It is no secret that global markets have changed. The pandemic, in addition to all other geopolitical and economical events, has altered businesses, the way of doing trade, and consumer behavior altogether. Although some of these situations are behind us, so to speak, their effect is however still very much present and calls for different ways of managing our supply chains for them to remain efficient and reduce their increasing costs.
Transport planning is an important aspect of supply chains and plays a critical role in their management. While supply chains encompass the entire process of sourcing, producing, and delivering goods and services to consumers, efficient transport planning directly impacts the flow of goods within supply chains, affecting cost, timeliness, reliability, and overall customer satisfaction.
Optimize your logistics asset utilization and costs with Alpega TMS integrated transport system
With the never-ending challenges that supply chains have to face, whether it’s capacity, geopolitical conflicts, energy shortage, or others, and because of the complexity of logistics and supply chains, transport planners need to be able to ensure that, even during hardships, the shipments will be handled properly, at the right cost, on the right routes and arrive at the right time. To do so, Alpega TMS proposes a fully integrated transport planning software that relies on rule-based dynamic freight planning.
How does Alpega TMS’ dynamic transport planning work?
The solution dynamically adapts to changes, such as transportation costs, routes, and capacity, among others, to give your complex supply chain the flexibility it needs to acclimate to those changes and be, in result, resilient.
Alpega’s integrated transport management software was designed to work on all levels of requirements for a successful transportation network planning, which include the daily operational optimization of shipments and routes to fine tune your operations, The mid-term tactical optimization of routes and modes, and the Long-term, strategic transport planning measures, including analyzing your network and facility locations.
Alpega TMS’ solution works on the holistic planning of your complete logistics network and associated infrastructure, leveraging historical and forecast transportation data to determine the best way to spread costs and capacity throughout your integrated transport network. It provides the agility needed to react to changing market conditions, while working towards long-term and strategic goals. This gives you the freedom to factor in new players or routes into your tactical planning and assess your impact and cost-saving potential overall.
Importance of transport planning on supply chains:
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Cost Efficiency: Optimizing routes, modes of transportation, and carrier selection to minimize transportation expenses while maintaining service levels.
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Timeliness and Reliability: Ensuring that goods are delivered on time, reducing the risk of production delays and stockouts.
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Inventory Management: Enabling better synchronization between transportation schedules and inventory management to help avoid excessive inventory holding costs.
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Customer Satisfaction: Meeting delivery commitments and enhancing the overall customer experience.
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Risk Management: Contingency planning for unexpected disruptions such as weather events, strikes, and other logistical challenges.
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Optimal Mode Selection: Selecting the most cost-effective and efficient mode for each shipment.
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Global Supply Chains: Considering customs regulations, international trade agreements, and other cross-border considerations to ensure smooth movement of goods.
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Environmental Considerations: Incorporating sustainability goals by optimizing routes to reduce carbon emissions and selecting eco-friendly transportation options, contributing to a greener supply chain by conducting sustainable transport planning.
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Network Optimization: Optimization of transportation networks by designing efficient distribution networks, determining the number and location of distribution centers, and streamlining transportation routes.
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Data-Driven Insights: Providing data-driven insights into transportation patterns, bottlenecks, and performance metrics to help supply chain managers make informed decisions to continuously improve efficiency.
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Collaboration and Communication: Effective communication and coordination among the various stakeholders, including suppliers, manufacturers, carriers, and distributors to ensure smooth supply chain operations.
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Regulatory Compliance: Considering regulatory requirements such as safety regulations, weight limits, and transportation permits to avoid legal complications and delays.
In essence, transport planning and management serve as a bridge between supply chain management and effective logistics execution. Alpega TMS’ transportation planning system aligns your transportation activities with broader supply chain goals, leading to cost savings, improved service levels, and enhanced overall supply chain performance.
Find out more about the transport planning solutions from Alpega TMS.
