Once production is complete, transportation is organized, which has become critical due to the numerous logistical challenges experienced during and after the pandemic. It is often this downstream phase about which the brand lacks information.
How can we gain better control and visibility over the organization of the shipment by involving the supplier, logistics provider, and freight forwarder?
This is what we aimed to implement within the e-SCM by integrating a TMS (Transport Management System) dimension seamlessly into the Production tracking system. On the one hand, this facilitates the document management of shipments, particularly through the standardization of packing lists and shipping labels. The documentation related to transport and customs is also generated and integrated into the platform.
On the other hand, the supplier will be able to give freight forwarders visibility on the volumes and quantities to be shipped so that Logistics can directly manage the receiving schedule with the freight forwarder.
The e-SCM platform provides access to a “ Transport ” which allows the supplier , several weeks before the end of production, to book transport directly with the freight forwarder via a web services connector.
1. BOOKING PROPOSALS
The platform first offers an automatic grouping of shipments to the freight forwarder based on the packing list and predefined criteria, including a desired pickup date. For example, criteria such as port of departure, type, and brand.
2. THE SUPPLIER SUBMITS HIS RESERVATION
With the supplier and freight forwarder connected in real time, the supplier can submit a transport request suggesting a date for the goods to be picked up.
On this screen, the freight forwarder can filter by supplier name, communicate with the supplier, and attach documents. A status is also displayed for the request:
Booking submitted / Booking confirmed or not / Actual transfer date entered (by the freight forwarder, whether or not a booking was made)
Through the “ Transport ” e-SCM module, the freight forwarder and the logistics provider will be able to confirm the shipment of the goods and organize the receipt in the warehouse.
Once the pickup is scheduled with an estimated date, the freight forwarder and the logistics department communicate. Each party benefits from customizable viewing screens with selectable filters.
Through a manual connection or an automated feed, the freight forwarder will send information on the precise status of the shipment. The logistics provider is informed in real time whether the schedule is being met. If not, they can contact their freight forwarder to revise the allocation of shipments and billing details.
1. SHIPPING PROPOSALS
Following the same model, the platform will consolidate packing lists from different suppliers and suggest to the freight forwarder to group shipments according to defined criteria, and with a desired shipping date.
2. THE FREIGHT FORWARDER SUBMITS HIS SHIPMENT TO LOGISTICS
It will then give logistics visibility into the shipments created, with several key dates involved:
Shipment confirmed / ATD (actual time of departure) / ATA (actual time of arrival) / Actual delivery date
It can also create batches within the same shipment or review the package mix using data generated from packing lists. It will also easily locate the attached documentation.
3. RECEIVING GOODS
Delivery is approaching: e-SCM will allow logistics to anticipate workload and storage volume through a schedule. The logistics provider can then have an overview of the status of each order
ATD/ATA entered, Warehouse appointment date scheduled, Delivered to warehouse, Receiving in progress
At the most granular level, delivery scheduling can be managed using a " warehouse calendar" in which the freight forwarder schedules a delivery appointment, specifying a date and time slot. Logistics can even allocate a loading dock for the delivery.
Finally, the Receiving Tracking feature allows Logistics to monitor ongoing or completed receipts, including stock between orders and receipts. Orders can remain active or be closed via a synchronized feed with the ERP system.
Upon receipt, e-SCM facilitates the reading of the pre-standardized parcel label, along with all associated data. This directly contributes to the preparation of the outgoing flow.
Thus, the TMS dimension has been strengthened to involve logistics stakeholders in the collaborative work carried out via the platform. We have already implemented automated API-type interfaces with several freight forwarders such as DHL Express, Dachser, and Scan Global. e-SCM therefore allows us to leverage savings related to transport costs, stock receipt, and service levels, particularly with a view to subsequently optimizing our outbound flow to distribution channels.
