Management

Dexter, a Subsidiary of DexKo Global Inc., Acquires HiSpec Wheel & Tire, Inc.

DexKo Global Inc., the global leader in highly engineered trailer running gear, chassis assemblies, and related components, announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dexter Axle Company ("Dexter") has acquired HiSpec Wheel & Tire, Inc. ("HiSpec") located in Mishawaka, IN.

Established in 1995, HiSpec designs and provides aluminum and steel wheels, tires, and related accessories to the RV, trailer and transportation industries. The company has earned a reputation for offering the safest and most innovative wheel & tire assemblies in the industry, while providing the highest level of customer service and satisfaction.

Dexter, headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, employs over 3,800 people in the U.S. and Canada and operates 18 manufacturing facilities and over 30 company-owned distribution locations. Founded in 1960, Dexter has built a reputation as a trusted brand serving utility trailer, recreational vehicle, marine, heavy-duty, agricultural, specialty equipment manufacturers and distribution partners.

"Uniting Dexter and HiSpec allows us to offer a more comprehensive line of safety related towing products to all our customers and business partners. We are very excited to bring the HiSpec team into the Dexter family while providing an improved product offering to our valued customers," states Adam Dexter, President and CEO of Dexter.

"I am excited to welcome the HiSpec team into the Dexter family. We continue to see opportunity to improve our ability to offer even better products and service to our customers through our distribution and direct channels," adds Fred Bentley, CEO of DexKo Global. "HiSpec fits very well within our strategy, and we expect to see significant benefit to the combined business. We continue to demonstrate our ability to effectively acquire complementary companies and integrate them."

"We have worked with Dexter for twenty years, I feel very comfortable that we are passing the baton to a team with great integrity and experience. It will be gratifying to see DexKo take HiSpec to the next level in the years to come."

-Brad Richards, President and Founder of HiSpec.

The team at HiSpec is thrilled to be part of the Dexter organization," states Joe Katona, General Manager of HiSpec Wheel & Tire. "Combining our resources strengthens our position and ability to provide our customers with superior and more efficient service.

DexKo Global Inc. is the world's leading supplier of advanced chassis technology, chassis assemblies and related components with more than 130 years of experience in trailer and caravan components. DexKo Global was founded at the end of 2015 through the combination of Dexter and AL-KO Vehicle Technology. With its headquarters in Novi, Michigan, the company employs more than 7,000 associates with 52 production facilities and 49 distribution centers. For more information, please go to www.dexko.com.

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Supply Chain

Cleo Enhances Ecosystem Integration Platform to Optimize Supply Chain Execution

Cleo | September 27, 2023

Cleo, the pioneer and global leader of the Ecosystem Integration software category and provider of the Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) platform, today announced availability of multiple new platform innovations designed to help organizations optimize supply chain execution through improved control, automation, and visibility of integrations between their ecosystem and their back-office systems. Cleo President and CEO Mahesh Rajasekharan said, “We’re charting a clear path to frictionless, intelligence-driven ecosystem integration, which will be a cornerstone of our customers’ ability to optimize supply chain execution. CIC 2023 will empower organizations with the insights they need to make better decisions and improve their ecosystem relationships. Our promise to our customers and the market is simple and straightforward: We will continue to push the innovation envelope, with the goal of providing more control to supply chain executives through real-time visibility, automation, AI, and orchestration solutions.” Cleo’s CIC 2023 platform is the company’s most powerful platform release to date and includes multiple enhancements and new functionality to support the design, operation, and management of these ecosystem integrations, including: Improved integration design and deployment capabilities for increased velocity in time to value Enhancements to all Accelerators, which are pre-built, out-of-the-box Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, Grocery, and Warehousing integrations for automating X12 EDI transactions between a company’s trading partner ecosystem straight into core business applications like Microsoft Dynamics 365 SCM and BC, Oracle NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Shopify, and Amazon Seller Central among others. Ease-of-use updates to several connectors including eBay, Shopify, and Amazon to rapidly build ecosystem integrations. Portfolio expansion for infrastructure and business connectivity with new and enhanced connectors including Amazon, Shopify, Microsoft SharePoint, Google Cloud Storage, and RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF). Increased visibility and control to improve supply chain operations Launched a workload prioritization solution that allows organizations to put business priority first through granular control over business-critical and time-sensitive transactions (by document type or trading partner) that ensure key customer commitments are never missed. Enabled stronger, more informed, and more confident decision-making through flexibly customizable reporting timeframes which promote tighter alignment between reporting needs and business operations Released advanced message search capability to discover messages faster. Enables operations to improve customer experience during troubleshooting and monitoring of ecosystem transactions. Enhanced exception management for faster issue handling and prevention More robust certificate management that translates to proactive measures to ensure seamless business continuity with key generation, certificate generation, and rollover Advanced troubleshooting and granular drill-down capabilities enabling operations teams to reduce error resolution time by up to 20% -- resulting in improved ecosystem relationships. Deeper automation and improved configurability allow integration operations personas to ensure timely delivery of transactions through automatic retries & concurrent sends of errored processes Reimaged integration development experience and usability provides a fresh approach for developers Refreshed user interface of the platform integration development environment, allowing a streamlined experience for self-service API and EDI integration. Redesigned business process development experience streamlines updating and orchestrating of integrations, allowing organizations to quickly implement new integrations and make changes as their business evolves. Extensible integration logic with a full range of custom actions that empowers users to drive efficiency through comprehensive local commands executed at the orchestration level Optimizing supply chain execution requires breaking down functional silos, automating critical, time-sensitive business processes, increasing visibility and insights to make better decisions, and providing every organizational persona with control they need to complete day-to-day operations. The key lies in deploying end-to-end ecosystem integrations that bring together different components of a supply chain into a cohesive and seamless digital backbone. CIC, long recognized as one of the industry’s most powerful cloud integration solutions, is currently used by more than 4,200 logistics, manufacturing, distribution and retail companies throughout the world. About Cleo Integration Cloud Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) is a cloud-based integration platform, purpose-built to design, build, operate, and optimize critical ecosystem integration processes. The CIC platform brings end-to-end integration visibility across API, MFT, EDI, and non-EDI integrations, giving technical and business users the confidence to rapidly onboard trading partners, enable integration between applications, and accelerate revenue-generating business processes. On the platform, businesses have the choice of self-service, managed services, or a blended approach – ensuring complete flexibility and control over their B2B integration strategy. About Cleo Cleo is an ecosystem integration software company focused on business outcomes, ensuring each customer’s potential is realized by delivering solutions that make it easy to discover and create value through the movement and integration of B2B enterprise data. Cleo gives customers strategic, “outside-in” visibility into the critical end-to-end business flows happening across their ecosystems of partners and customers, marketplaces, and internal cloud and on-premise applications. Our solutions empower teams to drive business agility, accelerate onboarding, facilitate the modernization of key business processes, and capture new revenue streams by reimagining and remastering their digital ecosystem through robust application, B2B, and data integration technologies.

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Supply Chain

Trevor Miles joins Noodle.ai to Usher in The Era of Generative Supply Chain Planning

PR Newswire | October 06, 2023

Noodle.ai is thrilled to announce the addition of supply chain veteran and thought leader Trevor Miles joining Noodle.ai's mission to create a world without waste. Trevor's expertise in supply chain extends the depth of Noodle.ai supply chain focus and complements leading data science in their supply chain A.I. products. "I joined Noodle.ai because the team has created products that solve the most pressing problems facing Supply Chain professionals. Everyday supply chains operate with uncertain demand, and uncertain supply. We must move to probabilistic planning systems that exploit the uncertainties to help us all make better bets and tailor risks. Existing deterministic planning systems ignore uncertainty and therefore generate hopelessly optimistic plans and give you no understanding of the risks associated with the plan." said Trevor Milles. An Unparalleled Infusion of Expertise "Trevor brings an unprecedented supply chain depth of domain knowledge and technical acumen to Noodle.ai," says Stephen Pratt, CEO of Noodle.ai. "He exemplifies the transformative, intelligent, and efficient solutions our company aims to deliver to business executives who are tired of the same old systems using the same old math." The Dynamic Legacy of Trevor Miles Trevor Miles cultivated a career that defies the traditional limits of supply chain management. Trevor, known for his eclectic blend of theoretical and practical skills, states, "I've always sought to challenge the status quo, looking for opportunities to innovate and improve existing systems." He continues, "I have long advocated for a change in approach to Supply Chain Planning based on the need to re-think the basic APICS definitions of siloed processes both horizontally - Buy, Make, Move, Store, Sell, Return - and vertically - Strategic, Tactical, Operational, and Execution. Much of this is captured in the terms Concurrent Planning and Network Planner which I coined while at Kinaxis." Noodle.ai and Trevor: A Symbiotic Partnership Both Trevor and Noodle.ai share a vision for the future of AI in supply chain management. Tim Krug, CRO of Noodle.ai, elaborates: "Trevor brings a refreshing, disruptive approach to solving age-old problems. Whether we like it or not, everyday supply chain decisions are bets because they have uncertain outcomes with significant financial consequences. The fatal flaw of all current planning systems', deterministic math, leads executives to make bad bets that create economic and environmental waste. I'm excited about the role Trevor will play as we look to help the industry take advantage of modern data science, compute power and the power of probabilities to make better bets, conquer waste, and boost profit. Looking Forward: The Journey Begins Influenced by Noodle.ai's culture of open dialogue and innovative projects, Trevor envisions a "industry transformation from AI-driven demand and supply predictions, proactive supply chain risk management, and generative AI based supply plan corrections." Trevor states, "What Noodle.ai offers me is the opportunity to explore the next evolution of planning technology. In my career in and around the supply chain I've seen game-changing technology demonstrated twice. The first was at Kinaxis when I saw the power of in-seconds what-if simulations across demand and supply which enabled concurrent planning and network planning. The second was seeing Noodle.ai's applications of predictive and generative AI. What struck me as I evaluated the opportunity with Noodle.ai is that Supply Chain Executives don't have to wait to benefit from all the generative AI hype ushered in by ChatGPT. I was frustrated by the lack of practical applications of AI and the gap between what technology vendors have been communicating and what can actually be delivered. But, with Noodle.ai the opportunity is here to disrupt legacy supply chain processes we all know do not work and are reinforced by siloed systems. Noodle.ai has figured out how to get started solving the fatal flaw of every current planning system that forces you to pursue certainty and creates a plan that isn't feasible and never gets executed. About Noodle.ai Noodle.ai is a system of intelligence that supercharges your current planning and transaction systems with the power of probabilities. Unlike traditional systems that rely on fixed rules and simplified assumptions, Noodle.ai uses cutting-edge AI/ML technology to conquer variability and improve your decision-making process. With risk-adjusted recommendations and automated workflows, you'll achieve unprecedented productivity, service levels, and cost savings in your supply chain.

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Supply Chain

project44 Unveils AI-Powered Enhancements for Supply Chain Visibility

project44 | October 09, 2023

Chicago-based supply chain visibility platform, project44, has unveiled several AI-powered enhancements to its Movement platform. These upgrades aim to simplify multimodal visibility and improve carrier data quality for shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs). By automating key processes, project44 intends to facilitate cost savings and efficiency gains. Jett McCandless, Founder and CEO of project44, highlighted the significance of these advancements, stating that many existing visibility solutions fail to address costly blind spots and poor data quality issues, leading to avoidable supply chain costs. project44's machine learning-powered solutions, on the other hand, offer sophisticated insights to transform supply chains from cost centers into competitive advantages. The enhancements to project44's suite of visibility products include: Extended Visibility: Merging data from carriers and forwarders to provide complete door-to-door visibility, helping shippers proactively manage inventory in transit and reduce manual effort. Enhanced China OTR Visibility: Expanded coverage in China's road freight market, enabling complete visibility from factory to consumer door, including cross-border data transfer. Shared Visibility: Facilitating automatic sharing of visibility data between brand owners, LSPs, customers, and partners for improved collaboration without manual activities. Customers leveraging these new capabilities are experiencing significant business benefits. For example, Alcon, a multinational vision care products provider, is using Extended Air Visibility to provide real-time tracking capabilities for time-sensitive airfreight shipments. Brenntag Essentials, a global chemical distribution leader, is benefiting from Extended Truckload Visibility to stay connected during entire journeys with real-time shipment status information. Poor data quality can hinder the value of visibility investments. To address this issue, project44 has developed machine learning-powered solutions that automatically resolve data quality issues and provide specific fixes when manual intervention is required. These enhancements are expected to offer shippers and LSPs improved visibility, better collaboration, and increased efficiency in supply chain operations. To learn more about project44's End-to-End Visibility solution, visit their website. About project44 project44 is a leading end-to-end visibility platform, tracking over 1 billion unique shipments annually for 1,300 global brands across industries. The company's mission is to optimize global product movement, enhancing resiliency, sustainability, and value for customers. It operates the most trusted end-to-end visibility platform globally, with recognition as a leader in the field. Notable achievements include being named a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader and ranking #1 on FreightWaves' FreightTech 25 for 2022. Headquartered in Chicago, project44 operates in 170 countries, supporting tracking for various modes like truckload, LTL, ocean, rail, air, and final mile.

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Supply Chain

Sendle Bolsters Canadian Delivery Network with 300+ Drop-off Locations in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver

Business Wire | October 31, 2023

Just in time for the peak holiday shopping season, Sendle has bolstered its delivery network in Canada with the opening of more than 300 drop-off locations in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Montreal, and Vancouver. Canadian small businesses that choose to ship with Sendle now have the ultimate flexibility and choice when it comes to parcel delivery – they can either drop off their parcels where and when it’s convenient for them or have them picked up at their door. With over 500% growth in those using the drop off parcel service since Sendle launched drop-off locations in Toronto this summer, it’s clear that small businesses want choice. And, unlike Canada Post, there are no extra charges, no hidden costs, and no minimum delivery spend requirements for those that use Sendle; small businesses simply get the lowest parcel delivery prices in Canada and convenient drop-off or pick-up delivery options that meet their needs. As Lauren Helstab, Sendle’s country manager for Canada, notes, “You have to pay more for flexibility with Canada Post, but not with Sendle.” As a company that prioritizes the needs of small business, Sendle listens when its customers request new features. A drop-off option was the second most requested feature by small businesses behind cross-border delivery, a service that Sendle launched in April this year. Adding conveniently located drop-off locations complements Sendle’s door-to-door parcel delivery service, giving small business owners flexibility for those times when they are on the move, to suit their business hours, or if it’s simply their preference. The convenient drop off locations include spots that operate 24/7 such as retail and convenience stores, providing even greater flexibility when small businesses are pressed for time. Sendle works fast to help small businesses save time and money. “We recently launched our Peak Relief program as a way to support Canadian small businesses this holiday season. We lowered all our rates – which now start from $6.65 – and committed to no peak surcharges for the remainder of 2023 while Canada Post increased their rates by more than 3%,” says Helstab. “At Sendle, we see a bright future for small businesses when they have access to a service that understands their needs and provides flexible and convenient delivery options for time-poor business owners that don't break the bank. The opening of our new drop-off locations is another way we are enabling small business owners to choose when and how they ship to their customers.” “As Sendle continues to expand our network and service in Canada, small businesses can count on us to provide the most cost-effective, tailored parcel delivery services, ensuring their unique needs are met," adds Helstab. “For this year’s peak delivery season, we encourage small businesses across the country to stop settling for the status quo. At a time when costs have skyrocketed, Sendle is putting small businesses first by providing an affordable service that delivers conveniently flexible options without any added expense.” About Sendle Sendle levels the playing field for small businesses by offering simple, affordable shipping across Canada and across the border to the U.S., with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or warehousing required. Merchants simply purchase a label and their parcels can be picked up from their front door. Sendle is also the first 100% carbon neutral shipping carrier in Canada and is a Certified B Corporation and Climate Neutral Certified. The company was founded in Australia in 2014 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia; Seattle, Washington; and Toronto, Canada.

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