Written by Fiona Jackson 

For many organisations, whether knowingly or unknowingly, a treasure trove of valuable information is trapped within the confines of their freight operations. Factors such as departmental barriers, disparate systems, and limited communication channels have led this wealth of data to become siloed, obstructing companies from realising the full potential of their data.

Different company departments – such as procurement, logistics, and finance – often operate independently. If they also rely on disparate systems and technologies, data duplication and inconsistencies can quickly become a problem. Even if these departments use the same systems, without seamlessly integrated workflows and strong communication, they could face issues of data inaccessibility and inaccuracy.

Information silos can also be created when there is a lack of standardised processes and communication channels between internal and external stakeholders, like carriers, customs brokers and suppliers. According to Alok Rajiv, the co-founder and CTO of logistics management solution provider Tramés Pte Ltd., these silos become particularly apparent when businesses do not consider external parties when investing in their IT systems.

“Vendors, customers and partners often have to fall back on phone calls, text chats, emails or unstructured modes of communication to operate.” Mr Rajiv told TechHQ. “Information hence becomes stuck in silos, with only some actually being transferred across, and that too comes with a high risk of human error.”

Tramés streamlines and automate routine work by ensuring that all stakeholders are kept up-to-date with the latest information.
Source: Tramés Pte Ltd

To address these data silos, companies can implement integrated freight management systems that facilitate seamless data exchange and real-time visibility across departments and the ecosystem. Establishing standardised processes, promoting multi-organisation collaboration, and investing in digital platforms can help break down the silos and enable more efficient and transparent freight operations.

“The easiest way to solve this problem is to bring a common layer across the chain,” Mr Rajiv told TechHQ. “A passive data lake will work, but it will lack actionability. A better approach is to introduce a common layer for unstructured communication – to be in charge of accumulation, validation and joining of these critical, but often forgotten-about, data points.”

This common layer can then become the sole source of data within the ecosystem across both digital systems and manual processes.

Mr Rajiv told TechHQ: “This layer, if created properly, can be ‘plug and play’ enough to ensure that the organisation can meet low-hanging, short-term goals with less change management first. But it can also allow more and more silo processes to be added into it, gradually increasing coverage through careful change management in the long term.”

One such solution is offered by Tramés. Its cloud-based global freight management platform can integrate with other in-house systems and third parties throughout the supply chain through APIs, effectively removing functional silos.

Data can be inputted by a user, batch upload or via integration, and subsequently open up new valuable information outputs. Tramés is equipped with dynamic analytics which can offer real-time insight into vendor performance, freight spend, speed and efficiency of logistics, and other areas of interest that can inform decision-making. Tramés customers have reported a 5 per cent decrease in freight audit spending thanks to these new metrics.

Analyse Data in Real Time based on your specific area of concern or focus that allows you to proactively identify gaps, risks, opportunities, and make informed strategic decisions.
Source: Tramés Pte Ltd

“Tramés works with customers with a very high disparity in the technology game since most enterprises are at different phases of the catchup journey,” Mr Rajiv told TechWireAsia. “We have solutions that enable us to connect using very traditional methods, like EDI/ANSI messages over email/FTP box, as well as very advanced solutions like event bridges through private VPN tunnels over the cloud. Even when it comes to where this data resides, we have done integrations to on-site data centres as well as customer-running ERPs on the cloud.”

Beyond providing insights into the freight management department, it offers real-time shipment visibility from supplier to consignee, and is one of the few platforms that utilises cargo and vessel tracking data from multiple sources. This can highlight unexpected cost-saving measures throughout the supply chain and improve company-wide operations.

The platform can also help automate frequent, repeatable processes within workflows to help logisticians manage multiple, complex systems as required. These include notifications for delivery updates or delays, which would otherwise involve countless emails. Reducing the human input through workflow orchestration also saves time, increases efficiency and reduces the scope for error.

These benefits ultimately translate into higher customer satisfaction and a competitive edge in a fast-paced, digital-first logistics industry.

A telecommunications company in Spain that recently implemented the Tramés platform said: “Tramés has helped us to map, align and simplify freight management processes across all our inbound entities. End-to-end freight management is now so much easier with technology, and resilience and governance have also improved significantly.

“Real-time visibility capabilities feed the digital freight ecosystem, and are coupled with connected partners and the workflow orchestration module. This means that exceptions in the transportation process are now proactively identified so that relevant teams can take the appropriate mitigating actions.”

If you would like to find out more about how Tramés can alleviate your siloed information issues, contact the team today.

The post Breaking information silos: How Tramés revolutionises freight operations appeared first on TechHQ.

Supply chains are undergoing rapid transformation driven by advancements in digital technologies. From transportation and warehouse management to supply chain visibility and customer engagement, digitisation is revolutionising how logistics operations are managed and executed. However, implementing digital solutions often requires significant change management efforts, which can be complex and time-consuming. What if there was a way to digitalise logistics operations with zero change management?

Tech Wire Asia recently interviewed Ivan Seow, Co-Founder and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Tramés Pte Ltd, to discuss how shippers can leverage digital technologies to streamline and optimise operations without disrupting their existing processes.

“We have learned from both successes and setbacks throughout our journey, that the challenges of digitalisation primarily lie in managing people,” said Seow. “70% of them want to digitalise with as little process change as possible.”

Adopting technologies that easily integrate with existing systems and complement legacy processes eliminates the need for change, and reduces the need for extensive training or operational restructuring, allowing businesses to adapt while maintaining business as usual. Prioritising user-friendly platforms also minimises any learning curve for employees, easing the transition and allowing them to focus on core tasks.

Seow added that the level of digital ambition drives the level of change management requirements, which in turn determines how technology will be implemented. The first step to successful digitalisation is by understanding the level of digital ambition of an organisation’s management versus the people involved. With the right technology, organisations aiming to minimise change management efforts can benefit from adopting a phased approach and prioritising incremental changes, while digitally ambitious organisations can take a full-fledged approach.

Why fix what is not broken?

A single shipment requires the collaboration of an entire ecosystem, making logistics operations and processes inherently complex. Source: Tramés

A thought-provoking question Seow often posts to supply chain leaders is, “While Excel spreadsheets and manual processes may have sufficed in the past, is it something that you or your employees want to continue relying on in the future?”

This inquiry prompts leaders to critically evaluate the suitability of outdated methods in today’s ever-evolving business landscape. Seow encourages them to embrace digital transformation and explore more efficient and innovative technologies for their supply chain operations, even if their current systems appear to function adequately.

Technology-driven automation, such as real-time visibility, workflow orchestration, automated freight audit, data aggregation, and dynamic analytics, can revolutionise how businesses operate by providing valuable insights for informed decision-making, optimising resource allocation, and minimising risks. Furthermore, digital solutions can significantly enhance productivity by automating repetitive tasks and reducing human errors.

When implemented at an ecosystem-wide scale, these solutions provide comprehensive end-to-end operational management and transportation visibility to all stakeholders, leading to invaluable benefits. With a holistic and transparent view of the entire business process, organisations can make informed decisions, optimise operations, and enhance efficiency throughout the supply chain. The wide-ranging advantages of ecosystem-level digital solutions can transform businesses, enabling them to stay competitive and thrive in today’s dynamic and data-driven business landscape.

Simplifying the lives of logisticians with technology

For Seow, real-time visibility is a crucial foundation that empowers supply chain partners to effectively manage delays and take recovery actions. The true benefits of real-time visibility are multi-layered and multi-pillared.

Firstly, automated real-time freight visibility enables organisations to respond promptly to delays and take better mitigation actions. Organisations can also increase productivity and reduce unnecessary supply chain cost with timely alerts about impending free time expirations to prevent detention or demurrage charges.

By scaling up to achieve end-to-end visibility – encompassing the entire supply chain journey from order placement to delivery – digitally ambitious organisations can unlock a plethora of benefits with increased data transparency to optimise their supply chain operations and reduce costs. This includes the ability to challenge carriers and freight forwarders about delays, performance, hidden supply chain costs and other critical factors. Additionally, accurate payment to service providers, facilitated through digital contracts and rates, allows for tighter controls over costs by measuring incoming invoice accuracy without an army of people behind the scenes.

Secondly, leveraging technology for data aggregation can bring about substantial enhancements in organisational operations. Automated and real-time analytics offer a comprehensive view of the business landscape, enabling in-depth analysis of key metrics such as freight booking lead time, operational performance, root cause analysis, and order fulfillment status. This not only saves time and effort in manual data analysis but also provides valuable insights for better strategic business decisions.

Lastly, digital collaboration and workflow orchestration tools play a pivotal role in fostering seamless communication and process governance among various stakeholders in the supply chain. This enhanced coordination and efficiency result in significant productivity gains within the freight ecosystems. By streamlining communication, automating workflows, and enabling real-time visibility, these tools empower organisations to optimise their operations, minimise delays, and maximise productivity. This ultimately leads to improved performance, reduced costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction, making digital collaboration and workflow orchestration indispensable components of modern supply chain management.

With Tramés, Seow hopes to provide logisticians in large corporations with the ability to work more easily and digitally, and change the way they work from their conventional means in the inherently complex transportation process which can be made simpler through technology.

Evaluating solutions: Prioritising agility, configurability, and scalability

Source: Shutterstock

When it comes to supply chain and logistics operations, agility, configurability, and scalability are critical factors to consider when evaluating technology solutions according to the level of digital ambition and change management.

Each organisation has unique logistics complexities and challenges, and a one-size-fits-all solution may not be suitable for everyone. Tramés believes that technology solutions should adapt to businesses, not the other way around, and they prioritise configurability to achieve just that. Organisations should be empowered to easily customise the solution and have full control over their data, workflows, processes, and rules, to align with their existing operations seamlessly.

Scalability is also a crucial consideration depending on the level of change management expected when implementing new technologies. Some organisations may prefer a gradual transition, while others may require larger-scale deployment. The scalability of technology allows organisations to implement the system at their desired pace and scale, whether it’s for a single department, a regional operation, or a global headquarter. This ensures that organisations can continue to effectively use the solution as the business grows, without facing limitations or constraints that may hinder their expansion plans.

Speed is key when it comes to deployment and is especially so when logisticians are constantly juggling multiple tasks and managing complex transportation operations. With agility, organisations can effectively manage the transition and ensure that all stakeholders can smoothly adapt to technology without unnecessary drag on their workload from the kick-off to go-live.

“Our primary emphasis is on upholding these fundamental principles to aid our clients in effectively navigating change management. By doing so, they can realise the benefits of the solution sooner and adapt and expand without unnecessary rigidity.”

According to Seow, the Tramés solution encompasses unparalleled data quality and comprehensive tools that surpasses larger brands in implementation cost and time. This includes taking about half the time other companies would require to deploy global projects, spanning from one to five months, depending on the extent of change management.

If you’re interested to more about how Tramés can improve your logistics operation, don’t hesitate to reach out to Ivan Seow at ivan@trames.sg.

The post Digitalising logistics operations: 0-100% change management appeared first on TechHQ.