Mobile applications for iPhone/iPad and other devices are emerging in ways that can finally close or reduce many of the information gaps between Transportation Planning, the Shipping/Receiving dock, your customers, and even Accounts Payable. Such applications are enabling shippers to: interface directly and more effectively with logistic partners; access logistics information in non-traditional business settings; and enhance communications where access to a computer is not readily available.
A Sterling (now IBM) Transportation Management System (TMS) Carrier Mobile App already available for the Apple iPhone/iPad gives carriers the ability to communicate directly with a shipper’s TMS, even from the cab of their truck, to respond to shipment tender requests and to report shipment status in real-time.
For one ChemLogix client, this is especially important when it comes to communicating with smaller carriers who do not have EDI systems, including for those owner/operators whose dispatch offices ride in the passenger seats of their tractors. Trained on the iPhone application, these carriers now are able to immediately respond to tender requests, and once booked on a load to provide pickup, delivery and ETA status updates. Tying these information feeds directly into their TMS system our client is now more frequently using their number one carriers, and gains greater visibility to in-transit inventory status from pickup to delivery. It’s a win-win situation as carriers are able to respond to tender requests in real time, while on the other side shippers are able to provide enhanced communications to customers for improved service, and fewer surprise calls from customers asking where their shipments are.
Mobile Applications at the Plant/Warehouse
The iPad and other emerging tablet devices create additional opportunities to bring transportation information quickly and easily to its point of greatest impact. TMS mobile applications currently in development will enable sales reps to retrieve real-time reports and updates on shipment delivery performance. Rather than rely on last month’s performance reports, sales reps will access the latest data on delivery stats for loads while buying a coffee at Starbucks on their way into a client meeting. A week-old performance report showing 99% on-time delivery means nothing to the client if three shipments in the past two days were late or missed. Nothing ruins a sales call faster than bad surprises.
At the plant, on the loading dock, at the guard shack, or in the cab of the pup-truck moving trailers to the dock for loading, iPad/tablet applications will provide real time information and process feedback from workers regarding shipping and receiving appointments, trailer assignments, and guard shack-monitored in-gate/out-gate dates/times.
When it comes down to it, supply chain and transportation optimization and management systems are only as good as the timeliness and accuracy of information delivered to the right place at the right time. Mobile apps for phones and tablet PC’s now available and in development offer supply chain management the next opportunity to leap forward.