The logistics sector in Spain continues to show signs of prosperity. Ports that break traffic records semester after semester, growth in the number of operations and transport multinationals entering the national market. Logistics operators play a key role in the prosperity of the sector, allowing the rapid flow of traffic operations and keeping information accessible to customers and partners. In order for them to play this role, they need a ERP logistics specialized that allows them to have control and management of the processes of the transport and logistics sector.
If you are a logistics operator competing in today's fascinating market, you should know that much of the value you provide to your customers is based on the ability to manipulate information quickly and securely. And that's largely due to the IT systems that must provide you with the tools to process shipments quickly, consolidate accounting, and inform your customers about operational milestones.
Surely you already have a management system in your company, and the question you will be asking yourself is: is it really time to change? We are talking about three indicators that will allow you to analyze the decision:
1. I can't trust my ERP software management reports
The end of the week arrives and you request a summary of the operations carried out. You get an excel with data, but something doesn't add up. So, you open up your accounting software and just like you guessed, the numbers don't match the report. You already discussed it with your IT manager, who told you that it was a problem with the integrations between your accounting program and the logistics ERP. And they're still arguing over who's going to solve it. So you end up creating your own excel, in which you import data from different sources that you must manually update every time you want to have information about your business.
If you've been in this situation, it's probably time to consider switching to ERP software for logistics operators. It often happens that companies acquire computer solutions to respond to specific problems at a given time. The problem with this is that each solution handles a different database, and when consolidated reports are required, the information is not moved from one site to another completely or automatically. This situation is aggravated when we begin to handle larger volumes of data, where databases slow down and corrupt queries.
2. I fear that my productivity will be lower than the competition.
We're changing the scenery. You are very satisfied because you have acquired a large multinational as a client, which means hiring a new employee. By interviewing potential candidates, you realise that there are people in other companies who are managing twice as many files as your team. You think maybe they just make terrestrial, but the more you interview more people, the more you feel that the average of the competition is way above your productivity.
Your team's low productivity is not due to your company's work culture. It is possible that many repetitive operations are performed manually. You should know that today's competitors use automated processes integrated with quote platforms that make their productivity skyrocket.
3. My logistics ERP does not have full traceability of shipments to customers
This new client you've won has a demanding set of conditions. Ask for complete traceability of shipments, from when they leave the warehouse in China to when they are at your facilities in Spain, with more than 20 milestones along the way. Up to now the management of communications with your customers has been punctual. Basically it has consisted of consultations by e-mail or telephone of your operators to the different control points, followed by an email to the client with the details.
You realize that, for the volume of containers you must manage for this client, it is impossible to perform this task manually. You should provide a self-consulting space so that your operators do not have to spend their time making status reports on shipments. Your IT manager says that to be able to respond to customer requirements the information must be received automatically, but that these integrations are not possible with your current ERP logistics software.
If you have found yourself in one of these situations, the solution will most likely be to change your transportation and warehouse management software, your logistics ERP. The current tools as _b firstallow a total integration within all critical operations of your business and the automatic transition to all other areas of your organization. In addition, connectivity to external platforms will greatly facilitate your team's operations, and increase your productivity.
Perhaps it's time to consider a change in ERP software, don't you think?
You might be interested: Trends in ERP Logistics in 2020
Consultant in Logistics and Supply Chain Technologies
