In 2015, SMC³ celebrated its 80th year of serving the technology, data and educational needs of the motor freight-transportation community. While it was fun to look back at how we’ve evolved as a company, it’s clear to me that over the next year, there may be a significant shift in how the industry functions. Interactions among shippers, carriers and other logistics providers have already been changed by advancements in technology, and 2016 could usher in new communication tools. It is essential to develop new programs and support systems to provide those solutions.
Our customer base has a heightened need for standardized pricing structures based on the highly accurate transit time and rating data we’ve provided for many years. But they’re also looking for more. Shippers and 3PLs want emerging technologies to provide them with an increased amount of information about their supply chains. Movement within the industry toward API data exchanges started out with a few cautious early adopters, but now is a growing trend. Customers are learning they could soon be able to access shipment status, imaging, batch processing and other dynamic data in an instant.
The next year will also involve continued exploration of less-than-truckload rating. Discussions of density-based rating have been featured at industry events for years, but acceptance of this rating model has been slow. If and when a transition to density occurs, the industry must be ready to support these new capabilities.
I see SMC³ moving forward into a new era while continuing to focus on the array of products that have made our company great. Our next chapter will be written by Andrew Slusher, who will succeed me as CEO when I retire in February. I know his experience working in the information technology, pricing and revenue management, finance, sales, and strategy fields will help guide SMC³ into the future.
Jack Middleton, CEO, SMC3