Archive for the ‘analysis’ Category

Data analysis tool for Freight logistics services

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Here is a versatile management information tool that can give you new perspectives on how your freight logistics business is performing. Gives insights on branches, trucks, customers, delivery centres, trans-shipment points etc. The easy to use tool incorporates data warehousing and data mining techniques for informed decision making.

Features and benefits

  • Carry the snapshot data on your laptop to do the analysis while you are on the move.
  • One click information access
  • Export to excel, word or other formats for presentation purposes
  • Combination of over 1000 report views to choose from
  • Lightweight application, One click install

Sample information access

  • Station analysis with from,To, Freigh,Weight,  Avg wt / package. Avg freight / consignment
  • Dispatch – Tonnage, Freight, From, To, Truck or broker consolidation
  • Stock position – Branch wise, From, To, tonnage, Avg frt / consignment
  • Dispatch analysis  – From,To, Packages, Weight, Avg time  (days)
  • Booking – Delivery time (Unloading date – despatch date) From – To station
  • Delivery point stock ageing (packages, frt, weight)
  • Top 50 consignors, topay,paid,tbb, From,To, Commodity
  • Top 25 routes, freight, Packages, Weight analysis
  • Commodity analysis – from,To,Freight,Weight, Avg wt / consignment, avg freight

Freight Management process

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Booking process

The part who makes the booking is called the consignor and the receiver is the consignee. If both are the same, it is booked as "Self"

There are three modes of payment – Paid consignment (Cash) / To pay consignment (Paid on delivery ) and To Be Billed (Monthly Billed)

Freight is calculated on the basis of a matrix consisting of total weight (Charged weight for volume / low density goods), number of packages, value of goods carried and other factors such as Door delivery.

For some consignments the consignor would insist on an acknowledgement copy (Proof of Delivery)

Some consignees and consignors have special rates for specific stations or commodities (eg, tooth paste, ball bearings).

This document is called the Waybill (Three copies. Consignor, Consignee and Truck)

Goods are despatched on the basis of availability of vehicles. Own trucks and hired. Each truck carries a document called vehicle manifest (VA) which is the proof of goods carried and also for checkpost declaration at state borders. SA-F.M.S provides route management and first in first out loading processes.

Goods can be sent directly or through transit points for sake of load factoring or truck availability (Transshipment point module available). Sometimes due to human errors, all consignments need not necessarily be sent in one lot. Partial dispatches do happen and the arrival at point B might be recorded in two or three trips. Effective tracking of consignment is vital for a freight software.

The process of loading and unloading are done on a first in first out basis / sometime on the basis of routes. Loading and Unloading charts are kept to track consignments.

On arrival at the delivery station the goods are recorded in the Inward register

Delivery process

The consignee brings his copy of the waybill, the delivery is made. Certain charges are collected from the consignee if the goods are not cleared within stipulated days (Demmurage).

Some local handling and stationery charges are also collected. In case of missing consignee copy, an Indemnity bond is requested and delivery made. A Delivery Receipt (DR) is prepared for all consignments

It might so happen that the consignee might not take delivery of the goods due to (1) Late delivery (2) Damaged (3) no longer in business (4) Perishable goods expiry (5) Missing items (6) Wrong items

Notices are sent to the concerned parties after 45 days and removed / auctioned or sent back to the consignor if he is willing to bear the return freight charges (Re booking)

Some of the reports generated in Freight Management System

Daily booking statement
Daily Delivery statement
Cash statement
Monthly booking analysis
Branch wise Freight Analysis report
To be billed report
Branch Stock aging analysis
Route stock analysis
Debtor aging analysis
Branch business analysis
Monthly to be billed analysis

Data analytics for freight logistics

Monday, December 1st, 2008

The quantum of data generated by Freight Management System introduces termendous scope for business analysis. With the help of cutting edge data mining tools the possibilities are endless

  • Measurement of customer business trends
  • Alerts on dip in customer business volume
  • Best performing booking stations
  • Most profitable truck routes
  • Trans-shipment volume analysis
  • Customer classification on the basis of monthly freight volume
  • Cost of serving customers
  • Communicating on a continuous basis with most profitable customers
  • Truck load utilisation and load profitability