With the ever-increasing reliance on the movement of goods by container, innovative technology enables us to make better use of our assets. We’ve had a couple examples of this in recent years that have made us better at what we do and improved the overall supply chain.
One example is our recent implementation of auto-gate technology at our intermodal terminals. A decade or more ago, many other intermodal players instituted biometric auto gates that would admit drivers based on retina or fingerprint scans. Today we’ve opted for a simpler method: a mobile application.
With the mobile app, we can tap into Big Data and feed it back to dray drivers. For example, we can relay to them how long a wait is to get into a terminal, so they can choose the most opportune time to pick up or drop off. It gives them reduced wait times, and by pushing drivers to off-peak hours, it enables a more efficient use of our terminals.
Another example is a program we’ve devised called Intermodal Demand Management. Customers tell us the date they need a container at the destination terminal, and a computer algorithm assigns the container to a train that has capacity and will deliver by that date. Customers that don’t need a container right away get a better rate in exchange for giving us flexibility. It’s virtually eliminated day-to-day variability in the lengths of our intermodal trains through the week.
In both cases, the underlying technology is simple, but the efficiency it’s unlocked for us has offered real benefits to us, and our customers. As I look to the future, ongoing investment in innovative technology will be integral to moving the supply chain forward.