The difference between Supply Chain and Logistics...

In many organizations Supply Chain and Logistics are used interchangeably, they are however different concepts with subtly different characteristics and targets.
In definition, Logistics usually refers to interface activities that occur in a single organization and typically include processes such as procurement, inventory, storage and distribution and in some cases maintenance.
A typical supply chain organization would include all of these whilst also including new activities such as finance, commercial, customer and supplier management and product development. Supply Chains will typically take a view of many organizations as a single entity focusing on the flow of products and commodities. Further, Supply chain will typically focus on the services that are required to fulfill the customer.

Trucking Companies Go Green with New Software Technology ...

(Bloomfield, CT – September 4, 2008) Without question, two critical areas for today’s trucking company owner are controlling fuel costs, and receiving their payments quickly and on time. Increasingly, savvy trucking company owners are using technology in innovative ways to help in these areas and make their trucking businesses more "green" at the same time.

Lowering Fuel Costs and Reducing Fuel Consumption

A good Fuel Optimization solution allows your trucking company to find the best truck stop fuel prices along each route, typically providing significant fuel savings per gallon and reducing out-of-route miles by as much as 25%. While we can’t control the price of diesel fuel, we can use smart tools to get the most mileage out of every dollar. Prophesy has been an innovator in this area since introducing our FuelLogic solution in 1996. In these times, tried and true solutions like these are must-haves for many trucking companies. A pleasant "green" side effect is that less fuel is used overall and trucking companies can take pride in doing their part for the environment. (To read about the Top 5 Misconceptions of Purchasing Fuel over the road, click here or visit www.mile.com/promo/optimize-fuel/optimize-fuel.htm.)

Getting Paid Faster and Improving Cash Flow

Another headache for trucking businesses during tight economic times is getting their invoices and open receivables paid as quickly as possible. Most trucking companies have instituted fuel surcharges, which makes it more critical than ever to get paid quickly to help cash flow. Many trucking companies are eliminating the paper shuffle altogether by implementing EDI and/or a Document Imaging system. This enables them to instantly bill customers as well as to scan and store PODs, BOLs, Freight Bills, Confirmations, and all other critical trip documents, so that they are available to email to customers as soon as the load is complete or any other times when paperwork is requested. By billing and scanning documents electronically, these companies not only increase efficiency but shorten the payment cycle significantly. The added "green" benefit here is of course far less paper, postage, ink, and envelopes used.

About Prophesy FuelLogic:

This trucking industry-preferred fuel purchase optimization software will reduce your diesel fuel costs using powerful fuel optimization technology and current diesel price information, in conjunction with the existing fuel cards, fuel purchase networks, and negotiated fuel discounts held by your trucking company.

About Prophesy Document Imaging:

Never waste time searching for load paperwork again! With Prophesy Document Imaging all of your critical truck documents are available at your fingertips and viewable on-screen, on demand. Your customers will love your shortened response time, and your team will love the way our document scanning capability allows them to safeguard documents, save time, and make their job easier. Simply print, fax, or email the form that your customer or vendor requires, and your work is done.

About Prophesy EDI:

Prophesy Dispatch offers powerful EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) compliance capabilities, built exclusively for the Trucking Industry. This time-saving software allows you to transmit critical forms to your customers or trading partners via EDI technology in real time (including forms 204, 990, 210, and 214). Utilizing the document imaging, scanning, and rendition billing technology of Prophesy Dispatch Software, Prophesy's EDI software reduces paper shuffle and reduces time spent, while increasing your customer satisfaction rating. Prophesy Dispatch & Accounting with EDI offers accurate, secure, and virtually instant data exchanges, facilitating freight billing and allowing your growing trucking company, brokerage, or private fleet to keep pace with many of the largest companies in the transportation industry.

What is multimodal transport system?

Multimodal Transport System

A multimodal transport system integrates different geographical scales from the global to the local. With the development of new modal and intermodal infrastructure, urban regions have a growing accessibility to the international market; several parameters of regional transportation are transformed, or at least significantly modified. The above figure represents the regulation of movements of a corridor within a multimodal transportation system composed of a set of competing hub centers where converge regional and local transportation networks. Depending on the geographical scale being considered, the regulation of flows is coordinated at the local level by distribution centers, commonly composed of a single transport terminal, or at the global level by articulation points, composed of major transport terminals and related activities.

An articulation point can simultaneously have a modal and intermodal convergence of functions; particularly if it is the interface between several modes. Its modal function relates to its while its intermodal function indicates its level of service. The regional multimodal network converges at major articulation points allowing linkages with the international transportation system through a maritime / land interface. Port cities are the main agent of that function. Containerization has particularly developed the maritime / land interface. It insures flexibility of shipments and several ports have opted for this multimodal transportation technology to keep and consolidate their status of hub center.

Institutes offering logistic courses....

IISWBM (indian institute of social welfare and business management)

website: www.iiswbm.edu


Asian council of logistics management.


website: www.asianclm.com

Software related to logistics.......

Software is used for logistics automation which helps the supply chain industry in automating the work flow as well as management of the system. There are very few generalized software available in the new market in the said topology. This is because there is no rule to generalize the system as well as work flow even though the practice is more or less the same. Most of the commercial companies do use one or the other of the custom solutions.

But there are various software solutions that are being used within the departments of logistics. There are a few departments in Logistics, namely: Conventional Department, Container Department, Warehouse, Marine Engineering, Heavy Haulage, etc.

The software used in these departments are,

Conventional department : CVT software / CTMS software /

Container Trucking: CTMS software /

Warehouse : WMS /

What is Logistic management?

Logistics is the management of the flow of goods, information and other resources, including energy and people, between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet the requirements of consumers (frequently, and originally, military organizations). Logistics involve the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material-handling, and packaging.