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Real-time Air Freight Tracking

Posted on 26 July, 2023 by David Priestman

Prompt and seamless exchange of accurate information is essential for a robust logistics network, especially for air freight tracking. With ThinkPrime and Delpa Group, BlueBox Systems, a leading developer of intelligent air freight tracking solutions, welcomes two new customers for its state-of-the-art air freight tracking programming interface. With this, BlueBox Systems enables companies to quickly and easily access high-quality air freight data, resulting in streamlined operations.

Using BlueBox Systems’ air freight tracking programming interface, ThinkPrime and Delpa Group each get the ability to integrate BlueBox Systems’ tracking data into their own platform, allowing the independent applications to communicate with each other and share data in real time. This gives all parties along the supply chain access to the most up-to-date and accurate information. For example, carriers gain access to real-time shipment data to optimize routes and allocate resources efficiently. Similarly, manufacturers can get up-to-date shipment tracking information so they can plan production and proactively manage inventory. At the same time, the API solution enhances security by providing controlled data access that ensures only authorized parties can access and use shared information. Finally, the API streamlines processes by fostering automation and seamless system interactions, reducing manual intervention and improving overall operational efficiency.

“Our carrier neutral approach means we are connected to over 200 direct airline accounts and have ties to all major shipping lines so that we can adapt to any logistics challenge or deadline. The integration of BlueBox Systems’ API solution enables us to better provide our customers with accurate and timely updates on their shipments for a seamless experience. We pride ourselves on offering next-level customer service and the accuracy and speed of the data BlueBox supplies is unmatched, making it an incredible tool for bring our clients an even greater level of service,” says Arisa Hickey, Director at ThinkPrime (Thailand).

Chilean logistics provider Delpa Group plans to further expand its tracking offering with the interface solution from BlueBox Systems. “Through our multi-tracking platform, we already enable more than 1,500 multinational logistics providers to access cargo tracking data from airlines, shipping companies, freight forwarders and land transport companies. By integrating the BlueBox API, we can further enhance our service, especially in the air freight sector,” states Alexander Weason, Project Manager at Delpa Group.

“We are very pleased to see our API solution being adopted by more and more companies and to welcome ThinkPrime and the Delpa Group as our newest customers. Our commitment to providing the best air cargo data in the market is unwavering and we will continue to innovate and add value to our customers,” adds Martin Schulze, CEO of BlueBox Systems.

In addition to the API solution, BlueBox Systems also offers BlueBox Air, a web-based air freight tracking platform with a fast and intuitive user interface. BlueBox Air enables companies to efficiently manage their air cargo operations, reduce errors and improve overall productivity. BlueBox Systems also offers a white-label solution for companies that want to use its technology to offer their own air cargo management system to their customers.

Visionary in WMS Magic Quadrant

Posted on 25 July, 2023 by David Priestman

Reply has been named a Visionary in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems among 18 vendors worldwide due to its Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute.

According to Gartner, “To be a Visionary, a vendor must have a coherent, compelling and innovative strategy that seeks to deliver a differentiated, robust and vibrant offering to the market.” Reply has been named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for WMS for the fourth consecutive year.

The company stated: “We believe our position as a Visionary confirms our standing as a thought leader in the sector, thanks to our innovative vision and future-proof solutions, reflecting the increasingly global scope of our projects.”

Reply is one of the first players to offer a modular and extensible digital platform, 100% cloud-native and microservices-based, as an asset to provide its customers the adaptability and flexibility to drive real impact in their organizations, as business needs and technologies change in times of disruption. Its strength lies in its composability, leveraging business-ready services and accelerators that can be packaged together into pre-built solutions, such as our LEA Reply WMS, or to create new solutions, tailored to the customer’s specific requirements.

Alongside its strong support to core WMS processes and cutting-edge technologies, Reply continues to enhance its warehouse automation and robotics capabilities, as well as invest in data-driven resource optimization, leveraging technologies, such as AI and ML, for supply chain visibility and proactive decision-making.

Reply continues to evolve its capabilities within the LEA ReplyTM and Click ReplyTM solutions to take time-to-value and quality to the next level and support our customers in every step of their digital transformation process.

“We are thrilled to be named as one of the Visionaries in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for WMS for the fourth consecutive year,” said Enrico Nebuloni, Executive Partner at Reply. “This achievement reinforces the value of our unique and distinctive vision, and further cements the trust our customers place in us. By successfully and effectively meeting diverse demands across various industries and business objectives, we consistently transform our customers’ supply chain visions into reality”.

Austrian Post Selects Yard Management System

Posted on 25 July, 2023 by David Priestman

Austrian Post has selected INFORM’s Yard Management System (YMS) for their Yard Excellence Tool Integration (YETI) project for deployment to ten sites across their parcel network in Austria, with the project having commenced in 2022.

INFORM will deliver their market-proven Syncrotess YMS to ten Austrian Post sites enabling them to digitalize and optimize their yard operations driving down costs and increasing productivity.

Markus Sekula, Austrian Post Project Manager at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division, added, “In addition to delivering our proven YMS, we have started adding new features, following the customer’s clear, future vision of digitized yard operations to further enrich the solution for Austrian Post.” New features that have or will be added to the solution include a new mobile application for gate and driver operations, the implementation of time slot management (appointment system), and a rules engine adding another level of decision-making support within the system to only name a few.

Dr. Eva Savelberg, Senior Vice President at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division, commented, “It is exciting to see our YMS selected by another national post and parcel operator building on the success we’ve fostered with both Swiss Post and DHL Parcel UK.” Savelsberg continued, “Many YMS solutions are generic, while ours has very specialized features for post and parcel operators, allowing them to drive strong ROI in an even shorter period of time when compared to general YMS solutions.”

In preparation for Austrian Post’s YETI project, they were looking for a new proven solution for the management of their logistics center yards. After working with a university of applied sciences that conducted a deep YMS market research study, they launched a tender with their specific requirements, including recording of movements with the yard, digital mapping of resources to drive operational transparency, a single solution for use across their operational areas, and a solution that could be adjusted to meet their unique processes.

Andreas Brenner, YETI Project Manager at Austrian Post, commented, “INFORM was ultimately selected because of the combination of their team’s rich experience and their YMS being a proven solution already in use with other national post and parcel operators.”

INFORM commenced the project in March 2022 and successfully delivered the pilot site in May 2022. In September 2022, the first new feature was delivered, completely modernizing the way gate operators engage with the system via mobile devices instead of a more traditional PC user interface.

INFORM is a market leader in AI and optimization software to facilitate improved decision-making. Based in Aachen, Germany, the company has been in the optimization business for 50 years and serves a wide span of logistics industries, including post and parcel and distribution centre operations with an AI-empowered Yard Management System (YMS) for digitalizing, optimizing, and automating yard operations.

LiBiao Robotics Opens Frankfurt HQ

Posted on 21 July, 2023 by David Priestman

As part of its ongoing growth strategy autonomous mobile robot-based parcel and post sortation solutions specialist, LiBiao Robotics, has opened a new European headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

The site features modern office space, product demonstration zones and a showroom where interested parties can see LiBiao’s range of autonomous sortation robots and discover the many ways that the technology can benefit their business.

“Frankfurt is the perfect location for our new European hub,” said Xia Huiling LiBiao Robotics’ founder and CEO (pictured). “Apart from providing a base for our European sales and service teams, the new premises will be a place where logistics professionals can learn how LiBiao’s robots can improve their productivity and cost efficiency. The opening of the new office in Frankfurt highlights LiBiao Robotics’ commitment to the European market and is further evidence of our plan to build on our success in Europe and continue to expand our activity across the region.”

Several of the biggest names in the European logistics industry already rely LiBiao sortation robot technology at some of their busiest sites. For example, Packeta – the biggest online fulfilment and parcel delivery business in the Czech Republic – uses 170 LiBiao robots to sort as many as 10,000 packages per hour at its Prague facility; and, Hellenic Post – the state-owned provider of postal services in Greece -introduced a LiBiao system at its Thessaloniki sorting hub in 2022.

LiBiao’s sorting robot technology has been specifically developed as an extremely cost-efficient and flexible alternative to the high CapEx fixed tilt-tray and cross-belt conveyor-based sortation systems that have traditionally been used within parcel, post and ecommerce operations.

More compact than other AMRs currently on the market, LiBiao robots require minimal floor space within which to operate to achieve the same parcel throughput statistics as conveyor-based systems and, because they have no fixed infrastructure requirements, they can be easily adapted to cope with any spikes in throughput.

Worldwide, an estimated 30 billion parcels are processed using LiBiao AMRs each year by companies as diverse as Walmart, Uniqlo and China Post.

Xia Huiling adds: “It is obvious from the feedback that we get that Europe’s logistics community is increasingly conscious of the benefits that our innovative approach to sortation brings. With ecommerce only likely to become ever more competitive, Europe’s retailers and their logistics partners cannot afford to overlook the significant operational advantages that LiBiao’s AMR-based sortation solutions deliver.”

Established in 2016, LiBiao Robotics is a modern high-tech enterprise specialising in the development of robotic systems for the post, parcel and logistics sectors. The company’s autonomous mobile robot technology is in operation across China, Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and the USA, LiBiao Robotics is based in Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province.

Vertical Lifts, Ahead of the Curve

Posted on 20 July, 2023 by Keith McKinley

Traditionally a step ahead of the game with its vertical lift products, today, Kardex is a leader in warehouse automation. Peter MacLeod asked Kardex New Business Director for UK & Ireland Aaron Thornton to bring us up to date.

Aaron Thornton was persuaded to join Kardex after spending 20 years at a competitor. “When I was previously selling vertical lifts, it used to annoy me when customers would say they needed a ‘Kardex’. I’ve always had respect for the organisation, and a big part of the attraction of joining Kardex [two years ago] was their future commitment to automation. It is an organisation with a very stable background, excellent branding in the market and is correctly perceived to be the market leader. The company has a reputation for quality and stability.”

As Kardex continues its drive into the wider automation field, it has widened its focus from its previously core products – vertical lifts and carousels – and more on its newer technologies such as the Vertical Buffer Module. This, in conjunction with its picking software system (PPS), is driving the company to new heights and new segments.

“We’re a force to be reckoned with,” says Thornton. “We’re now able to attract a customer base that Kardex may not have communicated with previously, for example 3PLs and ecommerce businesses. We’re now looking at integration with conveyors, AMR solutions and robotics. Last year we also took on the AutoStore products to further widen our portfolio.”

My first touchpoint with Kardex would have been at an IMHX trade show in the early noughties. At the time its stand was dominated by a vertical lift that reached high into the rafters. “Back then, we were very product-led,” Thornton explains. “We don’t often take machines
to shows now. Yes, we have a leading product portfolio and that will continue to serve for many decades to come, but if you simply take a carousel or a vertical lift [to a show], that’s what you end up getting enquiries for. Kardex are now so much more than that.”

A solutions provider, Thornton says Kardex’s approach to Industry 4.0 is led by its software. “It takes our product range and lifts it to a different dimension. We also lead with pick technology and have a fantastic service offering called remote support. This enables us to dive
into the machines remotely in order to carry out assessments, for example servicing or cycles. We can see how the machines are performing live and plan preventative maintenance. That offers us a different dimension of sales support, which is a very exciting place to be.”

Kardex is particularly strong in an area Thornton calls ‘first-step automation’. “This is how we work with predominantly SMEs and larger businesses in order to lead them into their first foray into automation. “We are adapting as an organisation. We have robotics, conveyors, AMRs… That’s where the growth of the organisation lies, because that’s what customers demand. Automation was always something to
do with the big boys, but we can offer a level of automation at a relatively low cost, and that’s what makes us different.”

Vertical Lifts

Two major themes are emerging in 2023: labour shortage and high energy costs. Thornton believes Kardex is well equipped to address both of them. On the former, he says: “With a couple of machines and very good software we can manage pick patterns and throughputs that would previously require four or five people. We have discussions every week with our customers about the labour shortage, and we can help them overcome that.”

On the latter, he says: “We are always looking at the technology within our products to increase our green credentials. We have LEDs within
the machines to see what we can do to help lower customers’ energy bills. Companies that use a lot of automation look at their suppliers to
see how they can help them with that – we’re seeing kilowatt usage on motors becoming quite common in tenders.”

With a nod to Kardex’s heritage, this is a different company to the one I first encountered 20 or so years ago, and has its targets firmly set on the automated future of logistics.

Vertical Lifts, Ahead of the Curve

Posted on 20 July, 2023 by David Priestman

Vertical Lifts

With a nod to Kardex’s heritage, this is a different company to the one I first encountered 20 or so years ago, and has its targets firmly set on the automated future of logistics.

Fortna Announces Latest OptiSlot DC

Posted on 18 July, 2023 by David Priestman

FORTNA, a leading automation and software company for the full logistics value chain, has announced the latest release of its intelligent slotting optimization software, FORTNA OptiSlot DC™, release 13.1. Driven by client feedback, industry research and domain expertise, the new release optimizes the software experience with expanded usability.

FORTNA OptiSlot release 13.1 enables businesses to easily expand the use of the solution through language and usability improvements. The first expansion is for businesses growing in additional geographies with a simple system language change for Spanish and German in addition to the previously supported English version. Additional release highlights include visibility and decision-making support, powered by dynamic, custom comparative reporting. With enhanced comparative reporting, users can easily customize reports in real time to display and analyze scenarios and highlight key metrics for solution selection, buy-in and delivery. Other software improvements include automatic project back-ups set to queue before and after significant strategy adjustments, API updates for users employing advanced scripting capabilities and error proofing to eliminate challenges before they occur.

“Today’s distribution environment is unpredictable,” says Jordan Mitchell, Senior Director, Product Management, FORTNA. “Balancing limited resources and inventory with demand while being profitable proves challenging. It is imperative that intelligent software, like FORTNA OptiSlot, provides supply chain professionals with an intuitive solution to adapt and optimize distribution operations to satisfy customer demands effectively.”

FORTNA OptiSlot release 13.1 launches a broader user experience initiative to make slotting an efficient process, supporting an essential step in clients’ digital transformation initiatives around the world.

FORTNA partners with the world’s leading brands to transform omnichannel and parcel distribution operations. Known world-wide for enabling companies to keep pace with digital disruption and growth objectives, we design and deliver solutions, powered by intelligent software, to optimize fast, accurate and cost-effective order fulfillment and last mile delivery. Our people, innovative approach and proprietary algorithms and tools ensure optimal operations design and material and information flow. We deliver exceptional value every day to our customers with comprehensive services and products including network strategy, distribution center operational design and implementation, material handling automated equipment, robotics and a comprehensive suite of lifecycle services

Flower Shipments Surge in Wedding Season

Posted on 17 July, 2023 by David Priestman

As it warms up in the Northern Hemisphere, Emirates SkyCargo is scaling up its cool chain capacity for perishables, preparing for a busy summer season of weddings and outdoor events. As the demand for decorative floral arrangements increases, May 2023 saw Emirates SkyCargo transport 3,590 tonnes of time- and temperature-sensitive fresh cut flowers, a 20% rise from the same period last year.

Ecuador and Kenya are the top two export origin locations; Ecuador in particular has experienced a steady rise in flower trade in recent years, increasing its exports with Emirates SkyCargo by 21% in May this year, compared to 2022. The Netherlands, a country that plays a major role in the world’s flower trade, remains in both the top three export origins and import locations. Other key import locations for this commodity include the UAE and Australia, with Saudi Arabia rounding out the top four.

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President – Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo, said, “We are seeing an increased demand for fresh flowers as the wedding season in the Northern Hemisphere reaches its peak, and a corresponding spike in demand for logistics capabilities to protect perishables. Leveraging our industry-leading temperature-controlled technology, facilities, equipment and expert personnel, Emirates Fresh continues to offer our global customers reliable freshness, whether it’s beautiful blooms for that special day or fresh produce for the garden barbeque. With 500 to 600 tonnes of perishables transported on Emirates SkyCargo flights every day, we are proud to be the partner of choice that connects the global agriculture community with their customers all over the world.”

22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities every month

Perishables are the carrier’s largest business by tonnage carried, uplifting an average of 22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities every month. Ranging from freshly picked mangoes from Pakistan, to salmon from Norway and brilliant blooms from Kenya, Emirates SkyCargo transports goods rapidly and efficiently across its global network of over 140 destinations.

Fresh cut flowers dominate as the leading perishable category transported by SkyCargo with chilled meat and fresh fruits rounding out the top three perishable product categories, as air cargo enables temperate-safe and rapid transit from farm to shop in as little as 24-48 hours.

Door-to-door cool chain delivered at scale via Dubai

As temperatures rise and summer produce is harvested, cool chain logistics play an essential role in keeping high-demand perishable produce fresh and high quality for consumers worldwide.

Emirates’ dedicated cool-chain handling capabilities have been developed with a focus on fast connection times and high-quality transfers. Its dual airport hub in Dubai is world’s largest and most technologically advanced cargo handling facility, offering a three-hour, air-to-air transfer service. Handling over 8,000 shipments per day, the facility has over 15,000m² of dedicated storage for temperature-sensitive goods, including perishables.

Uniquely positioned between east and west, approximately 1/3 of the world’s population can be served from Dubai within a 4-hour flight range. Emirates’ vast network of destinations, meanwhile, also give customers the choice of multiple flights per day to many locations across both freighter and passenger aircraft belly-hold capacity.

Emirates Fresh, SkyCargo’s perishable-oriented service offers three different options for customers to choose the appropriate level of temperature protection for their cargo. This ranges from produce with a higher tolerance for temperature fluctuations, to high-end perishables that require active cool dollies for ramp protection. Customers can track and trace their shipments and view temperature monitoring data online at every step, as well as make short-notice direct bookings, thanks to SkyCargo’s ecommerce platform.

Bathroom Retailer Opts for Fulfilment Solution

Posted on 17 July, 2023 by David Priestman

Deposco, the omnichannel fulfilment supply chain solutions platform for brand owners, retailers, ecommerce, and 3PL companies, has signed Easy Bathrooms as a new customer.

Easy Bathrooms is on a steep growth path in the UK. With 135 stores in action today and a further 65 set to open soon, the company needed a fulfilment solution that could keep up with its plans for rapid expansion. Deposco’s end-to-end omnichannel planning and fulfilment solution was the perfect fit.

The Deposco solution will help Easy Bathrooms manage its 350,000 square foot warehouse more efficiently, provide an accurate, real-time view of inventory to quickly satisfy customer orders, and remove a raft of manual processes across the business.

“We chose to work with Deposco because they understand our business and demonstrated the knowledge to support our growth objectives,” said Craig Waddington, Founder and CEO of Easy Bathrooms. ”The Deposco solution will give us the control, visibility and accuracy we need to continue to deliver a great customer experience, through enabling our warehouse to operate more efficiently. This will free us to focus on growing the Easy Bathrooms retail footprint.”

The roll-out of the Deposco solution at Easy Bathrooms is set to be completed within a 90-day timeframe. Once fully implemented, the Deposco solution is expected to prove to be a vehicle to grow the business and make products available to customers at optimum price and availability levels.

Easy Bathrooms will initially deploy one element of the overall Deposco solution, its Warehouse Management System (WMS), ready for peak season trading later this year. Over the medium term, Easy Bathrooms and Deposco plan to work together to achieve complete visibility of inventory and generate management information across the operation before going on to drive further operational benefits.

Longer term, Easy Bathrooms is looking for the Deposco solution to help them assimilate new stores into their portfolio; expand their product range; and launch new channels to market to better serve new business opportunities.

Will Lovatt, Vice President and General Manager, Europe at Deposco said: “We are proud to be supporting Easy Bathrooms on their journey to becoming the UK’s premier bathroom retailer. Their energy and drive to deliver fabulous results are well matched to the culture at Deposco. We’re loving the opportunity to innovate together to fulfil orders for a greater number of new Easy Bathrooms customers as effectively as possible.”

Deposco’s Bright Suite of omnichannel fulfilment supply chain applications is how fast-growing companies rapidly scale their warehouse management and order management operations. So, they can see what inventory they’ve got, where it is, and where to position it to fulfill demand when It’s Grow Time™. It’s the only solution that provides this much actionable insight into both your supply chain and the broader marketplace. Streamlined into One Solution, One Focus, One Team.

TecPlata Welcomes ZIM’s Patagonia Express

Posted on 17 July, 2023 by David Priestman

TecPlata, International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) cargo handling operations at the La Plata Port adjacent to Buenos Aires in Argentina, received the inaugural call of Zim Integrated Shipping Services’ (ZIM) Patagonia Express Service (PES) that connects Argentinian trade to the United States and the Caribbean Gulf, among other destinations.

ZIM’s newly launched service links Argentina to the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast through the ports of Kingston, a major Caribbean hub, and Houston in the Gulf of Mexico. The service marked its inaugural call at TecPlata with the arrival of the 1,000-TEU boxship Contship Key, and with its present network set up, is expected to call TecPlata every 45 days. The maritime service from La Plata to Kingston and Houston provides a reliable and efficient connection for Argentinian foreign trade, offering commercial opportunities that promote economic growth in the region.

“We are pleased to receive the Contship Key at TecPlata and start this new connection with the North American gulf coast. This strategic alliance with ZIM enables us to offer new services and logistics distribution to our clients. We are confident that this service will strengthen TecPlata’s position as a strategic trade port on the East Coast of South America,” said Juan Pablo Trujillo, TecPlata chief executive officer.

TecPlata takes great pride in delivering new opportunities to clients through this service, which takes advantage of the terminal’s modern port infrastructure and world-class standard of operation. ZIM’s arrival in TecPlata further expands the connectivity of La Plata beyond the Latin America region.

In October 2008, TecPlata S.A. was granted a 30-year concession to build and operate an all-purpose port terminal in the greater Buenos Aires area in Argentina by the Consorcio de Gestion del Puerto La Plata. Built with an investment of US$450 million, TecPlata is Argentina’s most modern container terminal with an initial capacity of 450,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) capacity, and capable of being extended of up to 1 million TEUs in the second phase.

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