Can Cloud based Logistics Platforms help you? The logistics game is changing fast! The industry is under immense pressure to improve its efficiency and reduce costs. That is its one shot at enhancing customer satisfaction. For years, traditional logistics management systems have struggled. Outdated technology slowed their processes. But now, technology brings a game changer for businesses: Cloud based Logistics Platforms!

With these smart systems, your company can get real-time insights and boost scalability. It will help optimize your supply chain to get maximum efficiency. Are you prepared to safeguard your operations for the future? Let’s get started.

What Is the Primary Purpose of Using Cloud Based Collaboration Tools in Supply Chains?

Cloud-based collaboration tools aim to enhance teamwork in supply chains. They let people share information quickly and easily, no matter where they are. This helps teams work together better, make decisions faster, and stay organized. These tools improve efficiency and lower costs.

Supply chains thrive on precision. But when communication slows and data scatters, mistakes happen. Research from Gartner reveals that bad data costs companies an estimated 15% of their revenue, with the average financial impact reaching $9.7 million per year. Here is where cloud-based solutions come into play.

They eliminate silos and bring everyone involved onto the same page. Cloud-based services offer immediate access to data. Logistics companies can prevent interruptions, reduce errors, and make quick, smart choices. They improve supplier collaboration, resulting in reduced bottlenecks and greater overall efficiency.

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Top Benefits of Cloud-Based Solutions for Logistics Management

Statistics indicate that many are switching to the cloud. The global cloud logistics market is expected to reach US$ 46,313.9 million by 2030, growing at a rate of 13.6% per year from 2025. This growth shows businesses are recognizing the benefits of Cloud-Based Solutions for Logistics Management. Here are some of those benefits:

  • Real-time tracking and Visibility

The Challenge

Logistics teams often lack information regarding the whereabouts of shipments. This results in setbacks, misplaced packages, and dissatisfied customers.

The Solution

Cloud-based services offer comprehensive shipment tracking featuring real-time GPS information. This gives logistics managers clear insights. It helps them optimize package routes and cut down delays in delivery. It also addresses any kinds of disruptions that we expect on delivery routes. Customers benefit from accurate ETAs and automated notifications. These features help build trust in the brand and boost satisfaction with services.

  • Scalability on Demand

The Challenge

Customer requirements change throughout the year. When demand spikes, logistics systems find it hard to cope with the sudden pressure. They have to scale operations but doing so without incurring large upfront costs becomes difficult to achieve.

The Solution

Cloud-based solutions help businesses to scale their operations easily. You do not need expensive hardware upgrades to achieve that. Cloud platforms can tackle it all. They handle adding fleet vehicles, expanding warehouses, and managing seasonal surges. This lets businesses grow as they need, without the stress of a fixed infrastructure.

  • Cost Savings

The Challenge

Inefficient logistics often lead to high operational costs. This happens due to manual errors, poor route planning, and fuel waste.

The Solution

Say goodbye to unnecessary expenses with cloud-based solutions. These systems provide AI-driven route optimization. Workflows are automated and the system works on predictive analytics. These processes help cut fuel use, reduce human errors, and improve warehouse storage.
Businesses can shift from costly, physical IT setups to affordable cloud services. This change helps free up capital. This lets companies invest in other growth initiatives that will help them over time.

  • Better Teamwork

The Challenge

When warehouses, drivers, suppliers, and customers don’t communicate well, it can cause problems in logistics. This often causes delays in the process.

The Solution

Cloud based logistics platforms integrate communication tools like instant messaging, automated alerts, and shared dashboards. This ensures that all stakeholders remain informed at all times. Enhanced communication results in more effective teamwork, faster reactions, and reduced misunderstandings. This results in a supply chain that is more coordinated and effective.

  • Security and Compliance

The Challenge

Companies deal with sensitive client information on a daily basis. Data breaches, fines, and not following industry rules don’t look good for security. This can put businesses at serious risk.

The Solution

Cloud-based platforms prioritize keeping data safe. They offer strong security features, like encrypted storage and multi-factor authentication. These protect against intruders. Their AI-driven threat detections safeguard sensitive data. Many of these platforms have built-in compliance tools. These tools help logistics companies follow important guidelines. This helps prevent costly violations.

Real-world Success Stories with Cloud Based Logistics

1. Turn Chaos into Control

The Challenge
Shipping companies lose a lot of time and money due to outdated logistics systems. Inefficient tracking systems and fleet management cause frequent delivery delays.

How Cloud-Based Tech Helps
By using a cloud based logistics platform, shipping companies can see their whole fleet in real time. This allows AI-powered route planning and an automated maintenance schedule.
The result? Delivery delays decrease significantly. Fuel use improves and becomes more efficient. Vehicles experience less wear and tear, which leads to substantial cost savings.

2. Warehouse Woes Fixed in E-commerce Giant

The Challenge
E-commerce players face frequent inventory mishaps. There are errors in fulfilment. Increasing order volumes become difficult to keep up with.

How Cloud-Based Tech Helps
A cloud-powered warehouse management system transforms operations by automating inventory tracking. The team can improve demand forecasting and streamline order fulfilment processes as a result. With real-time inventory insights, stock discrepancies drop. A large margin reduces customer delivery times. This helps grow clientele, strengthens brand loyalty and boosts repeat sales.

3. Cold Chain Logistics Enhanced

The Challenge
Global food distribution companies struggle with inconsistencies in temperature during transport. Due to this, many perishable goods are spoiled in transit. These goods cost a significant amount of money, and there are huge financial repercussions. Apart from that, many regulatory issues crop up.

How Cloud-Based Tech Helps
Integrating IoT-enabled cloud tracking helps monitor temperature and humidity in real-time. Automated alerts are sent to drivers and logistics managers. This helps them take quick action. This helps companies comply with food safety regulations and reduce waste.

4. Meeting Customer Demands Efficiently in the Retail Supply Chain

The Challenge
A national retail chain faced issues with delayed shipments and stock imbalances. This resulted in frequent out-of-stock scenarios and lost sales.

How Cloud-Based Tech Helps
A cloud-based supply chain management system enables real-time inventory tracking and automated restocking. An AI-driven forecasting system cuts down stockouts and boosts supply chain efficiency. Stores can keep shelves full, which keeps customers satisfied.

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How Fingent Helps Logistics Companies Stay Ahead

In today’s fast-paced world, there is no time for errors. Cloud based logistics platforms are a must if you want to stay relevant. Be it real-time tracking or automation and cost savings, the cloud has got your back. It is the key to staying competitive.

Fingent empowers logistics companies to transform their supply chain. We leverage cloud technology, AI analytics, and automation for better results.

We have worked with clients globally helping them reduce internal workloads by 50%, increase their customer base by 43% within 6 months, gain a 60% increase in employee satisfaction and more.

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    About the Author

    ...
    Tony Joseph

    Tony believes in building technology around processes, rather than building processes around technology. He specializes in custom software development, especially in analyzing processes, refining it and then building technology around it.He works with clients on a daily basis to understand and analyze their operational structure, discover (and not invent) key improvement areas and come up with technology solutions to deliver an efficient process.

    Talk To Our Experts

      The onset of globalization has encouraged business operations on an international scale. It offers companies the opportunity to reach new customers in new markets. Exposure to unknown markets and sometimes even known markets can expose businesses to greater competition and greater risk. However, efficient management of the supply chain can do away with many of these risks and put you on the path to success. 

      The challenges in the supply chain can include being unsure of the reliability of your suppliers, and their quality, cost, lead time, lot size, and more. Your business will surely profit if you had a way to monitor your supplies and the risks to your business.

      Yes, clear visibility is crucial.    

      This is where custom software can benefit your business!

      Custom software equips you with a way to collect, organize, and monitor the supplier-related information that is most meaningful to your business. This blog discusses which functions of the supply chain can be better managed with custom software and also talks about the benefits this can bring to your business.

      Why Is Customized Supply Chain Management Software Important?

      Efficient management of the supply chain depends primarily on data gathered at each stage of the supply chain process. The success of the business hinges on the way companies use those insights to make decisions that optimize demand, supply, inventory, and deliveries. 

      That is why custom software is essential to managing the supply chain. Custom software can enable organizations to make better use of their data as it gives structure to the information already in their possession. 

      Through the use of custom software solutions, companies can identify faults in their supply chain process. Such visibility can help them make better inventory decisions or inform their customers of the shipping status for their confirmed orders. 

      Essentially, custom software is instrumental in improving business operations and relationships with both customers and suppliers. 

      Read more: Build or Buy Logistic Software: An End To The Prolonged Discussion 

      Manage Key Supply Chain Functions with Custom Software

      Every business is unique in its functions. A software can address the specific company challenges only when customized and tailor-built after crucially analyzing the workflows and industry pain points.  Here are a few to look into.

      • Raw material acquisition: Supply chain management is a journey, and purchasing is at the beginning of that journey. Purchasing includes sourcing raw materials and other resources. Custom software enables smooth coordination with suppliers to deliver the material without any delays requires.
      • Planning and forecasting: The operations team must anticipate the possible market demand and the number of units for production. Over-anticipated demand can result in excess inventory costs. If it is underestimated, then the company will not be able to meet its customer demand and thus lose revenue. Custom solutions for planning and forecasting can help the operations team to anticipate demands more accurately. 
      • Warehouse arrangement: Supply chain management requires warehouse arrangements till it is shipped for delivery. If the products are delivered outside the country or state limits, there will also be a need for outstation warehouses. Custom software can optimize logistics to reach end-point delivery without any glitches. 

      Advantages Of Custom Software in Supply Chain Management

      1. Increased transparency throughout the supply chain

      Knowing exactly where your item is at any given time is important for all businesses as it allows you to sell the item before it even reaches your warehouse. Custom software can help you sell this way because it can pinpoint the exact location of your item and the time that it will reach your warehouse. 

      This will allow you to provide a guarantee to your customer that he will receive the product he purchased. Streamlining the supply chain will help achieve faster response times and increase customer loyalty. 

      2. Efficient inventory management

      With the help of custom software, you can sell your item while it is on the move or as it is in the making. It can help you estimate how many items you must produce, eliminating excessive production.

      3. Supplier management 

      You can keep a good relationship with your suppliers with custom software. Real-time data will allow you to know if you are running out of stock or if your tools and equipment need repair or replacement. This data will help you contact your suppliers immediately and thus minimize any potential delays. 

      You will also have details such as account receivables and other information at your fingertips when dealing with your suppliers. This will ensure that you are up to date with payments and discounts. As a result, you notice that your communication and cooperation with dealers and vendors improve considerably. 

      4. Streamline Processes

      Custom software will create highly streamlined processes for supply chain management, especially for businesses that operate from different locations across the globe.

      Fully customized software enables companies to accumulate all business data in one centralized location. Employees greatly benefit from this as they can now gain access to the latest versions of data, even if they are accessing it from multiple locations or branches. 

      5. Un-bottleneck your supply chain

      Bottlenecks in the supply chain are a direct result of the ineffective system in place that does not allow teams in different locations to communicate and align statuses to fulfill overall objectives. Companies that experience such bottlenecks miss opportunities and lose customers because they are unable to provide what their customers want. 

      An unsatisfied customer walks out on you and straight into the open arms of your competition. If you are beginning to notice lower satisfaction rates, numerous complaints, or bad reviews from the customers, it is time to explore custom software that can give you a business-targeted approach to customer experience. 

      When a business looks to meet or exceed customer demands, they have to rely heavily on its supply chain. Internal bottlenecks can slow down the entire process and risk order fulfillment. To prevent such bottlenecks, a business must understand what causes them and how to prevent them. 

      Custom software can help a business identify such bottlenecks and thus help efficiently manage the supply chain.

      Save Money, Time, and Your Business!

      It is clear that custom software comes with many benefits. It is also obvious that it saves money with time. While off-the-shelf software may come with a lower initial cost, investing in custom software will give more benefits to the supply chain management cycle. It improves sales functions and boosts productivity.

      Custom software that is fully optimized to the supply chain will improve business function in a way no off-the-shelf software can. Fully optimizing the supply chain process can be lean and seamless through the use of custom software. If the business growth process is left unchecked by the off-the-shelf software solutions it can become highly chaotic. Custom software gives companies a higher level of control over all supply chain operations while taking control over the growth process.

      A company that is digitally driven by custom software automatically enables a more proactive and open business. If this is what you want for your business, give us a call.

      Our experts at Fingent thrive on creating custom solutions for our clients. They will be happy to talk through the game plan with you and show you how your business can excel with custom software for your supply chain. 

      Stay up to date on what's new

        About the Author

        ...
        Tony Joseph

        Tony believes in building technology around processes, rather than building processes around technology. He specializes in custom software development, especially in analyzing processes, refining it and then building technology around it.He works with clients on a daily basis to understand and analyze their operational structure, discover (and not invent) key improvement areas and come up with technology solutions to deliver an efficient process.

        Talk To Our Experts

          Logistics Management Software:
          Business Applications & Use Cases

          Pfizer became the world’s largest sterile injectables supplier during the pandemic because the company excels in its logistics management. Without logistics software management, neither can they store, transport, and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to multiple countries, maintaining ultra-low temperatures.
          In today’s fast-paced environment with growing transport volumes, logistic management software play a key role in digitizing every touchpoint of the supply chain- monitor shipments, optimize delivery routes, communicate with partners, handle a gamut of operations, and oversee distribution with complete transparency. Investing in logistic management software streamlines your processes and eliminates workflow headaches, yielding positive results with significant changes in processes, procedures, and distribution.
          In this article, we will cover everything that you need to know about logistics management software.

          What is Logistics Management Software?

          Logistics management is a part of the supply chain that uses planning and implementation to store and deliver goods and services to the customer. Typically a logistics management system administers inbound and outbound transportation management, warehouse management, fleet management, processing orders, inventory control, managing third-party logistics service providers, and planning supply and demand. It coordinates several critical activities of the supply chain that range from product development to commercialization, such as production planning, sourcing, procurement, packaging, and dispatching. It also involves finding a suitable means to deliver goods and services to the end user.
          Logistics Management Software (LMS) simplifies logistics operations by refining the production cycle and making it easier to access important information quickly. Logistics management software helps businesses manage the various processes in the production cycle, from delivering raw materials to shipping the finished products to the consumers.
          Logistics Management Software Market has witnessed tremendous growth in USD million from 2017 to 2022, with the highest CAGR estimated to reach USD in 2029.
          Source: Industry Research
          Logistics software has become broader in its scope and functionality to deal with a vast array of operations and processes. It shares similarities with supply chain management software (SCMS), which contains tools that help deal with transactions, processes, and suppliers. The functionality of logistics management software extends to areas such as
          Logistics management software can get rid of all the conventional approaches like paperwork and spreadsheets to simplify management. Consequently, logistics will become more refined and fast, changing how materials, goods, freight, sales orders, inventory, and production are managed. It has three variations: warehouse management systems, enterprise resource planning systems, and integrated supply chain management suites.
          Companies with an in-house logistics or supply chain division and third-party logistics providers utilize any of these different versions according to their requirements to efficiently manage their logistical and supply chain operations.

          Key Features of Logistics Management Software

          A logistic and supply management company must have powerful and functional management software to manage its operations, planning, procurement, and distribution of products, data information, and finances. If your company is looking to procure or build a logistic management solution, ensure it includes certain features necessary for the smooth functioning of shipment. Some of the key must-have features of Logistics Management Software include-
          An order management system effectively handles large volumes of online orders. It monitors and tracks all the orders from the time of placing an order till it reaches the delivery point. It manages all the processes like order receiving, scheduling, processing, storage, and shipping and delivery. Some features like automatic scheduling, real-time optimization and tracking, automatic bill generation, managing order status, and multiple payment gateways simplify the order management process for businesses.
          CRM modules store relevant information from customer orders, such as order dates, contact information, cargo status, order estimation, and payment information. This ensures that every transaction is recorded in one place to help logistics managers easily control the flow of inventory and easily look up the associated records whenever needed.
          With proper inventory management, organizations can easily monitor active orders, track shipments, and reorder supplies with real-time sales data and historical trend analysis. Logistics management organizes, tracks, and processes orders as they come in, thereby saving the organization’s time and money by automatically fulfilling orders as they come in and reducing the risk of order errors or fraud.
          Warehouse management helps the owners and managers to monitor their physical warehouses in real time. It uses IoT devices, sensors, and smart storage tools to maintain optimal conditions for the storage and distribution of inventory with minimal human intervention. This translates to faster shipping, lower cost, optimized storage, tracking, and order fulfillment.
          Efficient supply chain management helps to maximize customer value, increase profitability, and achieve sustainable competitive advantage. It manages the transformation of goods from raw materials to finished goods and links the production, shipment, and delivery of goods. The activities involved include discovering optimal sourcing locations, determining the optimal quantity and type of inventory required to meet demand, and identifying the best delivery locations for the products.
          The demand forecasting feature helps organizations to plan inventory and supply based on the increase and decrease in demand. Demand planning tools help analyze a product’s lifecycle based on historical sales data, identify trends, and predict future demand. This feature helps to avoid ordering too much or too little inventory.
          Transportation management capabilities help businesses to plan, execute, and optimize the physical transportation of finished products from warehouses to customers. It helps fleet managers to identify optimal delivery routes, streamline driver assignments, and speed up pickup and delivery operations, thereby minimizing costs. It also helps to predict when their delivery times will be the longest and shortest.
          Modern logistics management software includes a real-time visibility feature to obtain the status of every product and shipment in the supply chain. This allows managers to access real-time information about the location and progress in every stage of the supply chain, helping them make informed decisions about when to order more inventory and stop production.

          Business Benefits of Using Logistics Software

          Proper planning, sourcing, production, delivery, and return are required to improve supply chain performance. Handing these processes to logistics management software provides operational fluency to the supply chain. With logistics management software, a company or 3PL (third-party logistics) provider can avail of the following benefits.

          Refine Transportation

          Transportation is a crucial and vital area in logistics management. It incurs the most fuel, labor, energy, and shipping charges. Using logistics software helps to simplify and reduce the cost incurred in transportation considerably. Logistics management software makes it easy to analyze data and make relevant decisions for lowering costs and maximizing efficiency.

          Faster Delivery

          The logistics and supply chain industry are prone to face several issues affecting delivery and delays. By incorporating logistics software, businesses can rapidly deliver their products to customers. Logistics management software significantly improves delivery time by speeding up the production cycle and choosing a suitable carrier. It ultimately reduces shipping delays to a great extent.

          Minimize Human Errors

          Another notable advantage of implementing logistics management software is minimizing human errors. Manually analyzing large quantities of data is tedious and time-consuming, which leads to flaws. Logistics software simplifies work by quickly processing these data and seamlessly pushing forward the operations with minimal delays.

          Automate Functions

          Process Automation is a tremendous boon of logistics software integration. Logistics software easily automates certain functions like creating shipment routes, load planning, and tendering of loads to carriers. Moreover, it eliminates paperwork, which helps deal with the processes efficiently and timely.

          Reduce Costs

          Logistics software can automatically compare different shipping services, delivery agents, and transportation methods to find the least-pricing ones. The other way logistics software reduces costs is by lowering the expedited shipments through improved shipment planning.

          Customer Support

          Logistics software provides good customer support service tools for all assistance. It provides a platform to centralize all customer support needs. Chatbots, automated alerts, notifications, and virtual assistants improve customer service speed and quality.

          How To Overcome Logistics Challenges with Logistics Software

          The logistics industry is complex and involves a lot of complicated processes and hassles. With the pandemic, businesses were compelled to rely more on logistics management software to pace with changing demands and provide essential items to customers. To address the pressing challenges in logistics management, a modern logistics software solution promises to add increased scalability, speed of delivery, efficiency, and accuracy.

          1 Rising transportation costs

          With the hike in fuel prices, the cost of transporting goods increases substantially. The logistics industry is greatly impacted by the challenge of maintaining low shipping costs for delivering products to customers.
          The route optimization feature in logistics software can help the logistics industry overcome this chaotic challenge. With the right implementation, companies can easily detect the fastest route to deliver goods and save fuel expenses. Hence, this is economical for the logistics company and customers, as they can avoid paying high shipping costs.

          2 Delay in delivery

          Another important problem is the inadequate waiting time for products. Due to climatic conditions, factory shutdowns, port capacity issues, or other disruptive events, delivery of products may be slowed or sometimes comes to a standstill.
          Logistics software makes it easy to automate your delivery processes and increase efficiency. Get timely updates on the movement of products using tracking software or real-time visibility of shipments. This helps to give a bigger picture of when the goods are dispatched, procured, and when they will be delivered. Automation saves your time lost when working manually and provides accurate data and tracking, thereby improving the overall delivery process.

          3 Lack Effective Coordination

          The major problems in the logistics industry creep in from its inconsistency and fragmentation. With multiple parties involved in the logistics supply chain- manufacturers, storekeepers, drivers, managers, and customers, it is difficult to have centralized control over their communication path.
          Such issues can be alleviated by adopting effective communication and real-time visibility software systems that can be integrated directly into the warehouse management system, providing access to partners and clients. This puts everyone in the loop with proper visibility of the various stages in production and distribution.

          4 Meeting the demand surge

          Demand surges or panic buying influences inventory stock levels and customer service satisfaction and can also impact the entire supply chain. Filling the inventory stock on time is a massive operation and requires proper planning.
          Forecast accuracy and automation help get a proper inventory stock overview and meet perpetual demand fluctuations. To fulfill growing delivery volumes and maintain customer satisfaction, logistic software with a digitized system helps to orchestrate these operations effectively and flawlessly.

          5 Warehouse management errors

          Flaws in warehouse management are common such as misplaced products, packing or shipping wrong products, incomplete orders, or damaged items during delivery. Such human errors can become costly when they are not regulated.
          The best way to reduce such mistakes is by leveraging an effective and updated warehouse management system. Logistics companies must invest in modern technologies like artificial and augmented intelligence, advanced analytics, automation, and warehouse robotics to manage their inventory and improve business scalability and competitive edge.
          IoT helps to improve the logistic processes by providing proper visibility in every stage of the supply chain and maintaining inventory efficiency. Integrating an IoT device in the logistics ecosystem enables clear-cut transparency in various operations like real-time visibility of goods, condition monitoring, storage and warehousing, and fleet management.
          Logistics companies use AI to identify patterns in data and churn insights. It helps to advance operations such as intelligent transportation, route optimization, demand forecasting, budget planning, etc. McKinsey reports that AI-driven logistics optimization can reduce costs through real-time forecasts and behavioral coaching. The potential incremental value of AI in the logistics and transportation industry (89%) will be more than other analytics techniques.
          Over the last few decades, innovative logistic robotic companies have worked hard to mesh AI and machine learning, better sensors and response capabilities, warehouse management software, or logistics management software. Recently, warehouse robotics in the supply chain has picked up pace exponentially. There has been colossal funding and investment in the industry. For example, Alibaba invested $15 billion into robotic logistics infrastructure, and Google invested $500 million into automated logistics for JD. It is also estimated that the global market for warehouse robotics in the supply chain will reach a market value of $22.4 billion by the end of 2021.
          In a pandemic-troubled world, contactless delivery is more critical than ever. eCommerce companies and carriers face increasing pressure due to the surge in online shopping. It’s crucial to stay agile by ensuring business continuity. At the same time, it is also vital to remain safe and meet delivery needs. Electronic parcel lockers, contactless parcel delivery and collection, and self-service pick-up automate delivery processes to reduce physical interactions between customers and delivery agents. Custom logistics software applications can help fulfill the increasing demand for last-mile delivery. Fingent helps build healthy tech partnership ecosystems to ensure uninterrupted supply and distribution of your products and services.
          Automating warehouses promises to streamline processes and improve efficiency, speed, and productivity with a considerable reduction in human interventions. Many processes, such as procurement, distribution, customer service, etc., can be automated along a supply chain. The Global Logistics Automation Market size was $50.9 billion in 2020, but its CAGR of 12.4% may grow to $82.3 billion by 2026.
          Blockchain, also known as distributed ledger technology, can record transactions between parties securely and permanently. The shared and secured databases enabled by blockchain help avoid intermediaries and third parties verifying records and coordinating supply chain transactions. Blockchain helps increase the traceability of the material supply chain, improve the credibility and trust of shared data, digitize physical assets like contracts and critical documents, streamline administrative processes, reduce costs, and enable effective auditing of supply chain data.

          Example of blockchain application in logistics: The international logistics giant DHL uses blockchain-based serialization of pharmaceutical drugs and products to ensure that the products come only from legitimate manufacturers, not counterfeit, and are adequately tracked and traced through their journey from origin to consumption.
          The emergence of sensor technologies and AI has contributed heavily to the rapid growth of predictive maintenance in the logistics industry. Supply chain leaders want to utilize data effectively to optimize predictive maintenance, forecast demands, adjust inventory levels, improve cold chain transportation, and protect the integrity of the supply chain. Smart and optimized data management through predictive analytics and AI allow logistics providers to refine and transform the supply chain in the coming years.
          Cloud-integrated logistics management software allows real-time price updates, inventory, and tracking. It enables real-time accuracy and 360-degree management of processes and systems. You can track a product’s lifecycle, from ordering to distribution. It significantly cuts down the costs of lost products, missing deliveries, locating a shipment at any stage of transport, and rerouting a misdirected shipment. Cloud-based logistics software allows everyone in a trade network to communicate and share real-time data, make decisions quickly, and scale on demand.
          Autonomous vehicles enable the delivery of goods without any human intervention. This helps the supply chain respond quickly and more quickly to customer demands. It helps to deliver goods safely and faster while improving vehicle safety and eliminating human errors. It significantly contributes to fuel efficiency, performance, and cost.
          Elastic logistics helps companies upscale or downscale their warehouse operations and resources efficiently in the event of changing demands. It can tackle the challenges of supply chain companies, amending the production lines, including managing space in a warehouse, better inventory management, and distribution of goods without jeopardizing the current working of the facility or incurring higher costs.

          Choosing the Right Logistics Management Software

          With the trends shifting logistics management in a progressive direction, the need for software solutions in the field has become indispensable. Businesses, whether focussing on e-commerce or delivering services, can benefit from having logistics management software. However, the real question is finding the right kind of logistics software since the requirements vary for each business.
          Before settling on software for logistics management, it is vital to understand the daily requirements and challenges a business faces. Carrying out a detailed analysis can help identify deficiencies in the existing logistical operations of a business. Besides that, it can suggest measures to redeem any discovered shortcomings in the cycle.
          There are several essential factors to consider when deciding on logistics management software. Firstly, it should contain a basic set of functions that can aid in simple logistical management operations. Besides that, numerous other things should also be present in the software to tackle the wide base of a business’s logistical operations and processes.
          Here is a checklist of the essentials to look for while choosing logistics management software.
          Refer to the chart below to get a grip on the overall profile of any software logistics management:
          With logistics pushed to the forefront of business operations, leveraging the right technology can make your business compatible with the changing environment.
          Outsourcing to a software development vendor will help deploy scalable software for logistics management into your entire supply chain operations. A global software solutions provider like Fingent can give you the advantage of custom logistics solutions based solely on your requirements.

          Common Business Applications of Logistics Management Software

          #1 Quickly respond to logistics
          RFQs
          Employ automated chatbots
          #2 Identify financial discrepancies in
          invoices
          Use of AI or ML techniques
          #3 Cargo movement &
          collection
          Implement warehouse automation
          #4 Better customer service
          Use of chatbots and virtual assistants
          #5 Demand forecasting
          Employ AI-powered predictive analytics
          #6 Good inventory control
          Adopt an ERP system
          #7 Displaying route information on drivers’ windscreen
          Use of AR or VR devices

          Use Case # 1 Quick Response to logistics RFQs

          Logistic operators must respond quickly to client requests and schedule and process orders. Implementing bots helps respond to RFQs on time and speed up the quotation process with less human intervention. Bots can help provide timely quotations and improve the chances of winning the RFQ. Bots can also support increasing sales because of their 24/7 availability and faster response rate.

          Use Case # 2 Identifying invoice discrepancies

          On many occasions, the invoices have price differences with the order or quantity differences between the receipt of the goods. Such scenarios in the logistics industry can be avoided using artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) techniques. AI uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools to extract essential data from invoices to identify budget discrepancies.

          Use Case # 3 Displaying route information on drivers’ windscreen

          Logistic companies use AR/VR to transport goods, ensuring the delivery of goods is safe, on time, and effective. A driver traveling with the load would find it easy and convenient to find essential information about traffic jams and alternative routes displayed on the vehicle's windscreen. Or the relevant information can also be shown on a smart glass that can be worn by the driver while driving. Such innovative methods help to save time rather than checking information on a separate gadget.

          Use Case # 4 Cargo collection and movement

          Warehouse automation can automate the movement of goods to and from warehouses with minimal human assistance. Businesses can eliminate repetitive physical work, labor-intensive duties, and manual data entry and analysis. Warehouses can employ robots for tasks like cross-dock transportation and moving cargo from the warehouse to the shipping zone, and automated software can record the movement of that inventory. This helps save upfront costs, from improving operations to minimizing human error.

          Use Case # 5 Delivering Better Customer Service

          Logistic companies must always be prepared to meet customer needs appropriately. Automated customer service or tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can answer customer queries regarding delivery status, consignment location, and delivery time. The logistic system must be automated, bridging gaps between disparate IT systems with quick access to information to provide quality customer service. This helps customer service agents become more productive and fulfill better customer experiences.

          Use Case # 6 Demand forecasting

          Demand forecasting is key to success and growth, which helps identify potential scope for expansions and potential threats. The AI-powered predictive analytics feature in logistic management software supports demand forecasting, which enables companies to predict demand, supply, and pricing within an industry. This feature combines historical data from various sources and helps improve demand forecasting accuracy. It will help companies to stock up sufficient quantities to meet customer demands without having a surplus. Moreover, it helps to organize cash flow better and plan the workforce to boost business efficiency.

          Use Case # 7 Better control of inventory

          An ERP system provides a centralized system to manage the inventory from all corners, with the ability to gather and bring information from different sources into one location, including current requests, inbound and outbound sales, stocks, or delivery status. It helps to streamline various operations and provides an overall picture of the entire logistics system- it tracks the live status of the goods, customer details, customer trends, transportation processes, and more.

          Challenges Faced By Companies Implementing Logistics Software

          Adopting digital technologies is still not as rampant a practice as it should be in the logistics industry. Many key decision-makers in companies link the process with the chaotic deployment of complicated technologies. Logistics companies plan to invest 5% of their revenue per year in digitalization. But the industry’s low profitability makes such funding challenging.
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          50% of US importers still use spreadsheets to manage their complex international supply chain.

          Adopting logistics management software would mean considering many things, from employee reactions to their impact on customer relations and costs and how they align with the business objectives. Navigating these considerations can be easier said than done, as logistic companies must tackle some serious mindset blocks to go ahead with digital transformation. Some common challenges companies face in implementing logistics management software are
          Fingent enables logistic companies to implement a custom logistic solution that guarantees modernizing traditional business processes and automating mundane tasks to increase efficiency and improve the business’s overall productivity without disrupting the existing system.

          How Custom Logistics Management Software Can Benefit Your Supply Chain

          Like every other industry, there is no one size fits all solution for logistics management, as the requirements vary from business to business. Logistics management software refers to a wide range of technology solutions like order management, transportation management, inventory management, warehouse, operations, and fleet management. Some logistics and transportation companies turn directly to ready-made or off-the-shelf logistics solutions. However, some prefer to choose customizable logistics management software to improve their services.
          Custom logistics management software is tailored just to your business and meets your exact specifications. They provide personalized logistic solutions that focus on fixing not just the general logistic issues faced by businesses but the ones that are specific to your company. These logistics solutions are based on the analysis of your business operations, requirements, and challenges you face, and then provide solutions to those needs.

          Why choose custom logistic software?

          Fingent Builds a Custom Logistic Management Software

          We helped built a custom warehouse management and order processing software to simplify what was once considered complex order processing. It allows customers to place orders quickly and warehouses to track every order with improved efficiency and sophistication.
          A personalized transportation management system lets our customers view their order status in real-time and access up-to-date shipping data.
          It’s time to re-imagined logistics and supply chain operations with customized software solutions.
          Top Benefits of the Solution:

          Transitioning into Cloud-Based SaaS: The Future of Logistics

          Cloud computing is gaining momentum unveiling a whole new way of processing data. Tech innovations have influenced the supply chain and logistics operations. Increased supply chain and logistics solutions adoption will shift from the on-premise model to the SaaS model.
          Predictions estimate that a subscription-based SaaS model will dominate supply chain management in the future. Adopting a cloud-based supply chain solution offers benefits in the form of flexibility, robustness, and affordability. Free and open-source software adoption has made the cloud the primary choice for logistics providers and organizations worldwide.
          Cloud-based SaaS supply chain solutions offer numerous benefits. It gives a comprehensive outlook on logistics operations by making processes more transparent and collaborative. Implementing a cloud system reduces upfront and operating costs. It also offers the ability to scale up with the business needs and enhances supply chain efficiency.

          Bottom Line

          Opting for a logistics solution is one step to simplifying the entire cycle of logistical and supply chain operations. Effective management of each process, from procurement to delivery, requires a custom logistics management solution that can accommodate each provider’s demands. For instance, an organization lacking an in-house logistics department needs a software management tool to wrap around its existing methodology and improve it.
          Businesses can deploy logistics management software tailored to their requirements by partnering with a vendor specializing in software development. Pioneers in custom software development like Fingent can assist companies from wholesalers to distributors to e-commerce with the advantage of custom logistic solutions. Get in touch with us to spearhead your operations swiftly and efficiently.

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            About the Author

            ...
            Vinod Saratchandran

            Vinod has conceptualized and delivered niche mobility products that cater to various domains including logistics, media & non-profits. He leads, mentors & coaches a team of Project Coordinators & Analysts at Fingent.

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              The logistics sector has become a key performance indicator of the economy. Various estimates put the total market size of the logistics sector in a country on an average to be between USD 90-125 billion!

              The Current Sketch of the Logistics Market Place

              Logistics and transportation managers often find the movement of freight between trade partners an uphill battle! It is necessary to make the transit easier, cheaper, and more efficient. The freight managers turn to Transportation Management Systems (TMS) for a smooth operation. Over the last 3 decades, such systems have evolved significantly and are typically available as standalone software packages, as part of a larger Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, or in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) formats.

              Logistics cost is 9% of the GDP in the U.S. This shows an increasing demand on the logistics sector to provide solutions, which are required to support future growth.

              Looking at TMS as “one of the fastest growing enterprise application markets” in its most recent TMS Global Market Research Study, ARC Advisory group says that a gigantic 63 percent of companies would witness at least a 5 percent increase ( that is, 23% stated a 10 percent or more increase) in total freight costs if they had to forsake  their TMS and get back to more manual transportation planning and execution processes. According to ARC, a Logistics achieves large savings based on process enforcement, visibility, analytics, and optimization, “with virtually no other supply chain application offering so many different forms of optimization.”

              Related Reading:  Top Challenges Faced by Logistics Management Today

              Top Areas to Focus on a Long Term Logistics Strategy

              According to survey reports in the “Transportation Management Systems” Study by the Peerless Research group and Logistics Management, and some other Successful Logistics Businesses, the top areas that are important when looking forward to a long term logistics strategy are:

              • Maintaining high levels of customer service (96%)
              • Lowering costs (94%)
              • Improving efficiencies and productivity in logistics operations (93%)
              • Achieving the ability to target logistics initiatives that drive business growth (79%) Improving Asset Utilization (74%).

              Other factors involved are as follows:

              • understanding and controlling costs (55 percent),
              • better shipment planning (55 percent), and
              • greater in-transit visibility (52 percent).
              • electronic communications with customers and carriers (45 percent),
              • overall supply chain processes (45 percent), and
              • carrier and partner collaboration (43 percent).

              These key factors are important to carve out a long term solution for their business growth and to remain sustainable and cost-effective in their transportation expenses.

              Maintaining High Levels of Customer Service Is Essential In Logistics Services

              Logistics partner is the company that ensures the delivery of your products on time and cost-effectively. A single rupture can be fatal to your company. Hence it is important to monitor the quality of the product or direct service provided. Since for many online businesses, the final touchpoint with their customer is their logistics provider, customer service is the most essential factor in Logistics!

              With the benefit of logging in whenever and wherever required to know the shipping details, a TMS allows analysis of various reports to know the delivery details of carriers. Based on this data, greater predictability can be ensured along with providing a hassle-free delivery of the product to your customer.  
              The same data can also be used to interact with carriers and other members in the supply chain. This helps in resolving issues if any and proactive improvement which leads to an increase in the customer service metrics.

              Lowering Costs with A Properly Managed Logistics System

              Poor logistics analysis, planning and decision making can result in excessive expenditures, missed delivery deadlines and damaged goods. This is why optimizing operational efficiency and reducing logistics costs are essential factors to remain financially viable. Here are a few factors that affect Logistics costs:

              • Increase In Fuel costs.
              • Delayed arrivals at ports, that leads to higher transportation fees.
              • Complex regulations that govern international trade such as document processing, compliance checks, and so on.
              • Frequent delivery delays and increased warehousing expenses.

              Process Automation

              The logistics business drives on quick service and fast turn-around times. Yet, there is a lot that goes on in the background before a shipment or a truck is in transit. The reality is that a lot of these processes are manual and eat up a lot of time, which adds to the overall TAT. It is evident that ongoing investments are made in automating processes and this gives one the choice to expand without increasing other additional overheads.

              As mentioned earlier the logistics industry is witnessing a continuous growth. Although there are multiple challenges that exist in this industry, the growth of logistics is going to be a very key indicator of the performance of our economy.

              Improving Productivity in Logistics Operations with a TMS

              The first step to achieve a Logistics task is planning. With proper planning, we will be able to prepare for the unforeseen circumstances. These situations can be related to:

              • The products
              • Unavailability of the transportation
              • Any internal issue in the organization
              • Research and pick the correct goods.

              This is where Automation has a vital role in business process optimization. When automation is deployed in the logistics process, timely updates regarding the movement of goods will be provided.  The service operator and the customer will get details regarding:

              • The goods that are dispatched from the supplier
              • Procurement of the products at the warehouse
              • Delivery of the goods at the destination

              This saves a considerable amount of time because manual interference is eliminated. Moreover, accurate tracking helps in improving the overall process management. Similarly, the account details and employee details can also be managed.

              Targeting Logistics strategies that Drive Business Growth

              Trumping over your competitors is possible with proper logistics strategies. This is because logistics costs are related to improved efficiencies. With proper strategies, every logistics firm that is struggling to boost their operations can incorporate these strategies for a proper logistics network optimization.

              Improving Asset Utilization and Warehouse Management with a TMS

              Common warehouse logistics challenges revolve around every Logistics industry The concerns can extend into extending into inventory management, cost controls, human resources, risk management, and security, among other factors.

              With a proper logistics system that is integrated with your ERP or Warehouse Management System, you can easily start to calculate asset utilization! For expedient logistic solutions and seamless technological transformation, reach out to Fingent, the top custom software development company and Unlock the power of prompt logistics solutions while embracing their expertise in cutting-edge technology. 

               

              Related Reading: 5 Emerging Trends That Logistics Managers Cannot Afford to Ignore

               

               

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                About the Author

                ...
                Tony Joseph

                Tony believes in building technology around processes, rather than building processes around technology. He specializes in custom software development, especially in analyzing processes, refining it and then building technology around it.He works with clients on a daily basis to understand and analyze their operational structure, discover (and not invent) key improvement areas and come up with technology solutions to deliver an efficient process.

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