Welcome to Data2Logistics


Thanks for your interest in Data2Logistics; a bit on who we
are:

Data2Logistics enhances freight transportation operations
through business intelligence system data mining, helping meet goals for cost
reduction and improved oversight. We provide focused resources to support
projects relating to pooled purchasing, RFP management, carrier negotiations,
transportation management system software, inbound routing, and network
analysis, along with informed audit and freight payment services. Our global
reach provides ability to support all modes of transportation, optimizing
logistics operations domestically and globally.

Data2Logistics assists Global 1000, Fortune 1000 and SMB
companies to reduce their shipping costs by providing an outsourced opportunity
to efficiently process, audit, account code and pay their freight at a
significantly lower cost than internal processes. Clients also benefit from the
identification of more carrier overcharges than their internal systems can
identify. We provide actionable information to better manage and control
transportation cost, and supports clients with their carrier bid preparation,
benchmarking, proposal analysis and negotiation. As a single source of
information for all modes of transportation on a global basis, Data2Logistics
identifies and reports opportunities for savings and the reasons for variances
in trends. Savings opportunities can be derived from modal shifts,
consolidation of shipments, improved carrier utilization, and adjustment to
shipment size, as well as monitoring accessorial costs. Reviewing over $15
billion worth of freight bills from thousands of carriers annually, Data2Logistics
provides a single-source solution results in savings averaging 5%-15% of
product shipping expenditures per year.

Also meet-up with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Xing. Looking
forward to your foresight!

Tim Nissen, Data2Logistics

Monday, March 18, 2013

News Release – Data2Logistics Launches Shipper-Industry Benchmarking


For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Tim Nissen
Data2Logistics, LLC
12631 Westlinks Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33913


Data2Logistics Launches Shipper-Industry Benchmarking Program

Fort Myers, Florida and Rotterdam, Netherlands March 18, 2013 – Global supply chain information and technology company Data2Logistics announces the launch of the organization’ Shipper-Industry Benchmarking Program, providing a consultative review of a company’s freight shipping costs, comparing findings with industry benchmarks identified by Data2Logistics, to determine areas for cost reduction in conjunction with the savings scale probable to achieve through carrier and service level optimization. The initial consultation is currently a complementary service for companies managing shipping payment in-house, through a 3PL and/or utilizing a freight bill payment service.

Data2Logistics offerings reduce supply chain costs associated with product transportation through discovery; at the core a business intelligence portal providing for data mining of a shipper’s current information addressing their logistical needs in relation to marketplace options, enabling them to make optimized time and cost-effective decisions, domestically and globally. Implementation of discovery’s results includes support functions relating to pooled purchasing, RFP management, carrier negotiations, transportation management system software utilization, inbound routing and network analysis, along with informed freight bill auditing and payment services.

Data2Logistics’ services enhance organization’s logistics, supply chain, operations, finance and accounting processes, providing information needed to control costs for all modes of transportation both domestically and internationally via LTL, TL, parcel, overnight express, ocean, air and rail carriers. Having full service operations in Fort Myers, Florida, Salt Lake City, Utah and Rotterdam, Netherlands enables Data2Logistics to support companies shipping domestically and internationally, with staff attuned to local cultures and unique business environments.

Data2Logistics assists Global 1000, Fortune 1000 and SMB companies to reduce their shipping costs by providing an outsourced opportunity to efficiently process, audit, account code and pay their freight at a significantly lower cost than internal processes. Clients also benefit from the identification of more carrier overcharges than their internal systems can identify. The company provides actionable information to better manage and control transportation cost. As a single source of information for all modes of transportation on a global basis, Data2Logistics identifies and reports opportunities for savings and the reasons for variances in trends. Savings opportunities can be derived from modal shifts, consolidation of shipments, improved carrier utilization, and adjustment to shipment size, as well as monitoring accessorial costs. Reviewing approaching US$20 billion in freight billing from thousands of carriers annually, the company provides a single-source solution resulting in savings averaging 5%-15% of product shipping expenditures per year.

To arrange a confidential benchmark consultation, contact Data2Logistics’ Professional Services Group, +1 239 425 8050 or profservices@Data2Logistics.com.

About Data2Logistics, LLC

Fort Myers, Florida-based Data2Logistics is a leader in supply chain logistics knowledge management, cost control and freight payment. The company’s Ship Smarter and Save actionable information assists hundreds of clients in the Global 1000, Fortune 1000 and SMB categories, processing hundreds of millions of freight bills annually, valued nearing US$20 billion, saving clients an average of 5%-15% of their product shipping expenditures per year.

As an eight-time recipient of Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 Logistics IT Service Providers, their data mining capabilities creates actionable information for control of current and ongoing shipping cost savings. The company is the only service provider to work with clients and carriers to eliminate billing errors from recurring and to continuously improve and optimize their logistics networks and expenditures, domestically and globally. http://www.data2logistics.com/ + http://twitter.com/Data2Logistics


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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Freight Bill Payment Outsourcing – Trend with Large Companies, Opportunity for SMB’s


An enlightening survey report addressing the state of freight bill shipping processing, the money and motivation behind technological advances utilized, and widespread usage of outsourcing some or all of the processes involved was recently conducted and released by American Shipper, in partnership with the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Transportation Payment Benchmark Study: A Step Forward, written by James Blaeser, Publisher of American Shipper, reveals engagement levels of large companies, along with small and medium businesses (SMBs) in their quest for visibility to billing/payment data, improved operational efficiency and awareness of cost with achievement of savings.

The publication highlighted:

“Payments to logistics service providers (LSPs) are moving to electronic means, such as automated clearing house (ACH), at a noticeable rate. Considerably more transac­tions are settled electronically this year as compared to last. Progress in terms of the dollars transacted is a bit slower but evident nonetheless suggesting that some companies are still hesitant to electronically transfer large sums of money.

“It is difficult to argue that the transportation industry is still behind the curve when it comes to conducting basic online transactions. However, to ensure progress, LSPs and their customers must move payments to an electronic environment. The benefits of e-banking are clear and will become impossible to ignore as the business community at large moves in this direction.”

To the numbers – 2011 payments via ACH: 45% of total transactions, 41% of total dollars transacted, up from 31% and 36% respectively in 2010. In 2011, 60% of large companies outsourced some or all of their payment processes, with 66% of SMB utilizing this practice, providing an extension to shipper’s internal abilities.

Decision drivers for payment systems technology utilization, as deployed by independent outsourced entities, included visibility to data (85% of large companies, 77% of SMBs), improve operational efficiency (74%/77%), visibility to costs (70%/62%) and cost savings (56%/85%). Of all large company and SMB’s responding combined, 60% indicated that they plan to increase their levels of outsourcing of some or all of their payment processes in the near future.

A central technology enabling outsourcing is ACH ability. ACH payments are electronic transfers from one account to another; shipper deposits funds with freight bill processor’s banking network, processor pays carrier once billing had been audited for accuracy. ACH payments can help reduce errors and save resources (people’s time and paper waste).

The payment accuracy component, auditing of freight billing, is a multi-step practice consisting of both pre- and post-payment processing. Preformed properly, substantial cost savings result; as unwarranted costs and fees are discovered and eliminated. An additional benefit is improved carrier relations, as payment processing is improved between shipper and carrier.

This study highlights fiscal needs trending towards tangible results. For organizations who seek to maximize shipping billing payment accuracy and efficiency, an effective way to optimize the entire process is to form an alliance with an independent freight bill processor that has the necessary technology to provide thorough pre- and post-payment auditing and payment services, to maximize accuracy and resulting cost savings. Manufacturers, distributors, retailers and etailers who utilize freight bill auditing-payment outsourcing benefit by enhancing shippers’ internal functionality, with removal of a non-core function of their business to an independent entity specializing in this field.

– Tim Nissen, Data2Logistics http://www.data2logistics.com/ + http://twitter.com/Data2Logistics




 

 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Supply Chain Supplier Collaboration – a Shipper’s Move to Transportation Savings


Supply chain profiles find themselves reliant on a myriad of suppliers. Some days it’s overwhelming, others are blessings. Often the difference is the level of collaboration with the people of these outside organizations, and the benefits of their offerings when fully engaged.
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ January, 2013 report 10Minutes on supply chain flexibility, relays feedback of 150 supply chain executives surveyed, with a reoccurring emphasis point being shipper-supplier collaboration, and rationale for its vitality in their organization.
For statistics, the report’s survey recorded 74% of respondents as ‘leaders’ in Collaborative Planning with suppliers, with 43% as ‘laggards’ in this endeavor (Their words and percentages – laggard’s connotation seems a status no one would wish to assign themselves; the percentages factor responses in scaled increments). Even more telling, 79% were assigned as leaders, with an alerting 53% identified laggards in Supplier Collaboration.
Qualifying these numbers, the report states:  
“Collaboration is a zero-sum game. Ultimately, supply chain visibility and collaboration boil down to balancing the level of trust between partners with the information sharing required to work together on the priorities of the extended supply chain. Without the right focus and without that trust factor, even the best governance agreements and tools won’t yield the desired results.
“The better the information companies have at hand, the more responsive their supply chains can be. But information from the supply chain may be slow to reach managers, and suppliers may complicate matters by using different software programs and data formats.
“Increasingly, companies use cloud-based platforms to share information in real-time.”
This highlights an area of information collaboration central to supply chain cost containment: the ability to optimize product transportation with carriers, utilizing both company and industry benchmark data to maximize savings in this costly component of manufacturing, distributing, retailing and etailing businesses.
An area prime for enhanced collaboration: a Shipper-Industry Benchmarking Program, a monitored consultative review of a company’s freight shipping costs, comparing findings with industry benchmarks provided by an independent entity with knowledge of carrier operations, route, pricing and billing practices, to determine areas for cost reduction in conjunction with the savings scale probable to achieve through carrier and service level optimization. This information review is suitable for companies managing shipping payment in-house, through a 3PL and/or utilizing a freight bill payment service.
The key is to reduce supply chain costs associated with product transportation through discovery; at the core a business intelligence portal providing for data mining of a shipper’s current information addressing their logistical needs in relation to marketplace options, enabling them to make optimized time and cost-effective decisions, domestically and globally. Implementation of discovery’s results includes support functions relating to pooled purchasing, RFP management, carrier negotiations, transportation management system software utilization, inbound routing and network analysis, along with informed freight bill auditing and payment services to maximize accuracy and savings at this key financial stage of supply chain operations.
For organizations who seek to maximize billing-payment accuracy, an effective way to optimize an organization’s transportation information by utilizing the company’s historical data and industry benchmarks, is to form a collaboration alliance with an independent cloud-based business intelligence provider, one with benchmarking ability in the company’s established software program/file format for dissemination and collaboration ease, with the ability of thorough follow-through of pre- and post-payment auditing and payment services to realize ongoing cost savings.

 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Rail Freight Competitive Switching – Open Markets, Functional Fees for Shipper’s Supply Chains?


What if…
The National Industrial Transportation League has estimated a $900 million savings for shippers if competitive switching/reciprocal shipping is implemented by the US rail carrier industry. Competitive switching indicates providing a shipper or receiver who’s obligated to a single railroad the opportunity to have its freight moved on another carrier's line, with payment of an access fee. The NIT League has petitioned the decision-making body, the US Surface Transportation Board, for this provision indicating the cost savings would originate through increased competition amongst rail carriers. Their goal is to provide shippers opportunity to seek competing bids from other rail carriers for transportation savings or service improvements.
If competitive switching/reciprocal shipping is enacted, shippers’ flexibility would result, but what would be the ultimate impact to the rail operators? Market share shift vs. share swap? New carrier entities emerging in regional/niche markets? Carrier consolidation within the industry? And for shippers, would the estimated $900 million savings ultimately be realized, or would additional logistical time and fee factors affect costs of utilizing multiple rail carriers?

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Travelers Insurance – Three in Four US Manufacturers Expanding, Supply Chain Risks Following


As reported by InsuranceJournal, manufacturing in the United States is in a growth phase, according to a survey by Travelers Insurance revealed that nearly three out of four of the 200 executives queried in the manufacturing sector have either expanded their products or services during 2012, or plan to this year.
Being an insurer, they’re nature/nurture obligated to highlight challenges for risk managers. “All of this growth presents tremendous opportunities – and a host of new hazards throughout the complex, interconnected global supply chain,” said Jim Mandes, manufacturing industry manager for Travelers Commercial Accounts. “Hazards may include less skilled workers, fewer suppliers to choose from and an increased potential for business interruptions.” Even with these valid concerns, Data2Logistics is thankful for this growth trend in US manufacturing, providing them supply chain transportation optimization and cost reduction services (some assisting to un-interrupt business interruptions…).

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

A Spirit-Raising Survey – Canadian Businesses Expecting 2013 Growth


A recent survey of Canadian businesses commissioned by UPS Canada and conducted by Leger Marketing relayed that three in five business leaders expect more revenue in 2013 than in 2012, despite any economic uncertainties.
This makes for an encouraging North American economic headline, with potential for increased trade volumes between the US and Canada, along with business and consumer spending GDP growth for both nations.
If you’re shipping product between and within the US and Canada, ensure your supply chain’s transportation is optimized for cost savings, maximizing your margins during this (thankful) period of anticipated prosperity. Data2Logistics reduces supply chain costs associated with product transportation through discovery; at the core a business intelligence portal providing for data mining your organization’s current information addressing logistical needs in relation to marketplace options, enabling shippers to ascertain  options and make actionable, time and cost-effective decisions, domestically and globally.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Freight Bill Auditing – Telling Statistics from Those Who Do and Don’t


American Shipper, in partnership with the Retail Industry Leaders Association, recently published a revealing study highlighting shipper’s freight bill auditing activities. Transportation Payment Benchmark Study: A Step Forward, written by James Blaeser, Publisher of American Shipper, reveals aspects of an often closed subject of supply chain management – the financials.

Auditing of freight billing, a practice consisting of both pre- and post-payment processing, is a multi-step system; preformed properly, substantial cost savings result, as unwarranted costs and fees are discovered and eliminated. An additional benefit is improved carrier relations, as payment processing is improved between shipper and logistics service provider (LSP).

Here’s the study’s table-setter:

“Survey results show that the average respondent audits 77 percent of its invoices received from LSPs. Only 48 percent of the respondents review every invoice. The other 52 percent who claim they are auditing are really doing themselves a disservice. An incomplete audit is not an effective audit.

Three quarters of respondents claim the invoices they receive from LSPs are accurate 90 percent of the time or more. This could be considered better than what was expected which is a positive, but compared against other industries, such as utilities, this is very poor. Consider for example the problems that would arise if your home electric bill was wrong 10 percent of the time or more.

Auditing 100 percent of invoices received is only part of the story. Payers should be auditing all the variables in their bills for inaccuracies. Study results show that payers are very focused on the obvious issues, such as rates, accessorials, duplicate invoices, and fuel surcharge. Less obvious trouble areas, such as Inco terms, taxes, and currency conversions, are overlooked by most payers.”

Getting more personal, the study’s sampling of 300 companies reveals these realities:

In 2011, 50% of companies audited their supply chain’s transportation bills prior to payment, 8% post payment, 39% engage in both, and 3%, neither. The 39-percenter’s are benefitting the greatest, as billing accuracy was discovered to be sub-80% a full 24% of the time.  Only 58% were accurate up to 95% of the time. Errors abound, as is opportunity for found money.

The study reveals the percentages of variables audited by bill payers in the 3PL, manufacturing and retail industries. Here’s the breakdown:

·         Accessorials (rate, validity, etc.)

3PL – 90%

Manufacturing – 93%

Retail – 99%

·         Transportation Rates

3PL – 100%

Manufacturing – 94%

Retail – 90%

·         Duplicate Invoices

3PL – 75%

Manufacturing – 88%

Retail – 89%

·         Fuel Surcharge

3PL – 80%

Manufacturing – 85%

Retail – 82%

·         Incoterms

3PL – 35%

Manufacturing – 34%

Retail – 31%

·         Taxes

3PL – 25%

Manufacturing – 33%

Retail – 25%

·         Currency Conversion

3PL – 35%

Manufacturing – 39%

Retail – 24%

These figures highlight opportunity, as auditing 100 percent of invoices received is only part of the story. Payers should be auditing all the variables in their bills for inaccuracies. Study results show that payers are very focused on the obvious issues, such as rates, accessorials, duplicate invoices, and fuel surcharge. Less obvious trouble areas, such as Inco terms, taxes, and currency conversions, are overlooked by most payers.

This study highlights a fiscal need, and the areas under-addressed. For organizations who seek to maximize billing-payment accuracy, an effective way to optimize an organization’s transportation information with utilization of the company’s historical data and industry benchmarks is to form an alliance with an independent freight bill processor that provides thorough pre- and post-payment auditing and payment services, to maximize accuracy and resulting cost savings.