In 2011, leading shippers and logistics service providers will seek solutions that offer the most comprehensive and accurate view of their supply chain, to help drive their decision-making, increase their operational efficiency, and reduce the risk of future market changes.
Shipping companies should look to systems that can help identify discrepancies between the information that passes down their data pipeline and actual, real-world events. Visibility solutions that analyze patterns and gaps in supply chain data can help ensure the information supporting their critical business decisions, including inventory planning and re-planning, is accurate and reliable. That analysis provides a solid foundation for exception management solutions that monitor if cargo is moving according to plan.
The widespread adoption of software-as-a-service and recent economic uncertainty is prompting more shipping and logistics companies to move their IT solutions to the cloud, helping mitigate technology costs while maximizing business opportunities. Companies will look beyond applications for executing and tracking their shipments to systems that can apply customized process analysis to supply chain monitoring, and free them from time-consuming, repeat tasks. The efficiencies gained through these services will allow firms to focus on quality improvement and help them adapt to shifting market needs.
For example, as governments implement regulations such as the European Union’s 24-hour rule to make global supply chains more secure, shipping companies will require systems that can adjust to changing execution and documentation processes. Combining accurate data with flexible and sophisticated systems will help shippers and logistics service providers spot critical exceptions earlier in the shipment cycle, make faster decisions, and prepare for changes in the market in 2011.