| IDII Software Newsletter To assist the professional dealing with software in Warehousing Distribution, Logistics, and the Supply Chain. November 20th 2001 - Vol 2 No 18 |
Techniques, Vision, & Educational Thoughts "XML Options for Transportation Management" Responding to record numbers of delayed and cancelled flights, the top U.S. airlines have decided to try to fix the clunky links between their individual electronic-ticketing systems in an effort to make it easier for stranded passengers who don't have paper tickets to rebook flights with a different carrier. They are going to use XML documents to allow sharing electronic ticket information.--- Transportation Magazine* This and other uses of extended mark-up language or "XML" electronic documents is a sign to transportation professionals that this web-friendly technology is approaching more wide-spread usability in the fast changing area of e-commerce. Transportation professionals who want to be proactive should try to develop some understanding of this technology and why it could be so useful. XML is simple a format for a file. Many transportation managers are familiar with EDI documents used for shipment tendering, bills of lading, and statuses. A sample of an XML formatted document is presented here (with indentation to increase readability): Example <INVOICE>A complete document may be one-eighth the size of a business letter in document format and, like a word processing document, can be attached to an email or transferred as a file. Like EDI, XML uses a system of characters to "delimit" one data field from another though XML uses "tags" (inside the <> marks). The XML document is much more "free-form" not relying on the fixed structure and code limitations found in EDI. Also unlike EDI, XML can be human readable. This readability can be further enhanced if programmed with "style sheets" which can even make the XML print in a normal document format. Human readability is a factor that makes XML cheaper, faster and better than conventional EDI for uses that involve human interaction. XML Is Preferred Over EDI EDI, while a powerful tool for transportation, is not as extensively used as transportation and logistics professionals might think. In fact, only about 2 % of the world's businesses now use EDI. A poll in Europe revealed that 99% of small to medium enterprises there are reluctant to incur the costs involved in using EDI. Even large retailers only have 20% of their suppliers using EDI. XML, considered to be much less costly to produce may change this and may result in your small to medium sized business partners beginning to communicate with you with something more sophisticated than fax. There are several important advantages that transportation managers will realize when using XML. First, using the internet to transmit the messages will allow reduction in the use of Value Added Networks (VAN), which can charge on a costly per-character basis. One source has suggested that traditional EDI systems are seven to ten times more expensive than Internet-based options. This will be a primary concern of the IT manager you work with. The IT manager on your staff will also value XML because the programming effort for this kind of document is much lower. XML is a key technology for integrating various corporate systems. If individual shipment records are to be returned to a corporate ERP or an accounting system after the shipment has been dispatched, XML is a very suitable tool. Both Oracle and SAP have programmed interfaces to accept XML inputs. Secondly, today many companies batch the delivery of outbound and pickup of their inbound EDI messages periodically during a day. As supply chain flexibility and integration grows, even these delays measured in hours will be unsatisfactory. More flexible timing, and especially, more immediate response will be available via the use of XML. E-commerce efforts like private transportation exchanges will be facilitated by the new technology. Another advantage that will appeal to transportation managers is that the production and modification of these documents is much less complex. They can be managed not only by the scarce IT staff but directly by transportation staff. An example of the tremendous flexibility that this offers can be provided. Imagine XML documentation for an international shipment. If the Bill of Lading were not complete, this XML file could be could be pushed to an export manager's email inbox. He or she could add the proper carrier, cite the proper international documents, save the file, email a copy to the recipient, and then forward the document to the Warehouse Management System for addition to a picking list. Imagine the same email-like document flexibility with your carriers, 3d parties and customers. Imagine using it to communicate with your accounting department. There are problems that have to be surmounted before XML can replace EDI. There are already several carriers who have published their own XML standard and some will accept XML as a shipping document. Transportation managers will remember the problem of multiple computer terminals coming from carriers when early proprietary systems were being fielded. This could be a similar problem with different formats from carriers and even different tags established for various industries. Suppose that two companies create XML formats for a bill of lading. One developer could call a tag "purchase_num", another could call it "ponumber". While humans may realize that those are most likely meant to be the same thing, machines will definitely not recognize this. For XML to be widely used, the e-business community must agree upon a standard set of tag names and associate a commonly understood meaning to it. This standardization is required for a smooth integration of the many different systems transportation professionals have to deal with and consists of both the syntax and the semantic of the XML-based message. Also tools for easy transmission and document accountability need to be available. People who track progress of innovations like this state that the tools are now becoming available and that XML will begin to make an impact within two years. What Should You Do Today? What should the transportation professional do about XML? Here is a chance to put your IT manager on the spot. Ask if he or she has considered moving to XML for your major transmissions and carriers and has this been considered for any contemplated corporate systems. You will at least gain new respect in his or her eyes for using a new acronym. Canvas your carriers to determine if their plans include XML communications. Since both shippers and carriers realize savings from using this technology, perhaps there will be opportunities to share the savings via discounts. Lastly, think about how a flexible, document-based version of EDI could allow you to revise and streamline your business processes. *Jim Young, managing director for cost measurement and distribution strategy at Continental Airlines Inc. in Houston, said here last week that an XML-based standard for sharing electronic-ticket information is being developed by the OpenTravel About the Author George Murphy is an independent logistics technology consultant. You can contact him at gmurphy@ameritech.net. |
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Software Company News
- Arzoon, Inc. (TMS) announced Arzoon LIFE™ 4.0. Arzoon LIFE is comprised of a unified suite
of applications including Arzoon Transportation LIFE and Arzoon Global Trade LIFE that together solve complex supply chain
challenges. The software offers functionality
in transportation procurement, execution, tracking,
freight payment, reporting, global trade
compliance and inventory visibility. AMR believes an expanded software suite
for transportation management and global
trade, like Arzoon LIFE 4.0, can streamline
processes for global logistics administration
and execution, and provide improved communication
and visibility.
The solution integrates trade advisories, license and document requirements, and denied parties lists. To aid with sourcing or pricing decisions, companies can determine the total landed cost of an international shipment, including transportation, insurance, duties, taxes and import/export fees. The web-native platform blends best in class trade content with workflows that can streamline the difficult process of performing import/export screening on each shipment and managing the exceptions.
Arzoon LIFE 4.0 includes additional support for rail systems including rating, tendering, execution and tracking of rail shipments. Additionally, LIFE 4.0 provides enhanced reporting and event management functionality including configurable alerts that allow users to specify alert conditions based on part numbers, trading partners, and other critical factors. Also, Arzoon has added more features to its trade compliance product catalog to facilitate shipment screening, document generation, and landed cost calculations.
- Baan (ERP, TMS) announced it's new iBaan for Automotive
Internet-enabled solution to extend the visibility
of the automotive supply chain. For the first
time, iBaan for Automotive will provide the
automotive industry with an integrated range
of applications covering ERP, CRM, SCM, collaborative
private exchanges and manufacturing execution
systems. This will enable automotive companies
to harness the power of the Internet to streamline
business processes and improve enterprise
management, B2B collaboration, decision support
management, manufacturing execution, access
to information portals, and indirect material
procurement.
The iBaan for Automotive solution supports discrete and repetitive manufacturing, industry-specific requirements and integrated decision support to control the reporting and delivery of information about production orders.
- Cambar Software Inc (WMS, www.cambarsoftware.com) announced partnership with MercuryGate International (TMS, www.mercurygate.com) to develop an interface to connect CSI's Axis Warehouse
Management solution with MercuryGate's Transportation
Management Suite (TMS). CSI's Axis Warehouse Management solution
optimizes operations at warehouse facilities
by managing information, space, people and
inventory efficiently. MercuryGate is a provider
of Web-based, end-to-end transportation management
solutions.
- Cambar Software Inc. (WMS) announced that it has partnered with Kewill Systems plc (LSE: KWL) to develop an interface that will seamlessly connect CSI's
Axis warehouse Management solution to Kewill's
Clippership shipping automation application.
- Delfour Corporation (WMS, TMS) announce crossdock product SmartDock 2.0. SmartDock 2.0 is being offered as a fully
integrated or stand alone solution. SmartDock
2.0 is an event driven solution that has
been designed for both companies in the transportation
arena and those that do pure Dock Management
through the efficient movement and management
of high velocity inventory through crossdock
facilities. Essentially it eliminates the
inventory-holding function of a warehouse
while still allowing it to serve its consolidation
and shipping functions.
- Descartes Systems Group (TMS, Nasdaq:DSGX,
TSE:DSG) announced the enhancement of Descartes’ Ocean Rate Builder
product to streamline the process of producing service
contracts for containerized shipments.
Descartes’ Ocean Rate Builder product provides a centralized system from which all departments can create, revise, store and distribute service contracts, all from a Web-based front end. This centralized approach incorporates spreadsheet and word processing capabilities to eliminate the clutter of multiple contract documents created with software that is not designed to manage service contracts, and ensures accuracy and efficiency throughout the production process.
The Descartes solution for contract management makes it easy for these carriers to identify service contracts that have specialized terms, such as credit, container free time, transit time commitments and service contract expiration dates. Carriers can also report on the productivity of their pricing departments in processing bids and determine how successful they are at winning new contracts.
- Irista, Inc. (WMS, TMS, ERP) announced iristaVision 8.2. iristaVision is designed to coordinate
the execution of the order fulfillment
and
delivery process by providing a comprehensive
real-time performance picture of a logistics
network's infrastructure, conditions,
and
constraints. This insight allows professionals to proactively
monitor and resolve the occurrence of unplanned
events and exceptions. New capabilities of iristaVision 8.2 include:
Process Monitoring and Proactive Notification
Expanding upon iristaVision's alerting capabilities, 8.2 introduces a new mechanism that proactively monitors a defined process, notifying the appropriate personnel when activities such as picking, packing, staging, loading, shipping or delivering fails to start or stop at the designated time. These start and stop completion times are based upon the consignee's expected arrival date and the particular order configuration. Logistics' processes and their associated activities are configurable by attributes, which can include warehouse, originator, customer, carrier and owner. The progression of these business processes are driven utilizing workflow technology, which specifies planned start and completion times, activity duration, and indicates when activities were started and completed. This new feature will allow logistics professionals to proactively identify potential bottlenecks, keeping the entire process on track and customers satisfied.
Logistics Status and Condition Visibility
Expanding upon an already rich view of order, inventory and shipment conditions across a logistics network, iristaVision 8.2 provides additional insight and depth into the status of Advanced Ship Notices (ASNs), inbound deliveries, planned and actual outbound delivers, purchase orders, received purchase orders, and returns. Used passively to monitor events and conditions or to drill down at a granular level to discover the root cause of an exception identified within process monitoring, logistics managers can now take intelligent courses of action based upon real-time conditions and constraints.
Logistics Network Infrastructure Definition
Key to keeping a logistics network coordinated and synchronized is iristaVision's centralized approach to managing and disseminating the information and business rules that define a diverse network. Entities such as carrier, consignee, originator, owner, source and supplier and their associated information are maintained within iristaVision, seamlessly syncing updated information with other application nodes on the network.
- Manugistics Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:MANU) and Acta Technology, Inc. announce a strategic
alliance. Manugistics is using ActaWorks(TM)
- Acta's high-performance data server - as
an integration technology behind a Manugistics
WebConnect(TM) Integrate solution. Manugistics
WebConnect Integrate, powered by ActaWorks,
enables broad access to data from a variety
of sources through a single data integration
solution
Key features of the Acta-powered Manugistics WebConnect Integrate solution include:
- high performance data extraction, transformation, loading and integration;
- real-time transaction integration via message brokering;
- enterprise-class multi-user development functionality; and
- Web-based remote administration and management capabilities.
- Enhanced integration a key driver of Enterprise Profit Optimization
- McHugh Software International (WMS, LMS,
TMS) - announced new web-based applications.These new web applications come pre-integrated
with McHugh's powerful DLx™ Warehouse
solution,
but can easily be adopted with any
legacy
or third party warehouse management
system.
The new applications and releases include:
DLx™ Supplier - a collaborative-commerce application that enables manufacturers and suppliers to synchronize logistics operations and share order, inventory and shipping information through a web-based logistics portal, while providing suppliers tools to automate inventory tracking and shipping. (See graphic)
DLx™ Supplier Enables Manufacturer-Supplier Collaboration
DLx™ Commander/QA - a centralized command and control application that enables quality control management and inventory tracking in real-time throughout the supply network. This application enables network-wide QA process control, and provides the ability to place any SKU, lot or pallet on hold, or release it from hold, through an easy to use web-based QA portal. DLx Commander/QA drives efficiency and brand protection by automating the very manual processes many companies use today to manage QA control across a large fulfillment network.
DLx™ Commander/Recall - a centralized command and control application used to initiate product recalls for any product internal or external to the supply network. It includes a data warehouse of all historical shipping information. This saves time and cost, improves recall accuracy and reduces risk of incomplete recall.
LENS™ 2.0 - This new release of McHugh's global visibility and event management tool provides users with real-time visibility across their networks for internal distribution centers and raw materials warehouses, in-transit shipments, and external warehouses and other outside facilities. As a result, companies can significantly improve order fulfillment and customer service, reduce network inventories and increase efficiency by responding more rapidly to changes and exceptions, providing real-time order status, and improving supply chain decision-making. Visibility views in LENS can be easily configured to meet the specific needs of different roles within the supply chain. Version 2.0 adds an enhanced user interface, supports unlimited network hierarchies, and increases capabilities for high-volume transaction environments through multi-threading remote system calls and using more advanced XML integration technology.
- TALPX Inc. and NxTrend Technology Inc.(ERP) announced an alliance to deliver integrated e-commerce
solutions to the building products industry. NxTrend's SX.enterprise distribution software
will be integrated with the TALPX(R) eMarketplace
Solutions. TALPX will use NxTrend's bizLinx Commerce
Connect technology to enable real-time XML
integration. Commerce Connect supports EDI,
e-mail and flat file integration for dealers
and distributors who don't support XML. Once a transaction is completed in the TALPX
marketplace, purchase orders, invoices, and
transportation documents will be automatically
generated from, and input into, our partners'
systems. "We are excited about our alliance
with TALPX Inc., one of the leading eMarketplace
solution providers in the wood products industry.
In addition to NxTrend's SX.enterprise integration, TALPX plans to use NxTrend's bizLinx Commerce Connect to provide integration to a number of other back office systems popular in the building materials industry, including Triad, Enterprise, Advantage, Spruce, Progressive, SAP, and JD Edwards.
- Pitney Bowes Distribution Solutions announced PB TMS Enterprise Edition (Win
2000, SQL Server) . The transportation management system automates
all order and shipment processes,
from pack verification and shipping to delivery tracking and export documentation and provides real-time data access through a web browser. The application is installed on a central server and accessed from remote locations through a Web browser. A simple applet can be downloaded for running local printing, scanning and weighing devices. Additional features of PB TMS Enterprise Edition include:
eQuery - eQuery is a browser-independent Web-based feature that provides supply chain visibility. Any user with Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser versions 4.0 or higher can view real-time shipping information and order fulfillment status. Once can access shipment information by tracking number or bill number, check delivery status and view packing information from their desktops.
Upfront rating - The rate shopping screen allows users to view carrier's rates, discounts, routes, destination ZIP codes and delivery requirements. From a single screen, users can compare carrier prices and then select a carrier that complies with business standards and fulfills customer and partner shipping requirements.
- Provia Software (WMS, TMS) unveiled the Workflow functionality of the company’s ViaView fulfillment
collaboration suite. As events/alerts occur throughout the supply
chain, Provia’s Workflow engine is user-configurable to respond to events
by routing documents, automating
warehousing
and transportation processes, escalating
events and alarms as well as automating
problem
resolution.
Editor's Note: IDII was at the press conference in Chicago, when Provia demonstrated this example below. It is important to point out that this WORKFLOW is user-configurable. Many Customer Service Rep (CSR) duties and activities can be automated - without programming - though the visual diagramming (like Visio) in the Provia's Workflow engine. This is user-configurable.
Example Demonstrated: Workflow is used to handle a product shortage due to damaged material being discovered during order fulfillment. Provia’s ViaWare WMS notifies ViaView in real-time that the exception occurred, and ViaView kicks off the user-configurable, Workflow business process designed to handle the exception. ViaView first directs the WMS to hold the order until further notice. It then automatically formats and creates an email that is sent to the designated customer contact. The email contains a link to a web site showing a copy of the order with pertinent information. The email also contains checkboxes with the options to have the order held waiting for the missing item, shipped partially, cancel the line item only, or cancel the entire order. The customer makes their selection and the reply is sent back to ViaView, with the WMS automatically informed how to handle the order. The WMS then performs the appropriate tasks based on the customer’s selection. The entire process is handled in less time, without involving a customer service representative and at a lower cost, while delivering a higher degree of customer service.
In addition to Workflow, the other components of Provia’s ViaView Fulfillment Collaboration suite include real-time Visibility from any web browser, which allows users to see when user-defined events or situations occur; Event/Alert Management, where users can subscribe to events and non-events and be notified via pager, fax, email or XML when the events occur; Decision Support, which generates and posts order, inventory, and logistics transactional data from across the organization; and Labor Analysis, a tool to analyze logistics performance within a specific facility or across the enterprise for all facilities.
- Provia Software (WMS, TMS) announced the availability of web-based training courses for clients and partners. Advantages include:
- Self-Paced Learning, On-Demand Scheduling, Reduced Travel Costs
- Standardized Information - New employees
can take the same class that employees
before
them took, ensuring consistency
and a non-biased
assessment tool for each student
- Simplified Upgrades - Clients upgrading to
a newer version of Provia’s ViaWare
can have
employees train on the new version
to familiarize
themselves with it
- Unibar (1990, Bar-Coding Software) announced a new Internet Label Service, the Unibar WebLabel
Service, for easy printing of custom and standard
compliance labels from a web site
via a web
browser. Now a company's suppliers
can print
labels from anywhere in the world
by accessing
the web without any label design
or configuration
worries.
Unibar WebLabel Service enables small or large companies to provide their smaller suppliers with worldwide compliance labels literally overnight. There is no software to download or label specification to learn. Unibar develops the label according to customer specifications and provides the service from the Unibar server, with labels developed by Unibar according to customer specifications. The customer can provide free and immediate availability of compliance label generation for its suppliers worldwide by paying a modest service charge.
In addition, a link from the customers' Web Server can make the label generation appear to be an integrated part of the customer's Web application. Suppliers no longer need to learn complicated software programs or be knowledgeable about bar codes or label designing. Standard compliance labels such as Target, Wal-Mart and Sears are also available now, including the automotive and the GM 1724.
Benefits of the Unibar WebLabel Service include:
- Implementation of a compliance program within a few days
- Label changes implemented overnight
- No software program or barcode label specifications for the suppliers or users to learn. The label specification is provided to Unibar, and a label is quickly designed to the those specifications.
- Printing a label only requires the suppliers to fill in a small web form from the web site with their variable data.
- Vertex Interactive, Inc. (WMS, TMS, Nasdaq:VETX) announced its eTMS software. The transportation
management system is a Web-based, enterprise-wide
multi-carrier system operated from a centralized
server.
Quotes to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.
- "Little deeds of kindness,
little words of love,
Help to make earth happy
like the heaven above."
-- Julia A. Fletcher Carney
Scripture to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.
- Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days. Proverbs 19:20
Websites to Check Out
Logistics Information - See http://www.LogisticCases.com
Good Book
| "What To Look For In Warehouse Management
System Software" Order From Amazon or IDII |
 |
| Obal, Philip | See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com |
New Software Directory - Released August 2001
| "Warehouse & Logistics Software Directory" Order From Amazon or IDII |
 |
| Obal, Philip | See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com |
WMS Standard Search Bundle
| "Standard WMS RFI Search Bundle" Order From Amazon or IDII |
 |
| Obal, Philip | See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com |
WMS Advanced Search Bundle
| "ADVANCED WMS RFI Search Bundle" Available from IDII only |
Advanced Version is available from IDII |
Valuable Future Events
DC Expo - May 21 to May 23, 2002 - Navy Pier,
Chicago, IL, USA - 800-338-4112 - Website:
http://www.logistar2.com
About This Newsletter - ISSN 1533-435X
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