Best-practice shippers are leveraging logistics operations as a key strategic weapon to gain a competitive advantage. In doing so, they are leveraging the best people, process, and technologies to create centralized logistics groups that offer services to both internal and external customers. Such companies are getting beyond the focus on just cost reduction, and also concentrating on service level performance and the strategic importance of logistics in creating shareholder value. For multi-divisional enterprises, managing logistics in a centralized shared-services environment can create significant value. In these dimensions, Quintegra's product implementation services of Visual Logistics (VL) system can help clients achieve their goals.

VL System

The VL system is the market leader in web native software for primary network logistics. It provides a real-time model of the users transport network with a status diary for all assets and demand and a powerful match engine to aid planner decision making. Workflows for planners and traffic desk managers are fully supported with communications tools, and integrated with, workshop, telematics and accounting systems.

The suite has two core products, one for primary transport and the other for secondary transport planning, each has a cost table and price table module, an invoicing and purchasing module, and an event handler module for live operations. Both systems integrate with workshop systems to manage physical assets, with HR systems to manage human assets and automatically collect and report on working time directive compliance. A powerful reporting tool supplements a standard suite of reports that export to MS Excel.

Primary Transport

The VL system for primary transport operations supports both central and decentralised collaborative planning. The system efficiently exposes hitherto unrealised internal efficiencies in transport networks by identifying reverse flows and cross-docking opportunities. Users of the system have eliminated tramper vehicles and dramatically reduced overnight runs producing overall recurring savings of around 8% annually.

The system aids collaborative working between planners, and collaboration between planners and traffic desk managers. The automated production of the traffic plan from planner decisions improves forward plan visibility and driver relations. The ability to incorporate integrated legacy system optimised traffic plans makes improved returns from existing IT investment.

The reduction in planner administration and provision of revenue, cost and margin information at the point of decision making enables planners to become profit centres with real accountability and focus on core skills.

Secondary Transport

The VL system for secondary transport provides planners with tools to auto-allocate based on postcode and to sequence and re-sequence during live operations interacting with drivers via GPS connected PDA. The integrated PDA provides ePOD, clause and photographic records. Integrated warehouse scanners enable stock identification and auto-allocated route information for warehouse stock.

The system allows customers to view status of order on-line and to view account details with history.

The system maintains accounts with sub-contractors and delivery partners with an automated account reconciliation linked to integrated sales and purchase modules.

Real-time Planning

Both the VL systems, for primary and secondary, have event manager modules that use GPS and vehicle telematics to compare plan to actual performance creating alerts for late or non-conforming activity and support re-planning during operations. The event handler module also supports plan v.s. actual reporting and reason code analysis.

Enterprise Integration

The integration capabilities of the VL products enables the creation of an enterprise resource planning system for transport businesses. The scope of the solution extends from asset and workshop management, through operational planning and execution, to real-time operations management and debrief, invoicing and purchasing into a full accounts system.

Asset Management

Maintenance programme is integrated with planning availability. The detailed monitor of trailers provides mileage based analysis of trailer life and detailer profitability of tractors. The reporting of physical assets enables location and fleet size optimisation analysis.

Business Benefits Summarized

VL System is a product of highly informed innovation. Quintegra's implementation of VL System is closely attuned to our client’s needs – providing robust yet flexible means for delivering highly predictable logistics management …and making our clients more competitive. The benefits of VL System include:

 Reduced cost of logistics through enhanced efficiency of services
 Real-time tracking of vehicles
 Supports multi-leg options
 Provides the basis for a complete supply chain management (SCM)
 Has intelligent feature for auto replanning based on past data for maximum efficiency
 Enables the logistics company to enhance credibility by providing accurate quotes for transportation
 Provides real-time critical business metrics
 Available in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model for leveraging reduced investment

For queries or more information, mail us at logisticsenquiry@quintegrasolutions.com.