Supply Chain Outlook 2020: Defining Competitiveness
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High-tech companies are developing leading-edge solutions to improve a variety of functions in logistics—a complex web of freight movers, third-party logistics companies and parcel delivery services. Here are a handful of companies that have recently launched logistics-related products and services:
Freightos has developed an online marketplace that gives importers and exporters on-demand access to global freight services. Freight forwarders, carriers, and shippers automate tens of thousands of quotes daily, including complex door-to-door quotes automating rate management, routing/pricing, and BI.
ClearMetal is a predictive logistics company using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to unlock efficiencies for global trade. ClearMetal recently announced an engagement with Nile Dutch, one of the world's top 25 container and break-bulk shipping companies; and Panalpina, one of the world’s top freight forwarders with 500 offices in 70 countries.
Translogistics, Inc. is a logistics solutions provider that enables more effective transportation management and smarter business decisions by operating on the principles of trust, loyalty and integrity. The company utilizes a value-based approach to offer a total logistics solution that delivers company-wide value and demonstrated results.
project44 is an enterprise SaaS integration platform that provides multimodal visibility across a single user interface. project44’s expanded API-based platform supports a broad range of full truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) visibility activities, providing customers speed, automation, and productivity.
Shotput installs robots in shipping containers to create automated micro-warehouses. Using AI, Shotput determines optimal locations throughout the U.S. to minimize shipping time and maximize consumer reach.
According to a recent survey by Freightos, Technavio has quantified the potential savings from data analytics, e-freight, web portals, and cloud-based systems on freight services:
- Enhanced operational efficiency, on-time delivery, and improved satisfaction could yield up to 12 percent potential savings for forwarders.
- Similarly, the World Economic Forum projects logistics savings of up to $789 billion by 2025.
Additionally, transparency should help forwarders and other logistics services providers to add more value, Freightos found:
- Digitalization paves a cost-effective path to customer service – as evident in U.S trucking, where customer convenience drives cost cutting, not the other way around.
- Transparent ratings will change customer interactions. Forwarders wanting to retain favorable ratings and reviews will differentiate by providing a comprehensive customer focus, for instance, through an Amazon-level chat service.
- New IoT technologies, like tracking and monitoring, can turn forwarders into omniscient consultants. That role may expand to collaborating with shippers’ other partners across the entire supply chain.
- As carriers digitalize, forwarders stand to gain from increased transparency, for instance as it becomes harder for shippers and carriers to abrogate their booking contract responsibilities.
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