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Experience in Shipping Transportation |
Atlantic Container Line (ACL), a Leading Container Line company doing business across Atlantic, converting their existing client server application developed in Power Builder ...... |
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Experience in Port Management |
Mauritius Port Authority (MPA), a strategically located Port in the Indian Ocean has identified Thinksol to fulfill its need to automate...... |
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| Thinksol on The Move |
| A brief on Our expertise in Shipping |
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Experience in Shipping Transportation
Atlantic Container Line (ACL), a Leading Container Line company doing business across Atlantic, converting their existing client server application developed in Power Builder to Web based application (J2EE Framework) to be accessible by their different offices spread over USA and Europe.
IAtlas is a web based applications with the following features :
N tier Architecture
Secured
Portable
Easy maintenance/Manageability
Better Scalability and performance
Availability
Platform Independence
Since this is a migration project hence all requirement analysis is done based on the existing system ATLAS. This requirement analysis leads to development of use case, Class ,Sequence Diagram which was approved by client.
This project follows iterative development approach as discussed and agreed upon with customer. Each iteration will have its own design, development and testing phase.
Project Architecture
J2EE Framework: - Model View Controller (MVC) architecture
Application Server:
Oracle 9IAS Database: Oracle 9i
Module Wise Details of the Software
Customer Profile:
The ATLAS Customer Profile is the ACL enterprise-wide database that contains all the information about a customer, his relationship to ACL and his relationship to other customers and vendors. In addition to customers (e.g. Shippers, consignee, etc.) the Customer Profile also contains other organizations like vendors and truckers. The profile itself is displayed in the form of a multi-tabbed file folder where each tab represents a different aspect of the customer’s information (e.g. Address Book, Phone Book, CCR/NCRs, Comments, etc.). One of the reasons that this file is so important is because from the Customer Profile one can move to any piece of that customer’s business like their Shipments or their quotes.
Quotes:
The flow of Quotation module starts with an incomplete quote worksheet, initiated with customer-supplied information. The customer service representative then completes the worksheet as far as possible. Any time at any stage the quote can be “saved” for later completion by the customer service area.
The primary function for customer service is to ensure that the quote information is complete. The list of edits to be satisfied for this include:
Customer requesting the quote identified and coded
Complete and valid traffic lane identified and coded for each item
for carrier haulage on the POL side, a place of receipt and port are required - more information can be entered if available
for merchant haulage on the POL side, the port is required - a source terminal may be entered in the case where a line haul is required
commodity description must be entered for all items
full dimensions and weight entered for all RORO cargo.
Until all of these edits are completed, the quote status is Incomplete Worksheet.
Once the worksheet has completed, the customer service rep can forward the quote to the pricing approval group.
the status of the quote is set to Pending Approval.
the quote will be forwarded to that user office’s “Pending Approval” folder.
find the office for the Atlas user doing the forwarding.
if there is ANY RoRo cargo in the quote, find the office responsible for approving RoRo rates for that office and forward to that office with WIP status “Pending RoRo Rates”.
if there is NO RoRo cargo in the quote, find the office responsible for approving LoLo rates for that office and forward to that office with WIP status “Pending LoLo Rates”.
The rating area then establishes prices for the different items in the quote, and those rates are approved. The rating of inlands must be completed for all moves not requesting port-to-port only movement. In these cases the rating area may have to involve other groups by manually forwarding the quote with comments requesting inland pricing. The quote would remain in Pending Rates status
Once all approvals have been completed, the quote must then be moved to one of two status’s: Pending Fax/Print or Fax/Print Queue and moved to the matching work-in-progress bin for the customer service office. In either case, the quote is removed from the rating department’s work in progress “Pending” folder.
The situation with a quote is different from a booking where different processes have to be coordinated by customer service. Especially in the case of RoRo quotes, there may be interaction between the rating area and the customer and it may be more “natural” for the rating specialist the initiate the fax request directly. There will also be a need to confirm and fax part of a quote once it is approved, without waiting for a complete approval.
If the quote is moved to “Pending Fax/Print”, customer service can forward to the “Fax/Print Queue” at a later time.
Once the quote has been faxed, the status is set to Completed and the quote is moved to the “Follow-Up” bin for the customer service office. In addition, the follow-up date is set in the quote header and an e-mail generated for the assigned sales rep.
Some customer service representatives will be trained as pricing “specialists” who will have the ability to price basic LoLo moves. As each quote group is completed, these specialists will be able to rate the item without forwarding the quote to the rating area. It is expected that the quote will still have to be forwarded for approval, at least initially. The ability to rate quotes by customer service will be implemented via the security layer.
The requirement for their rating to be approved will be implemented via business rules.
The traffic lanes within the Quote will reflect the general processing rules for traffic lanes within Atlas.
The move is first generalized by the setting the places of receipt and delivery to “door”, “terminal”, “ocean port”. The processing requirements for each of these terms are explained below for the export side of a move; the import side will correspond to this description. Note that the Ports of Load and Discharge are required for all quotes.
Door.
ACL takes receipt or the cargo directly at the shipper’s premises.
This is a Carrier move.
The Door location (city name) is required and is identified as the place of receipt.
The mode of transport will default to truck. It selected, it will reflect the customer’s preference for moving the cargo to the ship. For example, if “Rail” is selected, the bulk of the move will be via train.
Terminal.
The shipper will deliver the cargo to an ACL operating location that is not a serviced ocean port.
In Europe this is characterized as a Merchant move, in North America this is a Carrier move.
The Source Terminal is required and is identified as the place of receipt.
Mode of transport will operate as for a Door move (above).
Ocean Port.
The shipper delivers the cargo to ACL at the serviced ocean port.
This is a Merchant move.
The Mode of Transport is not applicable for these moves.
The source pool can be entered on the extended dialogue (“More”) pop-up.
Booking / Shipment
The creation of a new booking involves identifying customers, cargo items, dispatch information and the charges associated with each booked item. The customer service representative completes the worksheet as far as possible. A booking must pass through several validations, before it can be confirmed by the appropriate authority. If no approvals are needed for the booking to be confirmed, the customer service representative has the option of sending the confirmation immediately or moving the booking to a PENDING PRINT status for later disposition.
If there is any hazardous material booked,
the shipment would be forwarded to the hazardous cargo department for approval
the status of the booking would be set to PENDING APPROVAL If the rates for the shipment were carried over from an expired contract, or need to be verified for any other reason,
the shipment would be forwarded to a rating area for approval and/or modification of the rates in the booking
the status of the booking would be set to PENDING APPROVAL. If the booking details met any of the profiles set by the trades group for automatic review,
the shipment would be forwarded to the trades department for approval
the status of the booking would be set to PENDING APPROVAL.
Note that any booking could require one or more approvals prior to confirmation. A conditional confirmation can be sent to the customer from the PENDING APPROVAL status and appropriate clauses would be generated automatically. At this point the booking is also OK TO DISPATCH, and the customer service representative has the option to initiate dispatch requests for the booking.
As each approval is entered into the system, the status of the booking would be checked. When the last approval is entered, the booking’s status would be changed automatically to PENDING PRINT.
At that point the customer service representative can request the full confirmation to be sent to the customer. After the confirmation has been generated, the status of the shipment is changed to PENDING EXPORT DOCUMENTATION .
Export Documentation consists of following phases:--
Business Process,Split,Merge,Validations,Closing the Export B/L,Print B/L, Invoice
Creation,Export CV Processing.
Import Documentation consists of following phases:--
Business Process, Validations, POD Haulage, Closing the Import B/L,Print Arrival
Notice, Invoice creation, Import CV Processing
A shipment is defined as an document that contains all information regarding cargo moved by
ACL from an origin to a destination per customer request. The shipment essentially encompasses the booking and bill of lading in a single document. The Shipment is displayed in the form of a multi-tabbed file folder where each tab represents a different aspect of the shipment itself (e.g. Shipment details, Hazardous details, Dispatch information, etc.).
Dispatch:
From the shipment leg selection screen, the intermodal dispatcher will be able to view all shipment legs requiring a dispatch. The dispatcher will select one or many shipment legs and assign them to a dispatch. In order to assign a shipment leg to a dispatch, a route leg must be assigned to it. This will ensure that there is a rate and operational agreement with the vendor to fulfill the dispatch.The system should provide an intuitive interface for multi-selection of shipment legs to assign to a single dispatch. The user will have two methods to create a dispatch. The user can auto-route which will assign a route to each shipment leg selected for the dispatch. The system must assign routes that are for the same vendor.
The user can select shipment legs and assign them to a vendor. In this case the system should search for routes specific to that vendor and apply them to the dispatch.
The system should provide a screen to display the details of the dispatch after the legs have been routed. If a matched load is available for a dispatch and the dispatcher has not selected it, the system should recommend the match and warn the user. The Dispatch Detail screen will enable a dispatcher to review the details of the shipments as well as the vendor and rates. The dispatch screen must allow for the dispatcher to add additional instructions for the move. The dispatch details screen must allow for addition of assessorial charges to the dispatch.
The system must validate dispatches against inland and port cutoffs to ensure cargo will be able to arrive for the vessel in time for loading. Vendors must be approved UIIA carriers. The system must maintain this information or interface with the UIIA data.
The system must create a dispatch ID and PO record for interfacing with Great Plains. The system must be able to transmit the dispatch to the vendor according to the delivery method in the vendor’s company profile. (EDI, Email, Fax). The system must provide for a method to lock out automatic shipment leg updates. i.e. – if the dispatch has been sent, must the shipment changes be notified manually or should an alert be sent. The system must maintain historical records for performance reporting of vendors.
Equipment Control:
This module helps user to track and visualize of data which is critical to the operations as well as the commercial success of the company. Customers requires visibility of all events associated to their cargo. These events are captured real time into the system. This solution requires that the system provides full EDI capabilities as well as additional methods for receiving data such as email attachments, web services, XML and website updates.
All events captured in the system made available to both internal and external users by the same range of methods as they are received.
In-Transit Tracking
The system capture all events associated with the movement of equipment and cargo. The system receives event status via EDI, Email attachment, manual input or web interface. The system allows customers to select the events for which they would like to receive status alerts. The system maintains a transit time schedule and compare the actual transit time to that of the schedule. If the actual time deviates from the schedule the system generates an alert. The system retains a complete history of all events related to a piece of equipment or cargo. All equipment events received are validated against an equipment master file to ensure that the event is for ACL equipment. If an event is received for equipment that does not exist in the master file, the system creates a “pending” equipment record to be validated by the equipment control staff. Once validated, the user able to set the equipment master record to “confirmed”. The system provides for an intuitive interface to view all “pending” master records for confirmation.
Others modules.
EDI
Accounting
Reports
Experience in other Transportation
Thinksol Software Pvt. ltd. is a leading provider of Transportation Management Solutions (TMS) & Truck Dispatch Software for Asset Based, 3PL, Brokerage and Private Fleet companies. Our software applications are specially designed to allow you to manage all your complex freight : from TL to LTL to P&D to Dedicated Fleet; from order entry to automated rating to driver settlement, to invoicing and more… Major modules are
Truck Dispatch
Transportation & Freight Management
Freight Brokerage Software
Automated Rating, Billing & Driver Settlement
Driver Communications
Route Optimization
Fuel Tax, CSA, FAST, EDI
A brief description of the software
Flexible Order Entry & Shipment Tracing - lets you tailor order entry to your customer's order process, for improved customer service and reduced tracing costs Multi pickups & deliveries with optimized or customer-specific routing Unlimited user-defined reference numbers for efficient tracing· Automatic customer email notification for pickups and deliveries. Online tools allow customers to trace shipments over the Internet
Automated Rating System - reduces labour intensive calculations, ensures billing accuracy Custom rating zones based on country, city and postal codes· LTL, Cartage and TL calculations - flat rate, /item, /mile, or /item/mile· Optional use of commodity classes Custom or Tariff Rates, with customer discounts
Advanced Planning & Dispatch Tools - streamlines flow of information & overall efficiency, reduces empty miles Manifest loads for preplanning with dock loading reports Route trip by most profitable / efficient pickups & deliveries 1step cross docking & trailer drops with automatic revenue splitting Pre pick-up loading, post delivery unloading of freight from resources
Integrated Driver Communications -reduces communication costs, improves resource utilization. · Automatic driver load assignment notification
Integrated Reminder & Task Management System -you can proactively manage compliance issues, maintenance, personnel and customer service, avoiding problems and costs
Unmatched Reporting and Analysis - allows you to easily evaluate profitability by trip, lane, customer or resource Summary and /mile profitability reports by trip, lane, customer, truck / trailer Interactive reports for multi-level filtering and transaction drill-down
A System Designed For TRUCKERS
TSL offers you integrated dispatch and tracking of tractors, trailers, containers and freight: a management system for maintenance, fuel tax, log checking, profitability of loads and lanes, and much more. All this without up front purchases, support contracts, or upgrade fees.
Integrated dispatch and tracking of trailers, tractors, containers and freight
Plots route and cheapest fuel prices along route as each load is scheduled
GPS Tracking that is inexpensive and easy to implement
Lane information for easier backhauls
Maintenance tracking at the touch of a button
Driver compensation and invoices at the touch of a button
IFTA fuel tax made easy
Integration with PC Miler and major Accounting packages
Log checking for new regulations
Customizable reports to help manage your business
OnLine Tracking
Key Features
Dispatch
Manages all loads and trucks easily via the Internet for one low monthly price
Easily handles multiple picks and drops as well as the ability to add/delete drops on the fly
Provides lane information for easier backhauls
Eliminates excessive phone calls
Drivers access and update load and location information via cell phone directly - no voice communication is necessary
If desired, provides load information & delivery notification to your customers automatically
Operations
Provides asset tracking - accurately, quickly and easily
Freight Tracking by Check Calls, Cell Phones or GPS
Tire performance by manufacturer or position on vehicle
Manages maintenance of tractors and trailers including DOT Annuals
Logistics module to assist your shippers with inventory management
Accounting
Driver compensation at touch of a button
Fully integrated with major accounting packages and PC Miler
Seamless interface between functions of dispatch and invoicing -provides invoices at the touch of a keystroke
Utilizes customer current rates for consistent billing, rating and quoting
Fuel Tax Reporting
Streamlines the management, preparation and reporting of fuel taxes
You have the option to enter the information yourself or to send the trip reports to Robertson Group and have us enter the data
Advises where to purchase the lowest-priced diesel in the lanes you travel
Automatically calculates and prints IFTA forms for easy filing
Offers daily reports to get immediate information regarding tax status in each state
Management Reports
Provides reports to help manage all aspects of your business
Information can be accessed via load number, tractor, trailer, driver, customer, geographical area, etc.
Lane information by location and shipping season
Loaded/unloaded miles by truck or fleet
Driver performance (miles, ontime, etc.)
Profit and Loss at the truck level for one truck or fleet
All loads are archived for two years or longer - depending on your preference
OnLine Tracking Components
Management
24 x 7 anywhere business access
Truck or fleet level profit and loss
Revenue by lane/season/shipper and more
Daily automated management tools
Dispatch
Flexible dispatch screens
Tracks freight/trucks/trailers
Truck availability
Reduces calls from customers and drivers
Operations
12 month maintenance history
Repair history by component
Daily log checking
Fuel Tax calculations daily
Accounting
Integration with dispatch
Billing consistency
Tighter control on accounts receivable
Reduces time for invoicing and driver settlement
Customers
Private view of freight
Two year history
Can be integrated with company supply chain information
Loads can be entered from customer
Key Business Drivers
Cash Flow
Reduce office personnel
Reduce bad debt and late payments
Increase asset utilization
No computer, computer networks, or software purchase required
Reduce quarterly fuel tax payments
Reduce overall cost of fuel
Asset productivity and utilization
Track all freight, containers, trailers, tractors, and drivers
Immediate notification of trailer empty or loaded (dropped or attached)
Performance reports including:
Driver/carrier on time record
Daily, weekly, monthly equipment usage reports
Lane revenue by month
Fuel pricing by lane and month
Daily Operations
Accounting, dispatch, maintenance, and customers completely integrated
Improved delivery to invoice to payment schedule
Scheduling of tractor and trailer preventive maintenance
Scheduling and dispatch simplified
Driver settlement automated and consistent
Daily log checker
Customer Service
Provides Customer Window via Internet
Load Request
Tracking of Freight by Load Number
Dropped Trailers Empty/Loaded 24x7
History of shipments
By Shipping Location
By Receiving Location
By Specific Load Number
Record of On Time Performance
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