Martin Krajczy drives digital networking and process optimization - both internally and for customers.
Martin Krajczy
Integration manager
Customer portal and others: IT platforms connect all partners along the supply chain
The right connection – a lot depends on it in logistics. But we don’t just mean the connection between two locations, but above all the connection between different service providers in logistics, between networks, partners and customers. In order for logistics services to be efficient and transparent, it is advisable not only to connect the processes, but also to link all participants within the supply chain. This can be achieved with a kind of data hub that gathers information, converts it into the right format and distributes it to the relevant parties.
IT platform, customer portal, dashboard – what is that?
A portal full of applications that can be customised according to the wishes and needs of the company and provides everyone involved with the most important transport information at a glance – what may sound like a dream at first actually ensures efficient collaboration and standardised processes in logistics. Whether it goes by the name of IT platform, customer portal, dashboard or data hub – what is meant by all these terms is a user interface that is available to all partners along the supply chain and combines various solutions under one roof.
The clou: Individual partners and companies do not need to implement any special software to use the platform, they simply need to log into the portal. All necessary applications are then available in the web-based dashboard. The shared infrastructure not only reduces the error-proneness of processes due to a lack of transparency or late provision of data, but also the proportionate operating costs. We will now explain exactly how this works, who benefits from it and what such a platform should definitely be able to do.
Who benefits from a logistics platform?
The simple answer would be: everyone involved. But of course we would like to outline this in more detail. Software is not cheap – smaller companies can therefore sometimes not afford to pay several thousand euros a month for a notification tool or track and trace software. Order entry, live tracking of shipments or the provision of status updates thus become a real mammoth task. Companies tie up employee resources by performing these tasks manually. This not only costs a lot more time, but is also more error-prone and therefore far less efficient.
In our example, however, it is not just the freight forwarder itself that is affected: All the partners it works with along the supply chain may also suffer as a result, as this is a joint endeavour. A reliable and up-to-date database is therefore needed to strengthen collaboration and make it more more efficient as a group, such as a cooperation or network. This is where our IT platform comes into play. In decentralised logistics networks, the process participant for whom an accelerated, closed information chain offers the greatest process advantage often acts as the platform sponsor.
What should a customer portal in logistics be able to do?
The main task of such a portal is to provide order information in real time. This creates transparency regarding order processing. Status updates, news and key performance indicators (KPIs) should ideally be visible at a glance. It is also important that customers, partners and users can easily be managed based on a rights and roles concept.
A customer portal could integrate the following options, for example:
- a dashboard for a quick overview of the most important order information
- a track and trace-module with a live map
- structured customer communication through to-do management
- comprehensive information on the entire supply chain
- status information up to delivery
- tariffs, conditions and the option to request daily prices
- analyses and downloads up to the proof of delivery (POD)
Such portals are particularly useful where the individual steps of service provision are divided between different players. For example, the shipper, freight forwarder and various transport service providers have a common interest in the progress of the transport and require different information. They are all linked together via a standardised platform.
Central data hub: every partner has all the necessary information in the right format
The pivotal point along the entire supply chain: the flow of data. If it comes to a standstill, this affects the logistics processes. However, if all partners are connected to the data flow and information is visible at a glance, this enables precise planning of connection processes and increases transparency. An IT platform that acts as a central data hub makes this possible.
The web-based IT solution generally fulfils higher-level control tasks – across companies and independently of the operational systems of the individual companies involved. For example, the solution processes data from telematics systems, transport management systems (TMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The associated user interface typically provides information on the current process status, which some of the parties involved transfer back into their own operational software via interfaces.
All data from the respective steps is therefore recorded via the platform, processed and then made available for viewing or distributed to the partners. This means that bilateral interfaces do not have to be set up for each process; instead, the players are networked with each other using the shared economy principle. This enables real-time communication of data and the use of standardised logics.
The advantages of a shared logistics platform at a glance:
- Integrated: Say goodbye to media disruptions – all data is available to all partners via the IT platform.
- Connected: No matter how many locations and companies are involved in logistics processes – an IT platform links all partners, provides them with the same data and thus ensures standardised processes.
- Accelerated: The data hub serves as the centre of all processes and is always up to date. Status changes are immediately shared with everyone.
Conclusion
Perfectly synchronised processes: IT platforms connect everyone involved and serve as a central data hub
Integrated, connected, accelerated – the benefits of a standardised IT platform can be described in three words. It serves as THE reliable database, as it allows processes to be bundled, and all parties involved use software and IT services together. All information flows via this single point of truth, also known as the single source of truth (SSOT)/information, which connects all partners along the supply chain without any media disruptions. Mobile apps can be easily connected, and the scalability of such an IT platform makes it particularly future-proof.
As an efficient communication interface, these digital platforms have become an integral part of logistics. They enable a seamless communication chain in real time and always show the progress of the process with constantly updated data. The resulting target-performance comparison improves planning and enables the proactive management of tasks.
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