobalTranz has an established reputation as an enterprise-level, integration-ready solution that connects shippers to a full suite of services and capabilities. While it’s an honor to be included in the FreightTech 100 once, we are extremely proud to be named to the list for the fourth year in a row. We are committed to delivering unique solutions to empower customers to meet their business goals, despite fluctuating market conditions.

What’s Next?

Timing of the FreightTech 25 evaluation and voting from industry experts is still to be announced. Regardless, GlobalTranz is committed to future growth, embracing digitalization of logistics, and creating new avenues for shippers and carriers to connect. To learn more about how the GlobalTranz TMS and our custom solutions can help drive supply chain resiliency for your business, connect with an expert.

The post GlobalTranz Secures 4th Consecutive Inclusion in FreightTech 100 2022 Awards appeared first on GlobalTranz.