In eight weeks to the digital truck process
Every company, every business model and the associated logistics are unique. The intelligent and efficient handling of incoming and outgoing trucks poses a particular challenge. The digitalization of these processes offers optimization potential through:
- Automation of process steps and increased efficiency (e.g., self-service).
- Real-time information flow and response (e.g., automatic truck retrieval)
- Reduction of process costs (e.g. waiting times)
Digitization does not just mean the mere design of paperless processes or the central alignment of applications to mobile devices. It also represents the overarching availability of process-relevant information and is based on breaking down information barriers and optimally planning, controlling and monitoring the flow of goods using technical aids.
What are the most important success factors in the digitization of logistics processes?
- Cross-site process harmonization and standardization simplify the planning, control and execution of yard logistics. Simple and continuous processes enable concentration on exceptions and unexpected events. "Management by exception" provides the necessary freedom to focus on the handling of special processes.
- Easy-to-use standard functions increase the user-friendlinessof applications. In addition to user acceptance of hardware and software, the intuitive usability of the solution plays a particularly important role. Many users are already familiar with certain button arrangements in user interfaces and gestures on touchscreens from private applications.
- Particularly in the case of highly automated processes with a high degree of digitization, process security, fail-safety and a mature backup plan play a significant role. The focus here is on a mature authorization concept, a stringent process chain, and a stable IT infrastructure. Only if the process is not susceptible to failures will the possibilities of digitization be fully exploited.
- If digitization measures go beyond the yard's own logistics processes, it is advisable to identify all relevant process participants in the supply chain (customers, shippers, forwarders, carriers, service providers) and actively integrate them into the processes. Every producer and every consumer of information should benefit from the change in the processes (e.g. reduction of truck waiting times, avoidance of demurrage charges) so that the measures implemented lead to success.
- The use of information obtained from internal and external sources for real-time monitoring of processes and calculation of relevant KPIs makes processes measurable and further steps can be derived to drive the level of process optimization.
- Predefined interfaces for connecting IoT scenarios (e.g., self-check-in terminals, sensor technology) in your software enable a high degree of process modernization. Close integration of hardware and software leads to cost reductions and efficiency increases.
- With all the opportunities that digitized integrated processes bring, the risks that these changes entail must not be ignored. The security of user and company data is of paramount importance for successful reorganization. Special attention must therefore be paid to data protection and cyber security, as well as the associated special requirements for internal IT.
What if you could overcome the complexity of your processes with a simple, quick-to-implement solution?
With leogistics solutions, around 10,000 truck movements are controlled every day in more than 44 productive yards of varying complexity worldwide. We have recognized that there are regularly recurring processes – the core logistics processes. We have taken this experience as an opportunity to develop a best-practice solution for the intelligent management of truck processes.
With the leogistics truck solution, you benefit from preconfigured process scenarios for standard processes and functions with our proven best-practice approaches. Your project team will focus on master data maintenance during the eight-week implementation period, and we guarantee the short project duration and rapid realization of your business case.
If you have any questions about this or any other topic from the blog, please feel free to contact blog@leogistics.com.
Stefan Görlitz
Senior Account Manager
Jan-Philipp Horstmann
Senior Consultant SAP Logistics
