Digital freight marketplace: Transport and logistics giant DHL has
launched an online marketplace to connect shippers and transport
providers operating in Germany. In beta testing since September,
the Cillox platform matches full truckload and less-than-truckload
(LTL) shipments with available transportation providers.
The Cillox platform is designed to increase efficiency for both
shippers and carriers by enabling convenient access to a fragmented market using a single point of contact, DHL says. The portal is
now open for all companies and transport providers shipping road
freight within Germany or from Germany throughout Europe. The
company plans to extend the portal’s transport modes, services, and
geographical coverage in the future.
Companies with freight shipping needs can use Cillox to locate
suitable transport providers for their particular cargo, without
time-consuming negotiations or comparison shopping. In addition,
shippers can obtain pricing information based on their shipment
characteristics, availability of trucks, and last-booked rates.
In turn, transport providers can post their assets and capabilities
to a large audience of shippers on Cillox, so they can find suitable
loads and optimize use of their trucks. When they identify an appropriate load, carriers can use a dynamic transport quote calculator to
develop competitive quotes for each shipment. The calculator uses
a continuously growing real-time database combined with analysis
of transacted data collected over the years.
In addition, Cillox provides a single interface for tracking, documentation, and payment processes. Shippers can use a personalized
dashboard to track fulfillment progress and receive real-time notifications of delays, allowing them to manage customer expectations.
Likewise, transport providers can use the portal to manage driver
performance by using the Cillox mobile app to match the GPS position of trucks to the pickup and delivery addresses of their routes.
The app can also remind drivers to confirm crucial milestones, document issues, or scan and submit delivery documents using their
smartphone cameras. (DHL, www.dhl.com)
Scan case for iPod touch: Scandit
has introduced the Scandit Case for
iPod touch, a protective cover that
allows workers to use iPods for scanning in place of dedicated bar-code
scanners. The new Scandit Case for
iPod touch is the next-generation version of the Scandit Case for iPhone 6/6s and features improved
materials that increase ruggedness and grip. The Scandit Case
works with all of Scandit’s mobile scanning solutions, provides protection during everyday activities, and offers a scanning experience
equivalent to that provided by handheld scanners and mobile computers at a fraction of the cost.
Just like the Scandit Case for iPhone 6/6s, the new case for the
iPod touch is designed to operate without additional electrical components by leveraging the device’s built-in camera and flash to scan
bar codes. This significantly reduces the maintenance and support
costs that are typically associated with dedicated scanners.
The iPod touch is an affordable and lightweight device that’s suitable for in-store retail use and can easily be deployed by enterprises
throughout their organizations, according to the company. When
paired with Scandit’s Case, mobile software, and cloud services, the
iPod touch becomes an enterprise-grade data capture device that
offers optimized ergonomics. (Scandit, www.scandit.com)
