Category Archives: Logistics

Chris Dedicoat, Cisco, DHL, Internet of Things, Logistics, Markus Kückelhaus, News & Analysis, supply chain operations

DHL, Cisco claim Internet of Things will give $1.9tn boost to supply chain, logistics

Deutsche Post DHL and Cisco are looking at how IoT will unlock extra value in the supply chain and logistics sectors

Deutsche Post DHL and Cisco are looking at how IoT will unlock extra value in the supply chain and logistics sectors

DHL and Cisco, which are collaborating on a joint Internet of Things initiative looking at how IoT can improve decision-making in warehouse operations, claim the technology could give A $1.9tn boost to supply chain and logistics operations.

The two companies, which recently inked a report on IoT in logistics, are looking at how IoT sensors strategically embedded in warehouse inventory, stock locations and vehicles and connected to cloud-based services via Wi-Fi can improve warehouse operations through the use of analytics.

“At Deutsche Post DHL Group we have a deeply held belief in the positive powers of global trade. Yet, as our Global Connectedness Index 2014 revealed, the overall level of global connectedness remains surprisingly limited,” said Ken Allen, chief executive officer of DHL Express and Board Sponsor Technology.

“There is huge potential for countries to further increase their connectedness and prosper through trade, integration and technology. We believe the Internet of Things will be a primary enabler of this global transformation,” Allen added.

The companies said there is potential for IoT to expand beyond the warehouse and into supply chain,logistics operations and freight transportation, and could have a “game changing” impact on ‘last mile’ delivery for consumers. Cisco reckons that value to sit in the region of $8tn worldwide over the next decade.

But Markus Kückelhaus, vice president Innovation & Trend Research, DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation said there’s still much to do before that value can be realised.

“The Internet of Things is the connection of almost anything – from parcels to people – via sensor technology to the web and both Cisco and DHL believe this will revolutionize business processes across the entire value chain including supply chain and logistics,” Kückelhaus  said. “We’ll need to understand how all components in the value chain converge and this will require a comprehensive collaboration, participation and the willingness to invest to create a thriving IoT eco system for sustainable business processes.

Chris Dedicoat, president, EMEAR for Cisco said: “Digitization and the expansion of the Internet of Things is a catalyst for growth, which is driving new economic models and enabling organizations to remain competitive and embrace the pace of change happening globally. This report clearly demonstrates that digitization and the IoT will deliver long term efficiencies and growth opportunities across a wide range of industries.”

Airclic, Business Processes, Cross-docking, Logistics, Mobile, Shipping, Stevedore, Supply chain, Third-party logistics

Airclic Helps Dock Workers Stage, Load Shipments from Multiple Suppliers

Airclic, a global provider of cloud-based software for mobile supply chain and logistics operations, today announced that it has released the latest version of Transport Perform® (version r12.4), its cloud-based 3PL transportation solution that improves order accuracy and operational efficiency. With this release, Airclic has expanded its support for high-volume cross-docking, allowing dock workers to receive, stage and load shipments from one or more suppliers in parallel and validate received items or shipments in real time against Advanced Shipment Notice data.

Transport Perform is a third-party logistics (3PL) mobile transportation management product that works with any device or carrier. It has been designed specifically to improve the efficiency and accuracy of cross-docking and delivery within a logistics operation by providing visibility into the mobile supply chain and giving an organization the features and functionality it needs to enable a more scalable and reliable workflow. Costly and time-consuming paper-based processing can be eliminated alongside received versus loaded versus delivered errors, reducing overall costs and increasing customer confidence that their shipments have been executed correctly. Transport Perform is intuitive and easy-to use, ensuring a seamless deployment and rapid ROI, as customers have reported saving an average of $400 per route, per month.

With Transport Perform r12.4, the full and accurate data required to process shipments from suppliers is captured, validated and assured from the first point of contact on the dock. Inbound shipments are validated in real-time against advanced shipment data (at item level, order level and supplier container level) and automatically direct the dock worker to the correct outbound container and route based on shipment details, such as end destination or customer location. It also boasts highly configurable workflows to ensure that dock worker activity is based on the requirements of the original supplier.

“Organizations that have automated their transportation logistics and delivery systems have improved customer satisfaction while reducing the cost of doing business,” said Pól Sweeney, CTO, Airclic. “Improved accuracy and better efficiency have increased customer confidence and given 3PL providers using Transport Perform an advantage over the competition. The new capabilities announced today will help them accurately record items received on the dock, staged and loaded all at the same time, in real-time.”

The key features of Transport Perform r12.4 include:

  • A graphical interface for administrators, enabling them to fully setup
    and configure workflow forms for dock workers and drivers to ensure
    the accuracy of information captured during receiving and staging
  • Data validation and post-processing behavior definition capabilities
  • Customizable Perform Reports designed to support cross-dock receiving
    and post-receiving reconciliation with supplier systems based upon the
    unique rules of each
  • Allowance for the upload of custom attributes as part of the customer,
    depot or supplier location bulk upload process


BPO, Business process outsourcing, Business Processes, GT Nexus, Logistics, Partnerships, Shipping, Third-party logistics, WNS, WNS Global Services

WNS Partners with GT Nexus for Business Process, Supply Chain Services

WNS, a provider of global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services, today announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with GT Nexus, a market leading cloud-based supplychain service provider, to deliver platform-based BPO services and solutions to the Shipping and Logistics industry. According to the agreement, WNS and GT Nexus will jointly work towards providing shippers, forwarders, 3PLs and carriers with improved quality of service for their end-customers and reduced costs in areas such as documentation, freight management, contracts, pricing and analytics.

“The shipping and logistics industry has been facing multiple pressures created by unfavorable economic conditions,” said Keshav R. Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS. “There is a strong need within the industry for managed services to help shift inefficient and manual transactions onto a global digital platform. We believe that the integration of GT Nexus’s proven cloud-based technology platform with WNS’ deep domain knowledge and operational process excellence will help companies effectively manage this transition.”

“One of the big opportunities for BPO providers is to build entire practices and services around existing, mature cloud technology platforms,” said Aaron Sasson, CEO of GT Nexus. “Through this partnership, WNS is taking advantage of our cloud supply chain platform and offering a much needed new service for the international logistics industry. WNS has made it simple for companies in shipping and logistics to move to a complete digital transaction business process.”

Jaison Augustine, Senior Vice President & Segment Head – Shipping & Logistics at WNS added, “Our ‘BlackBox’ solution will offer 40-60% percent reduction in costs incurred in the production of master and house bills of ladings for NVOCCs and freight forwarders. It will also help increase the digitization of shipping instructions which offers benefits to both shippers and carriers alike. By introducing cutting-edge tools like optical and intelligent character recognition, scanning & imaging and workflow solutions our managed services approach will reduce cycle times and enable error-free documentation at a fraction of the current cost.”

WNS currently offers a broad spectrum of services to the global shipping & logistics industry, including export and import documentation, freight audits, driver logs, trip records, Finance & Accounting and analytics. WNS’s clients in this vertical include ocean carriers, 3PL’s, express companies, truckers and shippers.