Archive for the ‘freight’ Category

SA-FMS makes organisation wide consignment search easy

Saturday, April 24th, 2010
Branch integration is one of the key factors that separates SA-FMS from solutions that are exist in mid-tier logistics ERP space.

Initially, at individual branches, the default search engaged is for local data whereas at central office, it is an organisation wide global search.  At branches, once a local search based on a waybill turns null, it prompts the user to look for the waybill using global search – connecting booking – delivery – transshipment and transit consignments to return the last known status and the entire history of the waybill through various branches.  Global search enables in faster responses to customer queries, reduced communication costs and better informed decision making.
 
FMS is being used by a few BGTA member companies

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

Internet of Things for Freight logistics industries

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

2009 has been a turning point for the Internet of Things, when real world objects (such as lights, cars and packages) get connected to the Internet. This trend has added a significant amount of new data to the Web, so for that reason alone it is an important development.
International courier giant Fedex released a new tracking device and web service for packages in December. Called SenseAware, it keeps tabs on the temperature, location and other vital signs of a package – including when it's opened and whether it was tampered with along the way. Fedex is running a trial period of about a year with 50 health care and life science companies, for tracking delivery of surgery kits, medical equipment – and even live organs.




CRM and cost of servicing freight and logistics clients

Monday, November 30th, 2009

SA-FMS, though its secure remote client management module allows Consignors and Consignees engage in self services whereby the cost of servicing the client reduces considerably – helping Freight Logistics companies to compete in the ever challenging markets.

End user benefits

  • Track waybill status online – with GPS tracking integration
  • Register complaints online
  • Tracking of short and excess consignments
  • Bulk booking online
  • Waybill enquiry
  • Proof of delivery document
  • Monthly dispatch statement

Organisation benefits

  • Offer dynamic pricing offers
  • Loyalty bonus programmes
  • Interface with third party accounting and ERP solutions
  • Measure customer share of business
  • Reduce cost of servicing clients
  • Provide value added services such as priority loading, GPS consignment tracking etc

Freight and logistics – document Management

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Freight and logistics services organisations have tons of paper documents which need to be accessed from time to time. AMLF logistics, Navi Mumbai implemented document management at their head office to bring about considerable reduction in storage space and improved efficiency in servicing client requests.

Documents archived

* Printed waybills
* Rate contracts
* Loading and unloading reports
* Customer invoices
* Cash receipts
* Octroi and other statutory documents
* Truck and driver records

The document management module of SA-F.M.S allows easy scanning, conversion, indexing, storage, retrieval and printing of important documents using a high speed dual mode desktop scanner and laser printer.

Savings

* Time to access waybills 50%-90%
* End user productivity 20%-30%
* Waybill document handling 20%-40%
* Desk space 30%-50%
* Real estate space

AMLF is a BGTA member company

Central Freight Accounting system

Friday, September 4th, 2009

We are in the process of implementing a multi branch financial accounting system for a large Freight Service operator having 300 odd branches across India. The accounting suite would take the organisation to the next performance level, besides bringing considerable cost savings through operation efficiencies and lower cost of ownership.

Features

  • Integration with Booking, delivery, lorry hire and branch transfer modules
  • Payment approval and verification
  • Centralised debtor billing
  • Choice of online and offline data entry
  • End of day data consolidation at head office through broadband connection
  • Data backup and replication to avoid disasters
  • Windows application configured to run on Ubuntu (linux) workstations.

Benefits

  • End of day financial status
  • Ease of audit for branch inspectors and internal auditors
  • Timely management information (Profit and loss and branch performance)
  • Single point updation for all transactions
  • Better credit control.
  • Less time spent at HO staff for checking vouchers
  • Considerable savings in software licencing

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

Cost savings for logistics

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

A client of ours based in Mumbai, who has been successfully using a custom built version of Freight Management Software for bulk liquid carriers commented that he has been able to reduce the workload of their 10+  staff by 50% due to improvement in billing cycles. The staff were moved to more productive activities such as account management and tele marketing. The entire transaction documents are scanned and uploaded to the central server. The staff located at the dockyards and factories are provided with laptop computers to access the central server so that the waybills are generated online and customers updated at the end of the day.

Cost saving solutions for transporters

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

Freight Management Software solution for trucking and logistics companies in India, Africa and the Middle East region

  • Ready to use software solution
  • Scalable and reliable
  • Ideal for multi branch organisations
  • Affordable technology
  • Report builder for customisation
  • Supports Linux and Windows server platforms
  • Client support for Windows XP and Ubuntu
  • 30 day ROI guarantee
  • Structured implementation process
  • End user training
  • Process flow improvements
  • High response to customer enquiries
  • Ease of tracking of consignments
  • Central goods monitoring
  • Statistical analysis on branch performance
  • Agent management and commission processing
  • Third party logistics management
  • C&F operations module
  • Regular product updates
  • Frequent improvements in business processes
  • 24 x 7 permission based remote support
  • Zero obsolescence
  • Low cost of ownership
  • 10+ years of expertise in Freight logistics industry