Omnichannel retailing software: The supply chain consulting and IT services firm enVista has launched a new software
solutions business, Enspire Commerce. enVista founded Enspire
Commerce to provide a cloud-based solution for omnichannel
selling, optimization, fulfillment, and integration for small to
mid-market retailers, distributors, and third-party logistics service
providers (3PLs).
The new company’s Enterprise Commerce Management (ECM)
platform enables customers to easily use and rapidly integrate
any or all of Enspire Commerce’s solutions, including retail
engagement/point of sale (POS), trading partner management,
order management, and e-commerce solutions.
This price-competitive platform provides inventory visibility,
order routing, and fulfillment execution. At the heart of the ECM
platform is an integration framework that allows trading partners
to connect and create trading partner communities. (enVista,
www.envistacorp.com/)
Battery monitor: Ametek Prestolite
Power, which manufactures industrial battery charging and fleet management solutions, has introduced the Site Probe, which
continuously monitors lift truck battery
usage.
Site Probe allows facility managers to
get a quick overview of their entire fleet’s
battery status. Managers can examine an
individual battery in full detail using two different wireless systems—one for a comparative view and one to capture the battery’s complete lifetime data.
The Site Probe can be used to conduct a power study of a
facility to determine exactly what the power requirements will be
for battery-charging operations. To conduct the study, the probe
samples both current and voltage 10 times per second and stores
all data continuously, rather than grouping data into events, to
help understand what the battery has experienced throughout
the entire power study.
The Site Probe can also serve as a diagnostic device to find the
causes of application problems that prevent maximum throughput and productivity.
In addition, the Site Probe’s built-in data analysis tools allow
users to better understand charging opportunities, idle times,
and amp hours consumed. The ability to measure idle time is
particularly important for those users who depend on “
opportunity” or fast charging, as it can help them determine how much
available recharge time there is for each lift truck, according to
Ametek Prestolite Power.
The device works with any battery from 12 to 40 cells. (Ametek
Prestolite Power, www.prestolitepower.com)
Returns consulting: The omnichannel retail consulting firm
Newmine has launched a Customer Returns Assessment Program
(RAP). Designed to help retailers improve their customer returns
strategy and processes, the program uses Newmine’s RAP Index,
an assessment tool that benchmarks a retailer’s current returns
program against peer performance, best-in-class benchmarks,
and a wide range of metrics.
The output of the project is a comprehensive assessment of
the company’s current returns environment and a set of concrete
steps to improve performance. (Newmine, www.newmine.com
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Warehousing cost calculator: DSV’s contract logistics division
in the U.S. has launched a publicly accessible online calculator
that generates estimates on the costs of warehousing and order
management.
DSV says the online tool takes into account all costs involved
in the process from receiving inbound shipments into the warehouse, through the storage and handling of orders, and up to the
moment of dispatch.
Until now, quotations for warehousing tariffs were only made
through a sales person, and it was often difficult, especially for
smaller shippers, to estimate the total costs involved.
DSV notes that while the online warehouse calculator does not
replace customized, bottom-up tariff quotations, it does make
the company’s pricing structure more transparent for potential
customers and provides an approximation of the total cost or cost
per order for anyone interested in warehousing services.
The calculator is able to calculate and aggregate costs of a
wide variety of warehouse operations. Products can be received
palletized or loose loaded and stacked or stored in different rack
sizes. Subsequently, different order profiles for full pallets, boxes,
or items can be configured for multiple products. The calculator
uses weighted averages and discounts based on stock rotation
and volumes to provide as accurate an estimate as possible.
After potential customers key in the details of their storage and
order management requirements, a real-time calculation of total
costs and cost per order will be displayed online. The calculator
is accessible from DSV’s U.S. website. (DSV Solutions USA, www.
us.dsv.com
