EXAMINATION OF AN INBOUND WEB PORTAL

IN BRIEF In an industry that is largely slow to adopt new technology, it can be daunting to bring 3PL providers, customers, vendors and carriers together to enhance the supply chain. However, those parties willing to embrace new and advanced processes will greatly appreciate the benefits of an inbound web portal.

PORTAL OVERVIEW No matter the size of a business, everyone is looking to save money and streamline processes, but often companies overlook the cost of their supply chain, particularly their inbound transportation. An inbound web portal can minimize costs by creating seamless communication between 3PL providers, customers, vendors and carriers. Best-in-class companies ready to support the addition of an inbound web portal can reap the rewards of reduced costs, advanced visibility, improved reliability and increased savings.

When applicable, there is something to be gained by all stakeholders once an inbound web portal is implemented into a customer network. A typical inbound portal should be built to service a wide range of industry verticals including manufacturing, consumer goods and retail. A sophisticated portal should also be intuitive for customers’ and vendors’ information input.

THE PROCESS

Initially, vendors will set up their profiles within the portal. Customers will then provide an electronic purchase order (PO) to the 3PL provider managing the portal. This file can simultaneously be electronically submitted as it is transmitted to the vendor community.

The PO should include key order detail information such as the commodity being shipped, delivery location, quantity ordered and SKU information if applicable. The 3PL will use the information provided to construct business rules to maximize accuracy and drive vendor compliance.

Once the customer has entered all information, the vendor will release the PO from the inbound portal. The 3PL provider should look for optimization opportunities such as consolidation and mode conversions. Finally, freight is tendered to the carrier. The carrier will have visibility to appointment times and customers will have ultimate oversight to estimated transit times and delivery dates. Throughout the process, customers should receive updates on the order until delivery.

BENEFITS THROUGHOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Though there are many advantages to an inbound web portal, organizations still often face the challenge of overcoming the process changes, both internally as well as to the vendor and customer communities.

Common customer concerns when implementing an inbound web portal include: • Losing control of their processes • Managing the vendor communication and compliance • Securing the time and money to implement • Undergoing substantial training with the 3PL provider • Encountering unforeseen issues prior to implementation

These concerns should be discussed in detail with customers prior to the launch of the portal. Processes should also be outlined to customers and vendors to ensure key stakeholders are aware of their responsibilities.

Inbound web portal providers should also issue in-depth training to vendors and customers prior to go-live. This will allow each group to become comfortable with the tool and minimize the possibility of issues arising once the portal is active.

“Adding an inbound web portal to our supply chain has given us greater visibility to our shipments and enhanced purchasing due to improved forecasting.” -VP of Transportation, Fortune 500 Retailer

Carriers: • Proactive capacity planning (LTL, TL, PTL) • Set appointment times

Full Visibility for Advanced Optimization Techniques: • View routing requests in advance of shipment • Optimize shipments for consolidation opportunities • Ensure that proper mode/carrier selections are made • Find synergies with similar customers across the network

Necessary Components of an Inbound Web Portal: • Vendor and customer training • Routing instructions • Transit times • Business rules • Key freight details

Customer: • Greater visibility to shipments • Complete understanding of supply chain costs • Simplified ordering process • Vendor compliance and enforcement

Warehouse / DC • Accurate BOLs • Improved labor planning • Less inventory

Vendors: • Create a “routing request” with minimal data entry • Communicate with load planners • Access shipment status and carrier assignments

PROVEN RESULTS A LEADER IN WOMEN’S SPECIALTY RETAIL

The Challenge: A leading retailer had di�culties managing their multi-modal transportation network that included over 500 vendors and 20 carriers. With the addition of several new brands, they needed better visibility to their entire network to find savings and cut unnecessary costs.

The Solution: After analyzing the retailer’s transportation network, Unyson implemented an inbound web portal to manage all 500 vendors that provided a consolidated platform for the previously decentralized brands to view their transportation and analytics. With the addition of the portal, the Retailer was able to identify ine�ciencies in their network and cut costs from their supply chain.

Moreover, with the inbound portal serving as a central warehouse of information, the Retailer was able to more accurately manage vendor and carrier compliance. This in turn led to precise information being added to the portal and better on-time service from carriers.

Throughout the engagement, Unyson provided consistent incremental savings, customized reporting, process enhancements, and carrier management.

CONCLUSION An inbound web portal is an integral component when creating an advanced supply chain. The portal helps to ensure information is entered accurately and each business unit is viewing the same data. Companies that take a holistic view to their network, rather than segmenting di�erent business components, have the ability to position themselves more competitively in the market. While an inbound web portal is a relatively small element compared to the overall transportation network, companies that are quick to adopt it will be light-years ahead of their rivals.

About Unyson:Unyson is the third party logistics division of Hub Group that specializes in elevating supply chain performance by using industry-leading practices, experienced professionals and state-of-the-art technology. We look for continuous improvements in your network and guarantee supply chain savings.

For more information on our customized, industry-leading, transportation management solutions, please visit www.unyson.com.