In my career I have been blessed to work in various innovation projects that focused on taking a supply chain to the next level. Whether it be movement of tires or parts for production or repair, the collaboration needed has stood in the forefront. Of course, this has evolved over the past 20 years and as I started 2 years ago with RIO, the breadth of the RIO solutions wasn’t so apparent. To be honest, „Shipper Platform“ sounded rather server and techie oriented and didn’t hint at process and performance benefits. But was I wrong!
Expectation vs. reality
The Shipper Platform is a true process enabler that offers focuses on streamlining the process and communications between shipper, suppliers, and carriers. I see it as a real performance tool that allows each player in the complex supply process understand what is needed, to communicate their ability to deliver, adjustments to shipments and any updates during the transport.
Anyone working in the logistics field knows how time consuming the exceptions or expected can be to follow up on and the delay that have to be managed. Sadly, the exceptions can become well more than 20% of the effort in the entire process.
Efficiency through Transparency
Transparency and early detection are key and that is exactly what the RIO Shipper Digitalization tools provide. We have developed the tools that keep the largest automobile producer in the world producing – through the collaborative and user-oriented processes that allow a call off to be managed through the delivery. Crossing the hands and computers of many… from the supplier’s planner to the logistics team then to the carrier where goods are often reshuffled in a hub and make their way to the warehouses or production lines of the manufacturing plants.
The complex coordination and logic needed to manage the load building and transportation optimization for thousands of parts from thousands of suppliers through hundreds of carriers is a core of what RIOs Shipper products offer.
Merging the material order with the transport order to create the transparency needed is the basis for real value through reduced transport cost, better load management and less time following up on the whereabouts of a delivery.
Imagine the Innovation
The digital twins that are being created to allow for fewer handovers and more automated acknowledgement and routing of goods to the final destination are a real innovation in the logistics process! A real dream for drivers, who can be informed of which gate to dock at as they arrive at the facility. Drive in, unload and back on the road without the usual lines, forms and delays!
On my last visit to a large Ingolstadt based auto manufacturer, it was impressive to see how the data provided by the RIO system was automating the receiving process. The excitement from a receiving team leader was a testament to the value that transparency has brought to the process. She shared that the wait times for the driver had greatly decreased and with the integration of GEO-position data from more carriers the efficiency of the process will only get better.
Corrina Kutzner
Corrina supports our Shipper Digitalization team as a consultant. She has over 15 years of experience in the area of supply chain and logistics, having worked in both business and IT project management roles in the USA and Europe. With her extensive expertise and international experience, she brings valuable perspectives and innovative solutions to her projects.