Earlier today, project44, a Chicago-based technology services provider offering standardized, secure Web service API (application programming interfaces) integrations enabling 3PLs and shippers to connect with carriers in real time, and SAP, the global leader in enterprise application management software, said they have teamed up for a partnership geared to help shippers better manage delivery processes through what they called a joint solution for key transportation processes.
These processes, they said, include things like receiving and tracking to connect, automate, and provide visibility data from project44 within the SAP Logistics Business Network, helping shippers to deliver more end-to-end holistic and consistent customer experiences.
“Shippers often struggle with little transparency across their logistics ecosystem due to volatile market conditions and siloed operations, which makes everything from staffing operations to keeping stock on shelves more difficult,” said Franz Hero, SAP senior vice president, Supply Chain Development, in a statement. “We want to provide shippers with access to real-time information that pinpoints their shipments’ location at all times and provides dynamic, predictive delivery ETAs. This information will improve shippers’ real-time decisions, to run more proactive, data-driven supply chains.”
As for what drove the partnership between project44 and SAP, Tommy Barnes, president, project44, explained that this partnership is the result of shippers realizing that they need high-fidelity data and predictive business intelligence within their supply chains if they are going to make the smart, real-time decisions required to compete in today’s Delivery Economy.
And he added as project44’s recent Delivery Economy reports illustrate, both consumer and business customers expect low cost, fast, and highly transparent delivery of goods. As an example, in its latest report, project44 found that 73% of supply chain professionals said they’re experiencing pressure to improve and expand their delivery capabilities as a result of the Delivery Economy.
“Improving and expanding these delivery capabilities require visibility across every step of a shipment’s journey, from your suppliers to every truck, train, ship, airplane, warehouse, and distribution center the shipment is transported by or stored in,” said Barnes. “This requires a vast network of real-time data. Our partnership with SAP will help project44 provide more shippers with the Advanced Visibility they need – from the world’s leading network of carriers – to improve their real-time transportation and logistics decisions, and run more proactive, data-driven supply chains.”
When asked to provide an overview of how this partnership works, Barnes said that the SAP Logistics Business Network is currently used by shippers around the world to manage logistics transactions, exchange documents with key partners and coordinate operations across their value chains. And he explained that this partnership will result in a joint solution that enriches the SAP Logistics Business Network with high-quality, cleansed, and normalized data on key transportation processes, such as receiving and tracking, from project44’s wide network of global carriers.
“SAP selected project44 as the sole visibility provider for its Logistics Business Network to give its customers access to real-time shipment visibility and business process collaboration from contracting to settlement, including road transportation visibility for North America and Europe,” noted Barnes. “So, for example, a company using the SAP Logistics Business Network will be able to access project44 data on whether a North American carrier is available to pick up their shipment. They could then secure a carrier rate quote for the shipment, contract with the carrier for the shipment, track the shipment from pick-up through delivery, secure ETAs on shipment delivery and alerts on any shipment delays, and even pay the carrier for the shipment through SAP and project44’s joint solution.”
As for the benefits this partnership provides for shippers, Barnes pointed out that the SAP Logistics Business Network is the go-to platform for the world’s shippers, with more than 75% of the world’s transaction revenue touching an SAP system.
“By integrating with the world’s leading network for transportation visibility, these shippers now have a single digital platform, where they already go to for logistics planning and execution processes,” he said. “From this platform they can now access real-time visibility data on exactly where their shipments are and what condition they are in during every step of their journey. Empowered with this information, shippers can increase operational efficiencies, reduce costs, eliminate detention fees and penalties, better manage inventory levels, decrease dwell times, improve shipping performance and deliver better experiences to their customers. All while gaining one holistic and consistent experience for themselves.”
Through this partnership, Barnes said there are mutually beneficial advantages for both project44 and SAP.
By partnering with SAP, Barnes said project44 is able to more easily deliver Advanced Visibility to a wider set of customers – companies that are using the SAP Logistics Business Network to connect to their supply chain business partners for intercompany collaboration and insights. And adding industry leader SAP to its list of partners shows that the leaders in this market recognize project44’s unique ability to enhance and power supply chain operations with Advanced Visibility, he said.
And by partnering with project44, Barnes said SAP is enriching its SAP Logistics Business Network with high-quality data from the largest and fastest-growing global carrier network in the world.
“As the only global visibility provider integrated with the SAP Logistics Business Network, project44 will provide SAP customers with accurate real-time shipment visibility across multiple modes of transportation including Full Truckload, LTL and Ocean,” he said.
About the Author
Jeff Berman, Group News Editor
Jeff Berman is Group News Editor for Logistics Management, Modern Materials Handling, and Supply Chain Management Review. Jeff works and lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he covers all aspects of the supply chain, logistics, freight transportation, and materials handling sectors on a daily basis. Contact Jeff Berman
