Management Dynamics, a leading provider of Global Trade Management solutions, today announced that it has changed its name to Amber Road.  The name change comes during a year of rapid expansion, marked by a 40% growth in employees, a 325% increase in European bookings, and the opening of a flagship office in Tysons Corner, Virginia.  This breakout year is anchored by a 33% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in overall revenue for the past decade. 

“Today, our SaaS-based solutions span fourteen software products that include global transportation management, import/export compliance, supplier management, supply chain visibility and a content knowledgebase covering trade regulations and tariffs for more than 120 countries, “  said Jim Preuninger, CEO.

To learn more, please read the full press release or visit http://www.amberroad.com/.

More »

American Shipper will be hosting a webinar that will address the findings from the recent Import Operations & Compliance Benchmark Study: Risky Business, published by American Shipper and BPE.

Risky Business: Best Practices in Balancing Operational Demands with Compliance Requirements will broadcast live on Wednesday, June 22 at 2pm EDT.  Panelists Nathan Pieri (SVP of Marketing and Product Development at Management Dynamics) and Jennifer Wade (Senior Consultant, BPE) will apply these findings to actionable business practices.

Topics will include:

• Operations and compliance organization structures
• Compliance policy responsibilities
• Productivity benchmarks
• Filing and reconciliation
• Duty avoidance programs

This is a must-attend event for importers!

More »

Supply chain visibility is something that can be easily achieved by implementing an enterprise-wide automated technology solution. A software solution such as Management Dynamics’ allows users precisely monitor the inbound and outbound movement of goods at the shipment, order and SKU level, using over 350 reference points. This level of visibility enables suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and transportation companies to improve customer service and minimize expediting costs by managing inventory in-transit. So no matter how volatile the market is, companies can have complete visibility and control of their inventory levels.

To learn more  about how a software solution can improve supply chain visibility, please check out Supply Chain Visibility Excellence: Fostering Security, Resiliency and Efficiency. This new report from Aberdeen Group focuses on gaining visibility into critical elements across the end-to-end logistics network for improving cost and service. Additionally, it takes a look at how Best-in-Class companies are streamlining their supply chains.

Key findings include:

• Best-in-Class companies experienced a 3% decrease in supply chain execution cost as a percent of revenue (inbound /outbound transportation, pipeline and staged inventory and SC management costs)
• Best-in-Class companies experienced a 3% decrease in total landed costs per unit handled
• Best-in-Class companies are between 19% and 42% more likely to respond to non-catastrophic supply chain disruptions within hours.

Download the report today at this link.

To read more on the Capgemini survey findings, please check out Material Handling & Logistics’ article, Demand Volatility Is the Top Business Driver for Supply Chain Managers.

More »

A summary of the survey findings appear in Material Handling & Logistics’ article, Supply Chain in the Summertime. The article reports that 46% of survey respondents cited summer hours as the most important non-monetary benefit for employees, followed by an extra day off, a company outing, and a casual dress code.

“We’re starting to see a lot of companies put wellness and associated programs in place to help employees balance the challenges of work and life,” says Jason Breault, managing director of LifeWork Search. “More companies are coming to the realization that healthy-minded employees are more productive employees. We are constantly being asked by hiring managers what they should put in place to make their environment friendlier.”

Sounds great to me! Please read the full article here.

More »

These [global trade management software] tools provide an immediate and visible return on investment, enabling companies to reduce costs, improve operations, shrink manual data entry errors, facilitate cross-border movements, and improve customer service. In addition, reducing cycle times, eliminating bottlenecks, improving distribution networks, lowering out-of-stocks, and determining the best way to ship freight can also lower emissions, an ecological goal for many companies.

He also offers some sound advise for companies who may be looking to take the next step toward globalization:

Companies no longer have to take on all facets of international trading at once. And with the advent of cloud computing, otherwise known as Software as a Service (SaaS), companies can collaborate with trading partners around the globe with minimal start-up costs and headaches using a pay-as-you-go model.

Please follow this link to read the full feature article, Global Trade Management Software: International Trading Made Easier.

More »

Aberdeen’s brand new report, Supply Chain Visibility Excellence: Fostering Security, Resiliency and Efficiency focuses on gaining visibility into critical elements across the end-to-end logistics network for improving cost and service. Before a company can reduce inventory or landed cost, it needs visibility into them. Only then can it apply tools to agilely adapt to the information it collects.

A few key takeaways from the report are:

• Best-in-Class companies experienced a 3% decrease in supply chain execution cost as a percent of revenue (inbound /outbound transportation, pipeline and staged inventory and SC management costs).
• Best-in-Class companies experienced a 3% decrease in total landed costs per unit handled.
• Best-in-Class companies are between 19% and 42% more likely to respond to non-catastrophic supply chain disruptions within hours.

This report is available for free for a limited time, so download your copy today.

More »

[Supply chain inconsistencies can force retailers to] either retain higher safety stock levels, which increases their inventory carrying costs; resort to airfreight to recover from delays, which balloons transportation costs; or use a combination of the two.

While the article references careful carrier selection as a way to ensure timely deliveries, there are GTM solutions out there that can help retailers with all aspects of supply chain and transportation management. By automating the following elements of the global supply supply chain operations, retailers will be able to reduce cash-cash cycles and lower total delivered costs.

Trade Planning
Develop optimal sourcing and distribution strategies by assessing the total landed cost of alternative decisions including product invoice, transportation, duties, VAT, excise as well as evaluating applicable import and export regulatory controls. With a complete picture of cost and risk, shared decisions can be made across sourcing, compliance and logistics functions.

Import Automation
Establish a global import compliance function that integrates all procurement activities. Manage product classification and admissibility reviews to ensure compliant purchase orders are issued. Streamline the entry process to reduce brokerage costs and reconcile entries to resolve issues before they become a costly Customs audit.

Supplier PO Management
Deliver compliant purchase orders to suppliers in a portal that confirms orders, creates invoices, and manages a buyer workflow to build shipments and generate key documents like the commercial invoice and packing list. Efficiently manage supplier compliance and integrate with origin logistics partners.

Origin Management
Manage origin logistics with a portal that coordinates full container load shipments from a supplier and less than container or air shipments. Use a collaborative workflow process to confirm and book shipments as well as collect bill of lading details to facilitate inbound visibility. Enhance compliance with new advanced notification regulations like Customs 10+2 by collecting relevant information at origin.

Global Freight Management
Negotiate seafreight and airfreight rates and implement a process for logistics providers and suppliers to book against your favorable rates. Use sophisticated rating tools to optimize carrier selection, pre-rate the booking and automate freight audit.

Supply Chain Visibility
Monitor global orders, shipments and in-transit inventory with a complete event management solution. Use milestone alerting to proactively resolve delivery issues and to trigger supply execution activities such as pickups or warehouse receipts. Use in-transit inventory information to enable postponement strategies and new, direct-to-store delivery strategies. Aggregate all operational data to establish scorecards and manage trade parties with a comprehensive set of key performance indicators.

For more information on the benefits automation can bring retailers, I recommend this new eBook: Direct Import Strategies for Retailers.

More »

And, while you’re at the virtual conference, please check out the GTM Webinar at 1:00pm EST: How Global Trade Management (GTM) is Meeting the Compliance Challenge. In this webinar, speakers  Susan Waskow of  The Global Trade Academy and Suzanne Richer of Customs & Trade Solutions Inc. will discuss the latest news on global Customs initiatives; how applying GTM has benefited global shippers; and new GTM functionality delivery and functionality enhancements.

More »

However I don’t have to worry about that because thanks to automation, Wal-Mart’s supply chain acts as if every day is Black Friday! SupplyChainDigital explains in this article how Walmart’s supply chain is one of the most efficient ones out there because of IT solutions:

The technology is ridiculous across all areas of the Wal-Mart supply chain. Individual distribution centers, for example, have benefited from the development of sortation systems, radio-frequency picking, automated cranes and miniload systems. Industry standards have also helped Wal-Mart’s efficiency in the collaboration with its suppliers and vendors. Standardization includes things like pallet size and truck dimensions. Wal-Mart gets real-time updates from when a customer buys a product, to how long it will be before it can replace that same product on the shelves.

So this Friday morning, while you’re waking up early, driving to the store, searching for a parking spot and battling crowds to get that good deal on a flatscreen, you can take comfort in knowing that at least Walmart’s supply chain is completely under control.

More »

A key discussion point in the article is how, though faced with tough economic times, companies are still investing in technologies that help streamline their supply chains operations.

Many companies, particularly manufacturers, including consumer goods manufacturers, have seen the value in using GTM software to lower costs, ensure regulatory compliance, improve customer service and automate many facets of a company’s supply chain operations. Two capabilities that consumer goods companies are using to weather the downturn are supply chain visibility and international trade compliance. These tools provide an immediate and visible return on investment, enabling companies to reduce costs, improve operations, shrink manual data entry errors, facilitate cross border movements and improve customer service.

In addition to cutting costs, GTM software can also be used to address sustainability concerns. According to Mr. Preuninger:

In the case of GTM software, sustainability efforts can be addressed on a few fronts. Reducing cycle times, eliminating bottlenecks, improving distribution networks, lowering out-ofstocks and determining the best way to ship freight can also lower emissions, an ecological goal for many companies.

To read the full article, please follow this link.

More »