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Benefits of data integration

Benefits of data integrationIf you are reading this post, you probably already have some sort of data integration solution in place, whether it’s coded by hand or developed with an ESB. Chances are also high that you are looking for a solution that can provide you with more benefits than your current solutions. Recently, cloud-based integration platforms have started to become popular. Those companies that have already adopted an iPaaS (integration platform as a service) has seen the immense benefits of the tool, both concerning internal and external integrations. In this blog, we are focusing on seven benefits of data integration you could see once you’ve switched to an iPaaS.

Spotlight

APL Logistics

To stay ahead in today's global marketplace, your business needs a logistics partner that connects you to suppliers, vendors and customers anywhere in the world – APL Logistics is that partner. Our operations span numerous continents, currencies and customs – so your business grows even further.

OTHER ARTICLES
Warehousing and Distribution

Predicting the Future of the Logistics Industry

Article | July 11, 2023

Introduction From warehouse robots to delivery drones, the supply chain is experiencing a tremendous upheaval. AI promises a totally autonomous and self-organized future supply chain. A fleet of vehicles utilizing a swarm algorithm can enhance cargo yard throughput; a trusted peer-to-peer ledger on blockchain architecture could change compliance in the sector; and wearables, mobile robotics, and machine learning technologies could speed up order fulfilment. IOT e-brokerage solutions can link shops to couriers and transporters with a click. Tomorrow's supply chain will be leaner, quicker, and self-organized. A few innovative technologies will fuel this unparalleled rate of change over the next 15 years. Here are the major technologies that are shaping the future of the logistics industry. Logistics Technologies for the Future Shipment Tracking Systems Previously, customers ordered shipments, had an anticipated arrival date, and then were kept in the dark until they chose to call. Customers can now access shipping and tracking systems around-the-clock due to developments in the internet and software. This not only enhances the customer experience (cx), but it also saves the business time and money. Internet of Things (IoT) The IoT reduces costs and delays by minimizing hazards in the supply chain. Cabs, cargo ships, trains, etc., have sensors that link to an alarm system or dispatcher. These sensors analyze and communicate information to the crew, who learns about hidden threats. IoT isn't a new technology, but it continues to influence logistics by improving in-transit visibility and delivery. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) RFID technology has been used for a few years to monitor inventories labor-efficiently. A product tag or sensor produces radio waves. The company processes the data. RFID tags are similar to barcodes, but their faster information transport and data processing appeal to companies and the direction of technology. Many organizations use RFID tags to track containers in warehouses. Enhanced GPS Accuracy Almost everyone utilizes GPS on their vehicles or smartphones. These devices' accuracy has improved over time, assisting lost drivers and enhancing the supply chain. By monitoring truck locations and boosting hauls with current traffic data, GPS increases efficiency and customer satisfaction. Closing Lines Unprecedented times have produced unprecedented transformations that will last for generations. Changing demographics, technology improvements, and COVID-19 impacts are altering global supply networks. We must understand the driving factors and act on what we learn to adapt and rise to the situation. For the sake of our current workforce and future generations.

Read More
Supply Chain

3 Ways to Benchmark to Boost Supply Chain Performance

Article | August 17, 2023

You might be wondering what the benefits are of benchmarking. Well, imagine you are training for a 100 metre sprint in your district. What would be the key number, or metric that you would need to know? It would, of course, be what the winning time was when this race was last run in your district. Without that information, you don’t know what you’re trying to target. It would be impossible to know if you’ll have any chance at all of winning the race. It’s exactly the same in business. If, for example, you are concerned about the pick rates in your warehouse, or your transport costs, or your inventory accuracy, benchmarking can help you because it can show you exactly where your performance is compared to others in your industry. A few years ago, I was working with an automotive parts business. They had a little issue with their picking productivity in the warehouse. They wondered how good it was, whether they could improve it. They actually thought it was okay. We looked at the figures and compared them with other businesses. This helped us realise that their picking productivity should be three times better than it was. And believe it or not, over a few months they did begin to improve their productivity. Why? Because benchmarking opened their eyes to the fact that they were at a level quite far below others in the industry. That’s the beauty of benchmarking. Until you know what others are doing, you can’t be sure how good your performance is. If you’ve never tried benchmarking, there are three ways you could do it. 1. Informal Benchmarking This exercise would involve you measuring particular functions or aspects of your business and comparing that against other parts of your business. Let’s say you have a warehouse operating in one city and another operating in another city. You might start to measure the same metrics and see which one is performing better. You might know other people in the industry who are also operating warehouses so you might agree to share some data with them. This is probably the easiest way to start off, but it has some downsides: You’re only measuring against a very small sample size. If all of you in the pool are not that good, how would you know what good is? You have to make sure that the businesses are similar and you are measuring things in exactly the same way. It’s very important in benchmarking to have a standard way of applying the metric. 2. Formal Benchmarking This can work for much larger businesses. Perhaps you have operations in many different countries. You could agree a formal structure for how you are going to measure performance. You could do monthly or quarterly benchmarks with all the parts of your international organisation. You could learn from each other and share best practice. This method is okay but you’re not getting access to a very large pool of results to measure yourself against. You will find that companies are very reluctant to give out benchmarking data. You might also be operating in an environment where the performance is quite low right across the business. 3. Hire a Professional Benchmarking Firm This is the ultimate way to do it, although there are not a lot of professional benchmarking firms such as ours around. If you do manage to find one, you will quickly realise that there are significant benefits to be had by bringing in the professionals: The metrics are put together in exactly the same way: When we do a benchmarking exercise for our consulting clients, we go through a very robust data-gathering process and then make sure all the costs, for example, are in the same buckets as everyone else’s in the database. You gain access to a big pool of results: Professionals have measured hundreds, if not thousands, of companies. This enables you to say, ‘Our company is this size, it operates in this industry, these are the characteristics of our supply chain, who else in that pool of results is like us? We want to be measured against them.” It’s no good measuring the performance of a grocery retailer, for example, against an industrial product supplier. They have different supply chains. You need to be measuring like with like.

Read More
Warehousing and Distribution

Ultimate guide to warehouse logistics: Enhance organization, movement, and management

Article | July 17, 2023

Warehouse logistics is the heart of any supply chain operation, assimilating and dispatching goods to ensure availability and timely delivery. With more consumers turning to e-commerce, it’s important for businesses of all sizes to bolster the supply chain to handle the e-commerce business model. According to research conducted by BigCommerce, the top three factors that influence consumers’ online purchasing decisions are convenience, cost and free shipping. In fact, the National Retail Federation (NRF) found that 75% of consumers expect delivery to be free even for orders under $50.

Read More
Supply Chain

Warehouse Management System – An Integral Part of the Supply Chain

Article | March 22, 2022

Warehouse Management System In Supply Chain, warehouse management acts as the bridge between the supplier and customer. The warehouse facility utilized to consolidate or accumulate products and reduce the transportation cost to achieve economy. Warehouse Management System (WMS) refers to the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse. WMS is part of the Supply Chain Management and concerned with the receipt, shipping and picking of materials. To effectively monitor the flow of products, WMS utilizes technology devices such as Barcode scanners, Bio-Metrics, and RFID to name a few. A seamless link created between the warehouse facility, order processing and logistics management till shipment. Warehouse management just not limited to the warehouse; it can also a component of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and, when done well, provides a competitive advantage to the business or organization.Supply Chain Management is the management of flow of goods and services including raw materials, work-in-process inventory and finished goods. The markets these days are transcending borders and managing the demand-supply quotient is increasingly getting complex. Production centers are setup at locations where the raw materials and labour are cheaper. Raw materials sourcing and finish goods distribution are done globally. Supply Chain Management Thus Supply Chain Management refers to all business processes and activities involved from the procurement of raw materials to the manufacturing and distribution of finished products. SCM in short is the art of providing the right product at the right time, place and cost. As inferred, SCM gets much wider in scope than WMS. However, WMS is perhaps the last mile in the Supply Chain Management system and any hitch in the efficacy of WMS system hampers SCM too. Conclusion The primary aim of Supply Chain Management is to match supply with demand. For this to work, the supply chain should be free from bottlenecks such as errant supplies, difficulty in sourcing etc. There seemed significant confusion about the phrases SCM and WMS until recently, and both frequently used interchangeably. However, it been generally accepted that warehouse management refers to the logistics of warehouse, storing, stocking, and also movement of goods. The term Supply Chain has a much broader focus involving suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.By providing customer centric operations in warehousing, companies gain competitive advantage. SCM tools help manage the supplies effectively keeping inventory at optimum levels. The efficiency of SCM relies to a large extent upon the efficiency of WMS. The SCM’s primary concern is to find out the best storage levels, which the WMS attempts to address. Therefore, it is seen that the SCM & WMS are only complementary in nature and not competing. Warehouse Management system also complements the Sales Management System by shortening the sales cycle through quick data access and delivery of quality service, every time.

Read More
Warehousing and Distribution

Top 10 Warehouse Automation Tools to Optimize Supply Chain Performance

Article | July 11, 2023

Introduction From warehouse robots to delivery drones, the supply chain is experiencing a tremendous upheaval. AI promises a totally autonomous and self-organized future supply chain. A fleet of vehicles utilizing a swarm algorithm can enhance cargo yard throughput; a trusted peer-to-peer ledger on blockchain architecture could change compliance in the sector; and wearables, mobile robotics, and machine learning technologies could speed up order fulfilment. IOT e-brokerage solutions can link shops to couriers and transporters with a click. Tomorrow's supply chain will be leaner, quicker, and self-organized. A few innovative technologies will fuel this unparalleled rate of change over the next 15 years. Here are the major technologies that are shaping the future of the logistics industry. Logistics Technologies for the Future Shipment Tracking Systems Previously, customers ordered shipments, had an anticipated arrival date, and then were kept in the dark until they chose to call. Customers can now access shipping and tracking systems around-the-clock due to developments in the internet and software. This not only enhances the customer experience (cx), but it also saves the business time and money. Internet of Things (IoT) The IoT reduces costs and delays by minimizing hazards in the supply chain. Cabs, cargo ships, trains, etc., have sensors that link to an alarm system or dispatcher. These sensors analyze and communicate information to the crew, who learns about hidden threats. IoT isn't a new technology, but it continues to influence logistics by improving in-transit visibility and delivery. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) RFID technology has been used for a few years to monitor inventories labor-efficiently. A product tag or sensor produces radio waves. The company processes the data. RFID tags are similar to barcodes, but their faster information transport and data processing appeal to companies and the direction of technology. Many organizations use RFID tags to track containers in warehouses. Enhanced GPS Accuracy Almost everyone utilizes GPS on their vehicles or smartphones. These devices' accuracy has improved over time, assisting lost drivers and enhancing the supply chain. By monitoring truck locations and boosting hauls with current traffic data, GPS increases efficiency and customer satisfaction. Closing Lines Unprecedented times have produced unprecedented transformations that will last for generations. Changing demographics, technology improvements, and COVID-19 impacts are altering global supply networks. We must understand the driving factors and act on what we learn to adapt and rise to the situation. For the sake of our current workforce and future generations.

Read More
Supply Chain

Inventory Management Best Practices for Supply Chain Distribution

Article | August 17, 2023

You might be wondering what the benefits are of benchmarking. Well, imagine you are training for a 100 metre sprint in your district. What would be the key number, or metric that you would need to know? It would, of course, be what the winning time was when this race was last run in your district. Without that information, you don’t know what you’re trying to target. It would be impossible to know if you’ll have any chance at all of winning the race. It’s exactly the same in business. If, for example, you are concerned about the pick rates in your warehouse, or your transport costs, or your inventory accuracy, benchmarking can help you because it can show you exactly where your performance is compared to others in your industry. A few years ago, I was working with an automotive parts business. They had a little issue with their picking productivity in the warehouse. They wondered how good it was, whether they could improve it. They actually thought it was okay. We looked at the figures and compared them with other businesses. This helped us realise that their picking productivity should be three times better than it was. And believe it or not, over a few months they did begin to improve their productivity. Why? Because benchmarking opened their eyes to the fact that they were at a level quite far below others in the industry. That’s the beauty of benchmarking. Until you know what others are doing, you can’t be sure how good your performance is. If you’ve never tried benchmarking, there are three ways you could do it. 1. Informal Benchmarking This exercise would involve you measuring particular functions or aspects of your business and comparing that against other parts of your business. Let’s say you have a warehouse operating in one city and another operating in another city. You might start to measure the same metrics and see which one is performing better. You might know other people in the industry who are also operating warehouses so you might agree to share some data with them. This is probably the easiest way to start off, but it has some downsides: You’re only measuring against a very small sample size. If all of you in the pool are not that good, how would you know what good is? You have to make sure that the businesses are similar and you are measuring things in exactly the same way. It’s very important in benchmarking to have a standard way of applying the metric. 2. Formal Benchmarking This can work for much larger businesses. Perhaps you have operations in many different countries. You could agree a formal structure for how you are going to measure performance. You could do monthly or quarterly benchmarks with all the parts of your international organisation. You could learn from each other and share best practice. This method is okay but you’re not getting access to a very large pool of results to measure yourself against. You will find that companies are very reluctant to give out benchmarking data. You might also be operating in an environment where the performance is quite low right across the business. 3. Hire a Professional Benchmarking Firm This is the ultimate way to do it, although there are not a lot of professional benchmarking firms such as ours around. If you do manage to find one, you will quickly realise that there are significant benefits to be had by bringing in the professionals: The metrics are put together in exactly the same way: When we do a benchmarking exercise for our consulting clients, we go through a very robust data-gathering process and then make sure all the costs, for example, are in the same buckets as everyone else’s in the database. You gain access to a big pool of results: Professionals have measured hundreds, if not thousands, of companies. This enables you to say, ‘Our company is this size, it operates in this industry, these are the characteristics of our supply chain, who else in that pool of results is like us? We want to be measured against them.” It’s no good measuring the performance of a grocery retailer, for example, against an industrial product supplier. They have different supply chains. You need to be measuring like with like.

Read More
Warehousing and Distribution

Role of Warehouse Management Systems to Drive Productivity & Accuracy

Article | July 17, 2023

Warehouse logistics is the heart of any supply chain operation, assimilating and dispatching goods to ensure availability and timely delivery. With more consumers turning to e-commerce, it’s important for businesses of all sizes to bolster the supply chain to handle the e-commerce business model. According to research conducted by BigCommerce, the top three factors that influence consumers’ online purchasing decisions are convenience, cost and free shipping. In fact, the National Retail Federation (NRF) found that 75% of consumers expect delivery to be free even for orders under $50.

Read More
Supply Chain

Warehouse Management System – An Integral Part of the Supply Chain

Article | March 22, 2022

Warehouse Management System In Supply Chain, warehouse management acts as the bridge between the supplier and customer. The warehouse facility utilized to consolidate or accumulate products and reduce the transportation cost to achieve economy. Warehouse Management System (WMS) refers to the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse. WMS is part of the Supply Chain Management and concerned with the receipt, shipping and picking of materials. To effectively monitor the flow of products, WMS utilizes technology devices such as Barcode scanners, Bio-Metrics, and RFID to name a few. A seamless link created between the warehouse facility, order processing and logistics management till shipment. Warehouse management just not limited to the warehouse; it can also a component of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and, when done well, provides a competitive advantage to the business or organization.Supply Chain Management is the management of flow of goods and services including raw materials, work-in-process inventory and finished goods. The markets these days are transcending borders and managing the demand-supply quotient is increasingly getting complex. Production centers are setup at locations where the raw materials and labour are cheaper. Raw materials sourcing and finish goods distribution are done globally. Supply Chain Management Thus Supply Chain Management refers to all business processes and activities involved from the procurement of raw materials to the manufacturing and distribution of finished products. SCM in short is the art of providing the right product at the right time, place and cost. As inferred, SCM gets much wider in scope than WMS. However, WMS is perhaps the last mile in the Supply Chain Management system and any hitch in the efficacy of WMS system hampers SCM too. Conclusion The primary aim of Supply Chain Management is to match supply with demand. For this to work, the supply chain should be free from bottlenecks such as errant supplies, difficulty in sourcing etc. There seemed significant confusion about the phrases SCM and WMS until recently, and both frequently used interchangeably. However, it been generally accepted that warehouse management refers to the logistics of warehouse, storing, stocking, and also movement of goods. The term Supply Chain has a much broader focus involving suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.By providing customer centric operations in warehousing, companies gain competitive advantage. SCM tools help manage the supplies effectively keeping inventory at optimum levels. The efficiency of SCM relies to a large extent upon the efficiency of WMS. The SCM’s primary concern is to find out the best storage levels, which the WMS attempts to address. Therefore, it is seen that the SCM & WMS are only complementary in nature and not competing. Warehouse Management system also complements the Sales Management System by shortening the sales cycle through quick data access and delivery of quality service, every time.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

APL Logistics

To stay ahead in today's global marketplace, your business needs a logistics partner that connects you to suppliers, vendors and customers anywhere in the world – APL Logistics is that partner. Our operations span numerous continents, currencies and customs – so your business grows even further.

Related News

Operations, Transportation

Jacobs to Provide Technical Advisory for M28 Motorway in Ireland

ITS Logistics | December 19, 2023

Jacobs has been selected by Cork County Council as technical advisor for the new M28 motorway linking the N40 South Ring Road to the Port of Cork in Ringaskiddy, in County Cork, Ireland. Jacobs' scope includes consultancy services during the design, construction and closeout phases of the project. The proposed M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy motorway project is the upgrade of approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) of the N28 National Primary Route to help improve its safety, capacity and accessibility. Forming part of the Core Trans‐European Transport Network, the Transport Infrastructure Ireland-funded scheme will enable the strategic development of the Port of Cork's facilities in Ringaskiddy, while also supporting the economic development of the area locally, regionally and nationally. The motorway is scheduled to be completed by 2030. "Jacobs brings multi-disciplinary integration and delivery experience from a wide range of critical transportation infrastructure projects in Ireland and globally to support this project," said Jacobs Senior Vice President Kate Kenny. "We're focused on helping Cork County Council deliver an improved, user-centric, sustainable road network that connects communities more effectively, and drives important social and economic benefits in the region." Cork County Council Chief Executive Valerie O'Sullivan added: "This development forms part of the government's Project Ireland 2040 and will bring both safety and economic benefits. The scheme includes a number of active travel measures with an interface with the Lee to Sea greenway, together with an extension to the existing Ballybrack Valley Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme in Douglas." Jacobs has more than 1,200 employees in Ireland serving clients in sectors – most notably Advanced Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Energy & Environment. Projects include the National Transport Authority's BusConnects Dublin program, Irish Rail's East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects program – the largest coastal protection scheme in North-Western Europe, the WuXi Biologics Drug Substance Manufacturing Facility and Edwards Lifesciences Greenfield Manufacturing Facility. About Jacobs At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With approximately $16 billion in annual revenue and a talent force of approximately 60,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.

Read More

Supply Chain

Cargobase and GateHouse Maritime Extend Partnership to Enhance Supply Chain Visibility

PRNewswire | May 16, 2023

Cargobase, the no-nonsense logistics software provider, and GateHouse Maritime, a pioneer in maritime data and analytics, announced the expansion of their successful partnership. As part of the continued collaboration, GateHouse Maritime's powerful tools and insights will be integrated into Cargobase Next, offering enterprise shippers an even more seamless and intuitive supply chain visibility experience. "Extending our partnership with GateHouse is a natural progression in our mission to simplify logistics for next-gen supply chain professionals. By integrating GateHouse data-driven expertise into our new UI, we're delivering a user-friendly experience that empowers users to make faster and smarter decisions in one seamless platform." - Gert Jan Spriensma, CPO, Cargobase "We're excited to deepen our collaboration with Cargobase and contribute to their innovative software. Our combined efforts will further revolutionize the way shippers navigate global supply chain complexities." - Morten Orskou Bols, Market Development Director, GateHouse Maritime Boosting Visibility and Control: Key Advantages of the Enhanced Experience Real-time vessel tracking Monitor freight with realtime location updates directly from Cargobase's new UI, enabling users to optimize their supply chain and make informed decisions and plan corrective actions. Advanced analytics Access historical data and predictive analytics through Cargobase's intuitive interface, uncovering trends, identifying potential bottlenecks, and implementing data-driven strategies for elevated shipping performance. Risk mitigation Stay ahead of potential risks, such as extreme weather or geopolitical events, with timely and accurate information integrated into the new UI, empowering users to proactively address disruptions and maintain smooth operations. Sustainability initiatives Utilize data within Cargobase's new UI to minimize the environmental impact of shipping operations by optimizing routes, reducing fuel consumption, and promoting eco-friendly shipping practices. Navigating the Future Together The collaboration between Cargobase and GateHouse is reshaping the logistics management landscape for enterprise manufacturers. In today's complex and fast-paced global market, mid-to-large-scale manufacturers face unique challenges in managing their supply chains, such as coordinating shipments from multiple suppliers, optimizing routes, and reacting to disruptions. By integrating data and analytics into Cargobase's new UI, companies can unlock unprecedented supply chain visibility and embrace sustainable shipping practices, addressing these challenges head-on. Real-time tracking, advanced analytics, and risk mitigation features empower enterprise manufacturers to make informed decisions, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. About GateHouse Maritime Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Aalborg, Denmark, GateHouse Maritime is a leader in ocean visibility solutions. We help global supply chains, offshore industries, authorities, and surveillance companies with transparent and accurate cargo transport status, location data and predictions, sailing schedules, and sales revenues. Our powerful maritime data foundation consists of 300 billion datapoints and 30+ analysis and predictive models used for data-driven decisions by maritime operators worldwide.

Read More

Supply Chain

DHL Supply Chain Expands Global Partnership With Locus Robotics To Deploy 5,000 Amrs Across Multiple Sites

prnewswire | May 11, 2023

DHL Supply Chain, the world's leading logistics provider, announces the expansion of their partnership with Locus Robotics, the leading provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), increasing its use of Locus AMR robotics within its supply chain operations. As part of this new partnership, DHL Supply Chain will deploy 5,000 Locus Origin AMRs across its global network of warehouses and distribution centers, representing the industry's largest AMR deal to date. The expanded fleet of Locus AMRs will provide DHL Supply Chain with advanced automation technology to optimize its supply chain operations, and improve worker productivity, order accuracy, speed, and efficiency. The robots will be deployed across DHL Supply Chain's global network, further enhancing its capabilities in e-commerce fulfillment, retail replenishment, and pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics. "An idea is only a good idea if it can scale," said Oscar de Bok, Chief Executive Officer DHL Supply Chain. "The flexibility and scalability of the Locus solution has been instrumental in helping us meet the evolving demands of the e-commerce landscape and leveraging cutting-edge technology to optimize our operations and deliver an even better experience for our customers." "The addition of Locus Robotics AMRs to our network is a major milestone in our digitalization journey, and we are excited to partner with Locus Robotics to bring this technology to our operations," said Markus Voss, Global CIO & COO DHL Supply Chain. "By using advanced robotics and data intelligence, we can further improve our operational efficiency, reduce processing time, and continue to improve our customer experience." "We are thrilled to be working in an expanded capacity with DHL Supply Chain to bring our industry-leading robotics technology to their global network," said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. "As the robotics industry continues to consolidate, Locus Robotics has emerged as the clear leader in the market, and we are poised for further significant growth. Our innovative technology and commitment to customer success have set us apart. With our expanding product offerings and growing customer base, Locus Robotics is well positioned to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities ahead." DHL has now surpassed more than 250 million units picked using the LocusOne solution across its global sites. The deployment of the new LocusBots is expected to be fully integrated into DHL Supply Chain's operations by the end of the year. "Locus is helping DHL rapidly transform operations through a workforce empowered with the right technology at the right time, to deliver goods where they need to at the speed our modern markets demand," said Sally Miller, Global Digital Transformation Officer, DHL Supply Chain. "Locus is a critical partner for us as we digitalize our warehouses, distribution and fulfillment centers to efficiently meet increasing order volumes, labor shortages, and rising consumer expectations." About Locus Robotics Locus Robotics is a leading provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for e-commerce, retail, and Locus Robotics is the world leader in revolutionary, enterprise-level, warehouse automation solution, incorporating powerful and intelligent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human workers to dramatically improve product movement and productivity 2–3X. Named to the Inc. 500 two years in a row, and winning over 17 industry and technology awards, the Locus solution dramatically increases order fulfillment productivity, lowers operational costs, and improves workplace quality, safety, and ergonomics for workers.

Read More

Operations, Transportation

Jacobs to Provide Technical Advisory for M28 Motorway in Ireland

ITS Logistics | December 19, 2023

Jacobs has been selected by Cork County Council as technical advisor for the new M28 motorway linking the N40 South Ring Road to the Port of Cork in Ringaskiddy, in County Cork, Ireland. Jacobs' scope includes consultancy services during the design, construction and closeout phases of the project. The proposed M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy motorway project is the upgrade of approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) of the N28 National Primary Route to help improve its safety, capacity and accessibility. Forming part of the Core Trans‐European Transport Network, the Transport Infrastructure Ireland-funded scheme will enable the strategic development of the Port of Cork's facilities in Ringaskiddy, while also supporting the economic development of the area locally, regionally and nationally. The motorway is scheduled to be completed by 2030. "Jacobs brings multi-disciplinary integration and delivery experience from a wide range of critical transportation infrastructure projects in Ireland and globally to support this project," said Jacobs Senior Vice President Kate Kenny. "We're focused on helping Cork County Council deliver an improved, user-centric, sustainable road network that connects communities more effectively, and drives important social and economic benefits in the region." Cork County Council Chief Executive Valerie O'Sullivan added: "This development forms part of the government's Project Ireland 2040 and will bring both safety and economic benefits. The scheme includes a number of active travel measures with an interface with the Lee to Sea greenway, together with an extension to the existing Ballybrack Valley Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme in Douglas." Jacobs has more than 1,200 employees in Ireland serving clients in sectors – most notably Advanced Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Energy & Environment. Projects include the National Transport Authority's BusConnects Dublin program, Irish Rail's East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects program – the largest coastal protection scheme in North-Western Europe, the WuXi Biologics Drug Substance Manufacturing Facility and Edwards Lifesciences Greenfield Manufacturing Facility. About Jacobs At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With approximately $16 billion in annual revenue and a talent force of approximately 60,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.

Read More

Supply Chain

Cargobase and GateHouse Maritime Extend Partnership to Enhance Supply Chain Visibility

PRNewswire | May 16, 2023

Cargobase, the no-nonsense logistics software provider, and GateHouse Maritime, a pioneer in maritime data and analytics, announced the expansion of their successful partnership. As part of the continued collaboration, GateHouse Maritime's powerful tools and insights will be integrated into Cargobase Next, offering enterprise shippers an even more seamless and intuitive supply chain visibility experience. "Extending our partnership with GateHouse is a natural progression in our mission to simplify logistics for next-gen supply chain professionals. By integrating GateHouse data-driven expertise into our new UI, we're delivering a user-friendly experience that empowers users to make faster and smarter decisions in one seamless platform." - Gert Jan Spriensma, CPO, Cargobase "We're excited to deepen our collaboration with Cargobase and contribute to their innovative software. Our combined efforts will further revolutionize the way shippers navigate global supply chain complexities." - Morten Orskou Bols, Market Development Director, GateHouse Maritime Boosting Visibility and Control: Key Advantages of the Enhanced Experience Real-time vessel tracking Monitor freight with realtime location updates directly from Cargobase's new UI, enabling users to optimize their supply chain and make informed decisions and plan corrective actions. Advanced analytics Access historical data and predictive analytics through Cargobase's intuitive interface, uncovering trends, identifying potential bottlenecks, and implementing data-driven strategies for elevated shipping performance. Risk mitigation Stay ahead of potential risks, such as extreme weather or geopolitical events, with timely and accurate information integrated into the new UI, empowering users to proactively address disruptions and maintain smooth operations. Sustainability initiatives Utilize data within Cargobase's new UI to minimize the environmental impact of shipping operations by optimizing routes, reducing fuel consumption, and promoting eco-friendly shipping practices. Navigating the Future Together The collaboration between Cargobase and GateHouse is reshaping the logistics management landscape for enterprise manufacturers. In today's complex and fast-paced global market, mid-to-large-scale manufacturers face unique challenges in managing their supply chains, such as coordinating shipments from multiple suppliers, optimizing routes, and reacting to disruptions. By integrating data and analytics into Cargobase's new UI, companies can unlock unprecedented supply chain visibility and embrace sustainable shipping practices, addressing these challenges head-on. Real-time tracking, advanced analytics, and risk mitigation features empower enterprise manufacturers to make informed decisions, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. About GateHouse Maritime Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Aalborg, Denmark, GateHouse Maritime is a leader in ocean visibility solutions. We help global supply chains, offshore industries, authorities, and surveillance companies with transparent and accurate cargo transport status, location data and predictions, sailing schedules, and sales revenues. Our powerful maritime data foundation consists of 300 billion datapoints and 30+ analysis and predictive models used for data-driven decisions by maritime operators worldwide.

Read More

Supply Chain

DHL Supply Chain Expands Global Partnership With Locus Robotics To Deploy 5,000 Amrs Across Multiple Sites

prnewswire | May 11, 2023

DHL Supply Chain, the world's leading logistics provider, announces the expansion of their partnership with Locus Robotics, the leading provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), increasing its use of Locus AMR robotics within its supply chain operations. As part of this new partnership, DHL Supply Chain will deploy 5,000 Locus Origin AMRs across its global network of warehouses and distribution centers, representing the industry's largest AMR deal to date. The expanded fleet of Locus AMRs will provide DHL Supply Chain with advanced automation technology to optimize its supply chain operations, and improve worker productivity, order accuracy, speed, and efficiency. The robots will be deployed across DHL Supply Chain's global network, further enhancing its capabilities in e-commerce fulfillment, retail replenishment, and pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics. "An idea is only a good idea if it can scale," said Oscar de Bok, Chief Executive Officer DHL Supply Chain. "The flexibility and scalability of the Locus solution has been instrumental in helping us meet the evolving demands of the e-commerce landscape and leveraging cutting-edge technology to optimize our operations and deliver an even better experience for our customers." "The addition of Locus Robotics AMRs to our network is a major milestone in our digitalization journey, and we are excited to partner with Locus Robotics to bring this technology to our operations," said Markus Voss, Global CIO & COO DHL Supply Chain. "By using advanced robotics and data intelligence, we can further improve our operational efficiency, reduce processing time, and continue to improve our customer experience." "We are thrilled to be working in an expanded capacity with DHL Supply Chain to bring our industry-leading robotics technology to their global network," said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. "As the robotics industry continues to consolidate, Locus Robotics has emerged as the clear leader in the market, and we are poised for further significant growth. Our innovative technology and commitment to customer success have set us apart. With our expanding product offerings and growing customer base, Locus Robotics is well positioned to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities ahead." DHL has now surpassed more than 250 million units picked using the LocusOne solution across its global sites. The deployment of the new LocusBots is expected to be fully integrated into DHL Supply Chain's operations by the end of the year. "Locus is helping DHL rapidly transform operations through a workforce empowered with the right technology at the right time, to deliver goods where they need to at the speed our modern markets demand," said Sally Miller, Global Digital Transformation Officer, DHL Supply Chain. "Locus is a critical partner for us as we digitalize our warehouses, distribution and fulfillment centers to efficiently meet increasing order volumes, labor shortages, and rising consumer expectations." About Locus Robotics Locus Robotics is a leading provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for e-commerce, retail, and Locus Robotics is the world leader in revolutionary, enterprise-level, warehouse automation solution, incorporating powerful and intelligent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human workers to dramatically improve product movement and productivity 2–3X. Named to the Inc. 500 two years in a row, and winning over 17 industry and technology awards, the Locus solution dramatically increases order fulfillment productivity, lowers operational costs, and improves workplace quality, safety, and ergonomics for workers.

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