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An effective transportation management system holds the ability to transform into a central hub for logistics, generating optimal routing proposals and identifying less congested routes in real time to avert unplanned circumstances. Businesses can cut down on their vendor footprint without employing specialized software to manage their warehouse and transportation. Manhattan Associates (Nasdaq:MANH) facilitates connectivity for functions across every aspect of the transportation management system with its Manhattan Active Platform, offering businesses complete control over their inbound and outbound processes. It is a leading global provider of supply chain and omnichannel commerce software solutions dedicated to helping businesses leverage technology to optimize their supply chain operations. Over the years, the company has been consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation, providing cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency, reduce costs and improve service levels. “The need for improved speed, efficiency, visibility and accountability is reverberating throughout the supply chain and is influencing warehouse operations,” says Eddie Capel, CEO. “We are proud to enhance our market-leading solutions with new intelligent optimization, asset orchestration and workforce agility tools that address these changing needs.” Humble Beginnings, Maximum Impact Manhattan Associates transcended from a small warehouse management system (WMS) provider to being a trusted partner for global brands. It gradually shifted its offerings from addressing the complexities of distribution center operations to providing a suite of solutions, all designed to support end-to-end supply chain visibility and control. The company serves diverse industries, including food and beverages and healthcare, with solutions for warehouse, transportation, inventory optimization and omnichannel commerce operations. Its commitment to creating value for customers through technology and expertise is reflected in the continuous investment in research and development, ensuring the company’s solutions remain at the forefront of industry trends and technological advancements. One of the company’s key offerings is its transportation management system (TMS), a feature-rich solution designed to enable businesses to manage their transportation networks more efficiently, reduce costs and improve service levels. The TMS uses advanced algorithms and machine learning to optimize routing and scheduling by taking diverse factors into account, like delivery windows, vehicle capacities and road conditions for improved delivery performance. Comprehensive tools are offered for carrier selection, contract management and performance monitoring. Leveraging real-time data and analytics through TMS equips businesses to negotiate better rates and ensure high service levels from their carriers. A thorough analysis of key performance indicators generates custom reports and identifies opportunities for improvement. Automated freight audit and payment processes ensure accuracy and reduce administrative overhead. It verifies freight bills against contracts and actual shipment data, identifying discrepancies and facilitating timely payments to prevent overpayments and improve financial control. Curating Optimized Outcomes Real-time visibility into transportation operations allows businesses to monitor the status of deliveries and address issues proactively. This enhances customer service by providing precise and timely information about shipment statuses, leading to on-time deliveries and higher customer satisfaction. Manhattan’s TMS is designed to integrate seamlessly with other systems, including warehouse management, enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management, forming a cohesive and efficient supply chain that enables data flow and process synchronization across different functions. The scalable architecture is designed to support businesses of all sizes and industries, accommodating increased volumes and expanding transportation networks. Case in point, a prominent supermarket retailer and distributor was facing inefficiencies and fragmentation in their transportation strategy across three disconnected systems, leading to inefficiencies, decentralized routing and wasted miles.
The transportation and logistics sectors across industrialised nations continue to leave behind a large carbon footprint due to their extensive usage of fuel-powered vehicles, despite the proliferation of electric vehicles. Realising this challenge early on at the dawn of the EV revolution, E-Tuk Factory—a well-established Etuk production company—reckoned that the logistics and transportation sector demanded eco-friendly solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. This realisation, coupled with the zeal to develop solutions for sustainability, gave birth to the company’s electric Tuks to be used as taxis, LCVs (Light Commercial Vehicles), utility NEVs (neighbourhood electric vehicles), sightseeing vehicles, and mobile vending vehicles. The e-mobility pioneer’s prowess in the EV space is attributed to four vital components - vehicles, batteries, data, and service. The combination of these components is ushering in a revolution in e-mobility and enables it to provide clients with a tailor-made package for varied necessities. “We produce a vehicle in modular way with our own flat lithium battery and test it for a specific project based on data. This results in the perfect solution, and clients can spend their money well for the needed solution in the inner city,” states Maarten Lijftogt, Director of Business Development of E-Tuk Factory. The organisation manufactures all of the essential components for its lithium battery in-house, barring the battery cells purchased from a third-party source. Once the cells are acquired, it assembles the most feasible battery configuration for a client, depending on their requirements. Not long ago, the company manufactured its vehicles in Thailand and then shipped the parts to Europe and the US for final assembly and the sale of the vehicle.
The logistics and telematics market has witnessed the influx of innovative hardware solutions in recent years. However, merely possessing the latest technology falls short of satisfying customers’ needs; they crave exceptional service and personalized interaction. Recognizing this, VisionTrakz, a well-recognized LEADER in the fleet management sector, sets itself apart through its dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction. Its localized presence and commitment to 24/7 availability ensure clients get the support they need whenever they need it. Recently, the facility underwent significant upgrades, including a 3-vehicle installation bay, valeting services, and bespoke office space with a clean room while becoming the main distributor for ROAD ANGEL in Northern Ireland. These enhancements reflect the company's dedication to providing top-notch service to its expanding customer base, setting it apart from local competitors in Ireland. The company offers a comprehensive fleet management solution that goes beyond real-time GPS vehicle tracking. Ranging from standard day to day fleet management to road haulage requirements including remote tacho downloading for both driver and vehicle, this can also be offered with our inhouse tacho reporting to VOSA standards. It analyzes not only location data but also driver behavior (harsh braking, acceleration, cornering) to identify top performers and those needing improvement in one unified system. This combined approach helps improve driver safety and efficiency. For even deeper driver management, it offers a separate service that analyzes data from in-vehicle accelerometers to pinpoint risky driving habits that could lead to accidents or citations.
Fostering Resilient Connections across Global Pharma Supply Chain TraceLink, an end-to-end intelligent supply chain platform for life sciences and healthcare, is redefining the pharma supply chain with its comprehensive, multi-enterprise supply chain commerce network. This network of 300,000 life sciences and healthcare entities coupled with its Opus platform is particularly valuable for modern third-party logistics (3PL) use cases, addressing the complexities of logistics and transportation in the pharmaceutical industry. Empowering 3PL Providers Through Digitalization Pioneering the digitalization of the global life sciences supply chain, TraceLink enables 3PL providers to meet the evolving needs of drug manufacturers including the expansion of high-value services and superior supply chain visibility. Drawing on its expertise in track-and-trace and serialization technologies, TraceLink has evolved into a global engine for end-to-end supply chain orchestration. This transformation leverages collective intelligence from a network that spans the entire supply chain spectrum, across the global pharma supply chain, from the largest drug manufacturers to the smallest dispensers. “We are strategically positioned to support 3PL service providers in growing their customer base through affordable enterprise system integration while enabling visibility across an expanding list of high-value service offerings,” says Henry Ames, General Manager, Logistics Orchestration. Meeting the Needs of a Growing Biopharma Market The global healthcare logistics market is projected to grow from $130 billion in 2023 to $152 billion in 2026 – representing ~17% projected growth. This unique market requires highly specialized solutions that are compliant with global regulatory and standards-based guidance. Growing services offered by 3PLs include supply network design, warehouse fulfillment, contract logistics, logistics control tower, and order-to-cash processes to name just a few.
Jon White, UK Country Manager, InXpress
Marco Sperling, Director Sales and Handling, Lufthansa Cargo
Alexander Blettgen, Head of Global Transportation, Triumph
Dainius Augutis, Head Of Transport Function Support Division, Girteka Group
Ferran Soler Sague, Logistics & Distribution Manager, NOEL ALIMENTARIA S.A.U
Cleo Kortenhorst, Senior Logistics Manager Warehouse & Outbound, Arla Foods Logistics Germany
Saddam Huq, Director, Cold Chain and Logistics, GSK
Navigating the Future of Fleet Management
The fleet management landscape in Europe is being reshaped by technological innovations aimed at enhancing efficiency, sustainability and safety. One prominent trend is the growth of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), which is gaining popularity and is projected to expand significantly. This trend sees fleet managers exploring vehicle-sharing strategies, asset rental, and optimising vehicle utilisation to improve budget control and environmental impact. Harnessing data analytics and fleet management software is essential for customising services and embracing vehicle sharing, with a keen focus on optimising key metrics for better fleet operation. Sustainability initiatives are also at the forefront of fleet management trends, with an increased focus on reducing carbon footprints and adopting eco-friendly practices. The use of alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and biofuels, along with electric vehicles (EVs), is becoming more popular among fleet managers aiming to minimise emissions and operational costs. Driven by these trends, the global fleet management market size is estimated to have a CAGR of 11 percent in the forecast period by 2032, achieving a value of USD 40.6 billion. This edition of Logistics and Transportation Review Europe brings insights into the latest developments in fleet management solutions and services and how organisations leverage these trends to enhance operational efficiency, achieve sustainability goals, and pave the way for a more resilient and innovative future. It features a thoughtful leadership article from Rick White, Director of 3PL Services at Cardinal Global Logistics who sheds light on how technology lies in seamless integration and optimise transport space. In addition, it features an article from Dainius Augutis, Head of the Transport function support division at Girteka Group, who talks about the changing trends in the logistics industry.