Truck and Track Autumn 2024 www.truckandtrack.com 22 INTERMODAL TRANSPORT SOFTWARE Real-time visibility is critical for logistics companies. It ensures efficient processes, good customer service and reliability. Having real-time visibility across all your transport operations is crucial for any modern logistics company to ensure efficient and reliable processes and good customer service. As the logistics landscape becomes increasingly complex, making sure that everyone involved in your transport supply chain is aware of what is going on at any given time requires more than simple tracking and manual processes. It needs connectivity between all stakeholders, automation of processes and centralised data management that allows you to analyse instantly for quick decision-making. So, if you’re still relying on emails and physical paperwork, it might be time to consider switching to a real-time transport visibility platform. What is a real-time transport visibility platform? A real-time transport visibility platform provides you with live updates about the status and location of your trucks and shipments. It offers a means of tracking and monitoring deliveries as they happen so that you can respond to any potential incidents or anomalies quickly and act to reduce their impact on the schedule and the broader network. How does it work? Real-time visibility platforms use technology, such as GPS, sensors, and electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) software, to collect data from across the transport supply chain and store it in a centralised system. AI and machine learning (ML) are used to analyse this data and provide accurate ETAs. They can also provide real-time insights, based on live data such as traffic updates and speed restrictions, that planners can use to make routing decisions. These insights are made accessible to users via alerts, reports, and customisable dashboards. How are companies using real-time transport visibility platforms? All types of companies, including transport and logistics companies, retailers and manufacturers, are using this type of technology to have better visibility of their transport operations and to make better and targeted decisions around deliveries. For example, one of Italy’s biggest supermarket chains, Codè Crai Ovest, uses the transport visibility platform PTV Axylog to get a real-time overview of the availability of vehicles, the restrictions in the areas where they deliver goods, and any other variables. According to their logistics director, Giuseppe Mariella “Our control room knows exactly where every single vehicle in the fleet is located.” Additionally, they have also managed to digitise and automate many of their processes and provide better customer service by reducing delays and providing transparency around delivery times. Poultry specialist Fileni also uses PTV Axylog for real-time visibility over their operations. For them, pre-empting delays and disruptions is crucial as they work with very tight lead times of no more than 16 hours. Since introducing this technology, they have managed to improve collaboration with partners and carriers, standardise processes and increase service levels which has resulted in better customer service. Real-time transport visibility platform: What is it and why should you invest in one?
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