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Month: April 2025

Transportation Management Systems Status Retained

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Manhattan Associates Inc., a supplier of supply chain commerce solutions, announced that it has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems for the seventh consecutive year.

With the growing complexity of supply chains, it has become critical for enterprises to better orchestrate transportation and distribution processes with a unified supply chain execution solution. Manhattan’s cloud-native technology, microservices-based architecture and unified platform provide supply chain and logistics professionals with a distinctive and advanced technology architecture that stands apart from legacy, portfolio offerings in the market. By doing away with silos, it delivers real-time visibility into shipments, offers predictive analytics for better decision-making, delivers the ability to automate manual processes and ultimately eliminates inefficiencies, which is a definite game-changer for companies operating in complex and demanding environments.

“We are delighted to be recognized by Gartner as a Leader in TMS,” said Bryant Smith, director of Product Management for Manhattan Associates. “This ongoing leadership reflects our commitment to continuous innovation, customer success, and excellence in supply chain execution. We deliver speed and value across various transportation functions and leverage advanced intelligence to solve the largest and most complex transportation challenges.”

Latest additions to the cloud-native Manhattan Active TM include GenAI capabilities to the platform, and unification of Manhattan Active Yard Management with TMS. It can already be combined with Manhattan Active Warehouse Management, and Labour Management providing companies with a complete, simplified, and unified supply chain execution system that continuously adapts and scales to business needs, and provides a single, comprehensive view of the distribution network, unlocking optimization opportunities that are impossible with traditional siloed offerings.

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Manhattan Associates Named a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader

 

Private Sovereign AI for Logistics Businesses

Posted on by David Priestman

OneAdvanced, a UK-headquartered software provider, has announced the launch of OneAdvanced AI – a secure Large Language Model (LLM) made with logistics businesses in mind delivering AI for role, organisation, and sector-specific work.

With 75% of knowledge workers using AI and half reportedly ‘smuggling’ unapproved generative AI into the workplace daily – often without notifying their employers or adhering to IT policies – the sensitive data of logistics businesses is increasingly at risk.

The secure environment that OneAdvanced AI provides directly addresses this concern, operating as a private, closed, and fully encrypted service. Designed to protect organisation-confidential data while empowering logistics businesses to harness the power of AI, the new AI service brings sector-specific intelligence and automation to life embedded into the workflows within its software platform.

It is designed to help its customers leverage the power of AI, monitor and control usage, improve productivity and realise efficiency gains.

As part of the OneAdvanced software platform, the service allows users to leverage the analytical capabilities of AI and solve complex problems, using their own business data in a private, secure way. Customers can create private team or organisation spaces for sharing and collaborating around the use of AI specific to them, their team or the wider business.

Ultimately, OneAdvanced AI offers complete UK data sovereignty, unleashing the power of data held in its mission-critical sector-focused software applications without fear of it being shared outside their organisation.

OneAdvanced AI offers:

• Retrieval-Augmented Generation using organisation specific documents and data to tailor responses from the LLM, connecting to external sector-specific data sources via APIs to understand and answer questions e.g. search legal databases, retrieving case law.

• AI Assistants automating tasks within our software workflows to free up time from admin-heavy tasks e.g. comparing a procurement policy with supplier contracts for compliance checking.

• Agentic AI combining the power of the private LLM and AI systems, OneAdvanced AI can learn and make recommendations for better ways of working – saving money and time while improving productivity e.g. horizon scanning for risks and automating the creation of risks on the risk register with recommended actions.

Amanda Grant (pictured top), Chief Product Officer at OneAdvanced, said: “Business leaders across the world are grappling with how to use AI tools to improve their organisations, speed up processes and unlock data. Relying on tools that learn from the information uploaded is too risky. They need confidence that their data remains safe. OneAdvanced AI does that.

“We believe this innovation will fundamentally reshape how UK businesses safely and effectively integrate AI into their daily operations creating those highly sought after productivity gains. OneAdvanced AI was created to help our customers, who operate in some of the most critical sectors of society, to take advantage of cutting-edge AI tools without compromise.”

Simon Walsh (pictured above), CEO at OneAdvanced added: “Today’s organisations face the dual challenge of managing a rapidly evolving technology landscape while ensuring strategic growth and operational efficiency.

“By coupling innovation with robust security standards, we can drive economic growth while protecting sensitive data. OneAdvanced AI represents a crucial step forward in ensuring that organisations can seize these opportunities without risk. Our mission is powering the world of work, and that is exactly what OneAdvanced AI will support our customers in achieving.”

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AI “Opens Up New World For Logistics” Says Global Integrator

 

Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System

Posted on by David Priestman

Samsara Inc. today announced the launch of its Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) to help fleet operators meet new guidelines from the UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which are coming into effect from April 2025.

Under these guidelines, fleets are expected to carry out four laden brake performance assessments per year – conducted via roller brake tests (RBTs) – costing fleets time and money. However, by using a compliant EBPMS to demonstrate brake performance throughout the year, fleets could potentially reduce the need for multiple physical brake tests.

By continuously monitoring braking data, Samsara’s EBPMS – part of its new Smart Trailer solution – reduces the need for manual testing, helping fleets maintain compliance without unnecessary interruptions to operations.

“The introduction of EBPMS marks a major step forward for fleet safety and operational efficiency,” said David Gal, Vice President of Product and Engineering at Samsara. “Our new system enables proactive maintenance, minimising costly failures and vehicle downtime. By leveraging real-time data from the trailer’s electronic braking systems (EBS) via our Asset Gateway, fleet operators can proactively address braking issues before they become problematic, and could save fleets up to £1,200 per trailer a year.”

According to Fox Brothers – the Lancashire-based business with a fleet of more than 80 lorries specialising in the supply and haulage of aggregates and recycled materials – the new EBPMS system looks set to strengthen their compliance while ensuring their vehicles stay on the road for longer.

“We’re keen to implement Samsara’s new EBPMS solution across our trailer fleet to meet compliance requirements,” said Simon Colderley, Transport Manager, at Fox Brothers. “Rather than taking trailers off the road for manual testing, being able to import performance data directly will make testing much easier – especially since our fleet operates nationwide,” he said.

Lee Wills, Director Conway Bailey Transport Ltd / RR Transport Ltd added, “When the Samsara team promises something, they follow through. Samsara’s EBPMS will provide a one-stop solution for our Trailer compliance needs. The ‘plug and play’ nature of Samara provides simple and fast installation but also a single system for our Trailer information needs, as opposed to a confusing mix of individual systems.”

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems

The new DVSA guidelines are part of a wider move toward technology-driven fleet management, with Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) also becoming mandatory for new trailers in the EU from July 2024. The UK, while no longer part of the EU, continues to follow many of the same vehicle safety standards, and TPMS adoption is expected to align with these changes.

Samsara’s TPMS, another component of its Smart Trailer solution, which is in open beta, continuously monitors tyre pressure and temperature, sending real-time alerts to fleet managers and drivers. This enables proactive maintenance, reducing the risk of costly breakdowns and ensuring vehicles remain safe and efficient while on the road.

EBPMS and TPMS are part of Samsara’s Smart Trailer solution, designed to help fleets boost efficiency, reduce costs and improve safety. Key features include:
• GPS tracking with real-time visibility for both powered and unpowered trailers, enabling users to see trailer locations, movement history, and usage patterns 24/7.
• Geofencing allows users to set up virtual boundaries around key locations such as depots, yards, and customer sites which trigger alerts if they’re moved without authorisation.
• Real-time alerts notify managers in the event of unauthorised trailer tampering, door openings, unexpected movements out of hours, or breaches in temperature or humidity thresholds.
• Thanks to Samsara’s Connected Operation Platform, the Smart Trailer solution allows fleets to track their assets at scale across an entire trailer fleet.
• Smart sensors installed on trailers that can detect security breaches and changes in ambient conditions. They can also provide key vehicle indicators such as tyre pressure and the condition of brake pads.
• For fleet managers, the solution allows them to track their entire fleet via a single pane of glass, identifying underutilised trailers so they can make informed decisions about their trailer fleets.

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WMS Makes Scalable Success of Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

Modexpress, a full-service logistics fulfillment partner for international fashion and lifestyle brands, runs warehouses across Europe. To meet growing demand and improve efficiency, the company is expanding its largest site in Helmond from 39,000 to 52,000 sqm. The goal has been to centralize inventory, optimize technological capabilities, and support future growth. Having relied on Astro WMS from Consafe Logistics for nearly a decade, Modexpress has now integrated advanced automation solutions, such as a high-capacity pocket sorter, that work seamlessly together with the WMS. This combination allows them to handle peak volumes more efficiently and reduce reliance on manual labour.

The Challenge

With growing order volumes, increasing labour costs, and short lead times, Modexpress faced operational challenges:

• Dependency on manual labour for picking and sorting, making operations costly and difficult to scale.
• Complex multi-channel logistics from the same stock that serves differentorders to B2B and B2C.
• Managing peak season demand with manual fulfillment without delays or errors.
• Need for an integrated system to connect warehouse management, automation solution, and transport operations.

The Solution

To improve operations and scale efficiently, Modexpress invested in automated sorting, packing, and fulfillment solutions. A pocket sorter now processes over 7,500 pieces per hour, while carton-forming machines reduce manual work in packing. Astro WMS now acts as the central system that manages the entire flow from B2B and B2C within a single automated process. This integration ensures the handling of multichannel fulfillment, has doubled picking speed, improved accuracy, reduced labour dependency, and made scalability possible.

Modexpress has been working with Consafe Logistics since 2016 with Astro WMS as a core part of their operations. This trusted partnership provided the foundation for a seamless transition to more advanced automation while maintaining the flexibility needed for the company’s future growth.

Key Benefits

• Picking speed nearly doubled due to fully automated sorting and packing.
• Higher accuracy with automated checks that reduce errors in picking, sorting, and packing.
• Labour savings by being less reliant on manual efforts.
• Scalability allows an expansion to be able to handle bigger volumes.
• Stronger service to B2B and B2C customers by improved accuracy and reliability in multi-channel fulfillment.

“We continue to invest in our partnership with Consafe Logistics because their solutions are deeply embedded in our infrastructure — it is the heart of our operations. Strong personal relationships and clear, direct communication between our teams were key to the project’s success. Collaboration was highly interactive, with both teams working closely together. Our hands-on approach to testing and implementation accelerated progress, ensuring a seamless rollout. As with any complex development, we faced challenges during testing, but we resolved them quickly and efficiently. Their team was always ready to step in, providing expert support whenever needed,” said Jan van Vlokhoven, ICT Director of Modexpress.

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Forvia Automates Storage and Supply of Parts

Posted on by David Priestman

Faced with an increase in its activity and the number of references to be processed, automotive parts supplier FORVIA chose Transitic to optimise its logistics flows at its Hénin Beaumont site in France. Thanks to two networks of automated overhead conveyors, the plant now ensures precise sequencing of parts and continuous supply of workstations, thereby optimising productivity.

FORVIA, the result of the merger between Faurecia and Hella, has established itself as a major global player in the design and production of automotive components and systems. Its expertise covers a wide range of solutions, from interior fittings to sustainable technologies. In France, FORVIA employs more than 10,000 people at 52 industrial sites,including Hénin-Beaumont in the north of the country.

FORVIA Hénin-Beaumont was faced with an increase in the number of parts to be managed, resulting in a more substantial daily flow. In this context, the teams wanted to increase their storage capacity while automating the supply and sorting of parts for greater precision throughout the production chain.

Unique Solution

Two independent networks of overhead conveyors, combining motorised and gravity sections, act as buffer-sequencers. They ensure the storage, transport and scheduling of parts, guaranteeing a continuous, organised flow to the workstations.

The first part of the installation comprisesthree workstations, each fed by emptytrolleys custom-designed to transportFORVIA parts. Once they have been loaded,the operators identify each trolley using an RFID tag, thus associating the parts with their support.

The trolleys are then directed to a first overhead storage network, made up of 18 lines and able to accommodate up to 450 trolleys. Depending on the type of part, they are directed to two separate machining centres, then emptied and finally evacuated to an automatic recirculation loop.

Once the parts have been machined,they are reloaded onto new trolleys, identified and then integrated into a second storage network. The latter was retrofitted from an old overhead system installed by Transitic in 2021. It has been recovered, extended and optimised to meet FORVIA’s new requirements. Equipped with 23 storage lines and a total capacity of 500 trolleys, this buffer ensures the sequencing of parts and routes them in a precise order to the different workstations according to their assembly line.

“Sequencing errors have been completely eliminated,” says Marc Lefebvre, Methods Manager at FORVIA. “The working comfort of our operators has also been improved by drastically reducing manual tasks and travel,” he adds.The entire installation currently operates at the rate of one trolley per minute, and can achieve a maximum production rate of 800 parts per day.

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New CEO for Temperature-Controlled Logistics Firm

Posted on by David Priestman

In the 20 years since temperature-controlled third party logistics firm Buffaload was incorporated, and the company prepares for the next 20 years, it has taken a major step to further strengthen and enhance the team. The family-owned company is thrilled to announce that John Kerrigan will join as CEO on the 1st June 2025. Kerrigan is expected to be a fantastic asset to the Buffaload team and in joining he allows founder and owner Ross Taylor time to focus on other key projects and growth for the wider group.

Kerrigan, who spent 25 years at Fowler Welch, including the last four years as CEO, has a wealth of experience within the sector.

He said, “I am incredibly excited to join the team in June and be given the chance to lead Buffaload through the next chapter of their journey. Our core values are very much aligned, Buffaload’s commitment to sustainability and innovation as well as to colleagues and customers will ensure continued growth and success for many years to come. Ross, Julie and the whole team have done a fantastic job in growing the business to where it is today, I am proud and delighted to be given the chance to now lead it through the next period.”

Taylor said, “this is a fantastic time and opportunity for both Buffaload and our now rapidly expanding group to flourish into the future. I know with John steering the ship, we will be in safe hands, and I am genuinely excited for the future with him as part of our already great team. Sustainability, innovation and value are what excites me, and John’s arrival affords me some more time to develop further opportunities away from the day to day, cementing the Group’s success long term.”

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Trailer Tyre for Durability and Performance

Posted on by David Priestman

Developed for a wide range of applications, including trailers, loading and transport vehicles, spreaders, and slurry tankers, Agriterra ULTRA is engineered to establish new industry benchmarks in performance and durability.

Leveraging engineering expertise, Agriterra ULTRA features a newly designed structure that enhances strength and durability. This new reinforced construction minimizes stress and heat buildup, ensuring greater efficiency and stability both in the field and on the road. Rigorously tested under the most demanding conditions, Agriterra ULTRA not only delivers superior durability and stability but also consistently outperforms comparable competitor products, reinforcing its position as the top choice for modern agricultural needs.

“Agriterra ULTRA represents a significant milestone in our commitment to providing high-performing solutions for the agricultural sector. Its redesigned ULTRA construction and advanced compounds ensure exceptional durability and reliability, making Agriterra ULTRA the ultimate trailer tyre solution on the market,” said Roberta D’Agnano, Global Brand Director Mitas at Yokohama TWS.

Agriterra ULTRA will be available in a range of key sizes, during the course of the year, starting from size 560/60R22.5TL IMP 165D.

A specialized version featuring VF (Very High Flexion) technology, will also be available under the name Agriterra ULTRA Soil Protector. Thanks to advanced technology, Agriterra ULTRA Soil Protector increases load capacity by up to 40% while enabling lower inflation pressure, which expands the tyre’s footprint. The result is enhanced ground protection and optimized crop yields, providing farmers with a more efficient and reliable option for their equipment. Additionally, Agriterra ULTRA Soil Protector ensures excellent grassland protection and superior performance in wet terrain, thanks to its rounded shoulder design.

With this latest innovation, Mitas aims to offer enhanced reliability and efficiency for farming professionals worldwide.

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Sorting Solution Boosts Courier Efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

Cainiao, a global supplier of smart logistics technology, has launched a new sorting solution tailored for the European market, addressing key challenges faced by local courier companies, including limited space, labour shortages, and the need for mixed-size parcel handling.

“We’ve conducted thorough research into the European market and found that courier companies face several operational hurdles. These include limited warehouse and sorting space, and the growing complexity of handling a variety of parcel sizes, from small e-commerce packages to larger shipments. Traditional sorting solutions, like large cross-belt sorters, often require substantial space and investment, making them less practical for many European logistics centers,” said a Cainiao product representative.

To address these challenges, Cainiao has introduced its newly developed narrow-belt linear sorter, a space-efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional sorting systems. The sorter supports hundreds of parcel destinations and seamlessly processes mixed-size packages. It features a single-item separation system and an automated parcel feeding system that accurately identifies and separates parcels, ensuring fully automated sorting. By optimizing manpower allocation, it helps ease the operational pressure from increasing parcel volumes while maintaining over 99% sorting accuracy.

“The narrow-belt linear sorter is an ideal fit for European courier operations. Compared to large cross-belt sorters, it requires less space, offers greater flexibility, and delivers faster ROI with lower upfront costs,” the representative added. The sorter, independently developed by Cainiao, has received EU CE mark and is already being used by several European courier companies.

One European courier company implemented the solution last year as part of a major distribution centre upgrade. After deploying the system across multiple facilities, sorting efficiency increased by 30%.

Efficient courier operations rely on advanced logistics equipment. With the industry’s rapid growth, it’s now undergoing an intelligent transformation, driven by AI, IoT, and other technologies that enhance equipment reliability. Cainiao, with its vast experience handling millions of parcels, continues to optimize technologies in diverse operational settings. In addition to sorting, Cainiao provides a range of logistics technogies including warehouse automation, digitization, and digital supply chain technologies to boost logistics efficiency. Moving forward, Cainiao will continue supporting global customers and industry partners in their digital transformation.

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[Podcast] Future Fulfilment: Smarter, Scalable Warehouses

Posted on by David Priestman

In this insightful episode of our podcast, Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter Macleod is joined by Andy Ingram, Vice President of Advanced Technology at Ocado Intelligent Automation. Together, they explore the evolution of Ocado from an online grocery retailer to a global pioneer in warehouse automation and the future of fulfilment automation.

Andy shares the remarkable story of how Ocado’s early warehouse systems—like their monorail pick-and-pack setup—were replaced through bold decisions and fast learning. From conveyor-based systems with major points of failure to today’s fully fault-tolerant, modular storage and retrieval grid powered by “naked bots,” the conversation dives deep into the transformative power of technology, simulation, and in-house innovation.

Peter Macleod and Andy Ingram, Ocado, Podcast

Key highlights include

The journey from Ocado’s early automation failures to cutting-edge proprietary tech

The development of the Ocado Storage and Retrieval System and its global rollout

Why Ocado runs its own tech and how this operational insight fuels innovation

The shift toward “lights-out” warehouses and additive manufacturing (3D printing) to create lighter, faster, more efficient robots

Insights on flexibility, scalability, and KPIs businesses should measure when adopting automation

The importance of simulation and data modeling to design high-throughput, fault-tolerant systems

How Ocado is addressing labor challenges by upskilling workers and simplifying robotic systems

A look ahead at the future of logistics automation—including exciting technologies like subassembly 3D printing

Whether you’re a logistics professional, automation enthusiast, or just curious about the future of fulfilment, this episode delivers a fascinating glimpse into what’s next for warehouse operations around the world.

Click here to listen to this episode and more

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