Technology Empowering the Logistics Workforce

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Technology Empowering the Logistics Workforce

March 8th, 2023 Jess Saxton Leave a comment

Technology in logistics can be a powerful tool to empower your team and enhance the logistics sector workforce.

Logistics software leaders CartonCloud are known for creating systems that empower and cater to the needs of small-medium-sized logistics companies. — In this article, the software leaders look at what humans can do while aided by technology.

“We’re interested in exploring how the logistics workforce can be empowered to achieve more, by the use of emerging technology and innovative solutions,” said CartonCloud CEO and Founder Vincent Fletcher.

“We’re seeing a number of new technologies emerge that are increasing safety and workforce enjoyment, and opening up new opportunities to engage a wider workforce in logistics roles,” he said.

Mr. Fletcher said the innovation is already there, it’s how the sector uses it that matters most.

“Logistics providers are already using technology and software solutions to focus on optimization.

“They are streamlining workflows and processes, and simplifying tasks at hand, in order to get more out of every dollar and resource they have.

“The industry is being pushed to deliver faster shipment timeframes and more flexible order and delivery options, and this means all logistics operators must be working smarter to find efficiencies — including smaller companies who may not have the financial clout to cover massive upfront costs for solutions.”

Small-medium sized operators make up a majority of the supply chain across North America.

“We need to ensure that these smaller players have access to the tools they need to stay competitive,” said CartonCloud Head of North America/ COO Shaun Hagen.

“It comes down to the suitability of the software for their needs, and how quickly and easily they can have the system up and running, to start seeing the benefits,” he said.

“First and foremost, they need solutions that are easy to use and implement — there’s no point having the highest tech if it’s too difficult to train their staff on.

“Next, it has to give them flexibility and to allow them to scale according to opportunities and demand as the market shifts. And finally, it needs to provide a range of seamless and flexible integration options that allow them to connect with their customers and industry partners as they need.”

Technical innovation in logistics is not about replacing humans — it’s about empowering your workforce to do more.

“Robotics, automation, and software can remove the need for certain manual tasks, and increase workforce output and productivity,” said Mr. Fletcher.

“The right tools and solutions can even reduce risk for humans working in high-risk conditions like high or low temperatures, physically demanding roles, or working with heavy machinery.

There’s a huge opportunity for smaller players to access the solutions as a plug-and-play service, once they already have their business online — and that’s where we come in.”

CartonCloud’s warehouse and transport management software is designed specifically for SMB logistics operators, with user-centered design and features created specifically for the industry.

The software, often referred to as ‘mission-critical’, removes tedious and time-consuming tasks, boosts scalability, and increases efficiency.

“Our software is designed by logistics people, for logistics people, with every design feature, functionality and update created to make the lives of logistics people easier — while allowing them to grow their business,” said Mr. Fletcher.

With greater access to logistics technology and automation and human-centric technology, Mr. Fletcher and his team believe the world of work within logistics will evolve, offering new roles that are aided by machinery and technology, and creating new opportunities for others to build new solutions within the network.

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CartonCloud provides powerful, cloud-based warehouse and transport management software (WMS/TMS) designed for small-medium-sized businesses.

CartonCloud’s user-first design and exceptional customer support makes onboarding fast and simple, and allows businesses to optimize operations with ease. Explore WMS and TMS features, including wave picking, driver ePODs and cross-docking solutions at www.cartoncloud.com

Archives, Education, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Top 5 Ways to Increase your Warehouse ROI

February 20th, 2023 Jess Saxton Leave a comment

There are a few things top-performing SMB warehouses have in common, and one thing they all have in common.

That is, they optimize their operations and resources to get more from what they have, focusing on boosting their daily warehouse ROI.

To get the most from your growing warehouse, you need to improve accuracy, reduce mistakes and waste, save time, and identify ways to get more from your resources. This list outlines the top 5 things you can start doing today to improve ROI from your warehouse.

Warehouse ROI is based on working efficiently and having the right systems in place to capture and check data — and this starts with having the right systems in place.

No logistics company operates in a vacuum, and having a cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS) gives you the opportunity to connect with and streamline data sharing between you, your customers and your supply chain partners.

5 ways to increase your warehouse ROI

Integrate your WMS/TMS software for seamless data flow

It’s essential to consider how information flows in and out of your warehouse, and who else you need to communicate with in your supply chain in order to streamline incoming and outgoing stock. This provides greater transparency across the supply chain for everyone involved.

Having a fully integrated cloud-based WMS and TMS gives you an enormous boost in terms of efficiently sharing data and optimizing workflows around order acceptance and dispatch. For instance, you can optimize your beyond the warehouse by using delivery addresses and routes to pick and pack orders based on delivery routes.

You can even delight customers and partners by streamlining incoming and outgoing orders through cross-docking. A WMS app equipped for cross-docking gives you oversight of incoming and outgoing orders by simply using barcode scanning to accept stock, sort, and allocate to a new delivery run — all from the palm of your hand, and directly from the dock.

Keep inventory records up to date

Using a cloud-based WMS and mobile app to capture, record and track incoming orders, stock movement records and outgoing orders gives you greater accuracy, simplifies reporting, and having the correct data for planning.

When looking at increasing warehouse return on investment, the more you can save time, optimize processes, and simplify workflows — the more you can achieve in a day, and the greater ability you have to scale up your business.

Keep your records up to date across multiple platforms and users with automated processes to boost ROI.

– Allocate orders for picking and track orders as they progress

– Update stock reports in real time

– Automate rate calculations as stock is accepted, moved, and picked – Provide customer 24/7 access to up to date reports from their own customer dashboard

Save time and earn more? That’s right.

Did you know you can reduce admin hours by 40-60 hours a week, while increasing your daily output, with automating invoicing and rates?

Using a WMS with automated rate calculations also allows you to set complex rate cards for various customers, services, seasons, or other factors — ensuring you capture all billable charges — from sliging rate to ad hoc charges, and levys as well, without the time needed to manually calculate each charge.

Implement barcode label scanning

A simple way to increase your ROI is to reduce mistakes and mispicks. Using barcode scanning to identify warehouse locations and confirm the items being picked increases accuracy across your warehouse operations, with ease.

Simply scan locations and inventory during warehouse put away and order picking for an added layer of certainty at each step. It provides a safety net, where mistakes are rectified in the moment, increasing your daily accuracy and ensuring smoother warehouse operations.

Want to know more about barcodes in your warehouse? Check out this article on everything you need to know about warehouse barcode scanning.

Use warehouse locations

The layout of your warehouse can make a huge impact on productivity, speed of order fulfillment, and how to optimize storage rates.

It can also help you to optimize other workflows like inventory put away and order picking. Depending on the goods you store and the services your warehouse offers, there are different ways to optimize your space. This mainly comes down to allocating storage locations for accurate identification and optimizing storage by how often or how soon the goods will be needed.

Depending on the goods you store, you might want to store goods by batch; First in, First out (FIFO), or First Expired, First Out (FEFO), by temperature zone, or by using Replenishment to store fast-moving goods in easy-to-access locations.

To find out more about increasing your return on investment for your warehouse operations, or to learn more about our easy to use, cloud-based WMS, speak to the friendly team at CartonCloud today.

Start optimizing your operations and increase your warehouse ROI today.

Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

Five Top 3PL Trends Shaping 2023

January 6th, 2023 Jess Saxton Leave a comment

Logistics tech provider CartonCloud has shared its predictions for the top 5 trends that will share how Third-Party Logistics providers will operate in 2023, and it’s all about working smarter, not harder.

Their team of experts have experience in the industry and work closely with customers and industry partners — giving them a front-row seat to what 3PLs and their customers are seeking into the new year. They’ve shared their predictions here, for the top five 3PL trends to shape 2023— from revenue boosters to better customer service, here they are.

Diversifying services to boost revenue

This year, 3PL providers will be looking to introduce new revenue streams and services to customers, providing a single touch point to outsource their logistics needs, made possible with integrated systems and software.

“We’re seeing a shift in the services 3PLs are offering, as more and more businesses look to outsource logistics altogether. 3PLs are acting more like 4PLs, providing storage, freight and handling services as well as reporting and advice, and even acting as a single point of contact for customers, as they manage a range of logistics providers on the customer’s behalf.

“Our software is an integrated WMS/TMS, which means our customers can play it smart, listen to what their customers need and find new and innovative ways to provide that, under one umbrella,” said CartonCloud COO Shaun Hagen.

In 2022, 3PLs were beginning to move further into diversification; building new revenue streams and thinking of new ways to offer additional services to either win new business or provide more to their existing customers.

Transport operators were offering limited freight handling or complete pick and pack for orders, warehouses were maximizing the use of their space with cross-docking services for fast-moving freight, and many operators were providing additional data and reporting based on the data they were already collecting.

The importance of Direct Software Integrations

Data accuracy, speed, and security remains front of mind for 3PLs looking to grow in the coming 12 months. In 2023, the ability to connect systems and securely share data seamlessly across systems and platforms as a part of day-to-day operations will be a key focus for 3PLs looking to optimize operations and expand.

“In 2022, we built over 1,000 integrations for CartonCloud customers, allowing them to streamline data flow between systems — from linking to their customer’s online stores like Shopify and WooCommerce, to direct connections with specialty ERP systems like Crafted ERP, accounting platforms like Xero and Quickbooks, or DIY integrations through our public Zapier or self-service API,” said CartonCloud founder and CEO Vincent Fletcher.

Saving time with hands-off reporting

The new year will see 3PLs focus on building efficiency in more than just their operations. Logistics businesses will be looking at how they can save time in all areas of their business, especially through automating manual tasks like rate calculations, invoicing and ordering.

“Back in the paper days, reporting would take hours or days — trawling through spreadsheets or trying to find paper PODs and receipts, and then answering the phone to every customer seeking an update on their inventory or shipment.

“Not anymore, 3PLs can’t afford to lose so many hours on manual data entry and they can’t afford to have data that isn’t accurate. Automated reporting and customer access to reporting portals needs to be a priority for 3PLs who are serious about customer service, and growing their business,” said CartonCloud Implementation Manager Shaun Johnson.

Automating orders, reports, and invoicing will save 3PLs hours of admin hours, freeing them up to focus on more areas of their business. From sign on glass at warehouse dispatch, to barcode scanning for cross-docking — data capture in 2023 will be important, thorough, and simplified. With manual tasks automated, they have more time to fulfill more orders, or focus on other areas of their business.

Track-ability

Whether it’s the ability to see a shipment in transit, view stock levels in the warehouse, or receive an electronic POD (ePOD) at the point of delivery, track-ability provides important usable data to all members of the supply chain.

With this data collection comes the importance of sharing information with partners and customers to use in their own planning and reporting needs.

“The ability to pull up any consignment and instantly see who it has been allocated to, if it’s in transit, and exactly when it is delivered is paramount to having a scalable transport operation.

Likewise, being able to easily capture inventory data as your warehouse personnel work directly through the mobile app is a game changer. It keeps reports up to date and allows you to show order dispatch date and time across multiple platforms through integrations,” said CartonCloud Customer Operations Manager Scott Murray.

Deep understanding of tech features and a drive to get the most

This year, 3PL providers will begin taking a bigger part in learning about the technology they have on hand, exploring how new features can allow them to do more for their customers or bring on new customer entirely.

3PL providers will take time to ensure thy have the right software for their system, and they will want it to be usable and easy to roll out across their team and operations. They want to do more for their customers, and they want to know all the ways their software can help them save time and money, and increase their output.

“When we started with CartonCloud, we were probably only using about 5% of the software’s capability. Now, each client we bring on has a new requirement, and we start to use a new level of the software, or access features we hadn’t needed before,” said TNS Logistics Commercial Manager Matt Norton.

This year will see a trend in learning about tech, and being aware of the solutions out there that can simplify, optimize and revolutionize their operations. These logistics companies will use multiple areas and features of their systems to boost productivity, accuracy, and output — and to free up more of their own time from manual tasks.

“We used to see warehouses and transport companies have to bring in project managers and, tech experts or have an entire team dedicated to switching their software system or bringing on a new system, but the way CartonCloud is designed makes it so easy-to-use, that the team they have on hand can simply pick it up and start using it.

They can digitize operations in days, bringing in new tech and new automation for data entry, without any headaches — and this will see 3PLs expanding their use of software, ensuring they get the most from their systems that they possibly can,” said CartonCloud Implementation Consultant Mitch Whitnack.

The world of logistics continues to evolve, creating a new business environment for 3PLs offering warehousing and transport services, and technology adaptation is providing new ways for these businesses to optimize and expand.

Want more industry insights? CartonCloud’s Logistics Index reports keep a finger on the pulse of the logistics industry and are available for free from the CartonCloud website.

Visit cartoncloud.com for more information.

Technology Empowering the Logistics Workforce

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