DC Velocity - October 2015

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Supply chain analytics: FusionOps Retail is a new supply chain
analytics suite designed specifically for the retail industry. The
new cloud suite gives retailers visibility into their entire supply
chain and delivers retail-specific analytics “out of the box.”
According to FusionOps, these insights can help users figure
out how to streamline operations, improve financial effective-
ness, and optimize customer fulfillment in the new multichannel
retail environment. FusionOps Retail provides supply chain ana-
lytics in three main areas: customer fulfillment, inventory, and
global sales.

FusionOps Retail analytics help companies optimize fulfillment by providing a centralized view of inventory across all channels. This visibility allows retailers to improve product availability and delivery throughput, ensuring that their merchandise is in the channel at the right time to meet consumer fulfillment goals, according to FusionOps.

To accomplish this task, the application includes prepopulated reports such as a demand fulfillment dashboard, an order status dashboard, “on-time, in-full” root cause analysis, inventory coverage reporting, and allocation preview analytics.

FusionOps Retail also offers centralized, advanced inventory analytics. This makes it possible for retailers to know where their inventory is across all channels, such as in-store, in-transit, and at the distribution center. This information allows them to better allocate products and fill orders to maximize the margin for each sales channel.

FusionOps Retail provides this centralized view of inventory by gathering data from multiple systems such as SAP, Oracle, point-of-sale systems, and warehouse management systems into a single view.

Finally, FusionOps Retail’s sales order book analytics can help management understand high-level trade-offs among channels. Key insights include finding the right balance between margins and inventories, selecting the appropriate brands for each channel, and making better pricing discount decisions. (FusionOps, FusionOps.com)

Rugged mobile computer: Janam Technologies LLC has introduced the XM2-RFID UHF mobile computer. According to Janam, the XM2-RFID has a best-in-class RFID read range and accuracy, and is ergonomically designed.

The new XM2-RFID UHF weighs

13 ounces and fits in the palm of the hand. The handheld mobile computer reads ISO18000-63 EPC Global Class

1 Gen 2 tags and can complete more than 40,000 tag reads on one battery charge. The XM2-RFID UHF includes Zebra’s SE4500 2-D imager, which can decode hard-to-read bar codes. It also comes equipped with a 3.2-inch color display and support for Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Handheld 6. 5 operating system.

The XM2-RFID UHF is sealed to IP64 standards and designed for all-day everyday use in challenging environments, according to Janam. ( Janam Technologies LLC, www.janam.com)

SCOR app: APICS Supply Chain Council (APICS SCC) has launched a Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) mobile application to provide users with instant access to this supply chain framework. SCOR is a model for improving supply chain efficiency, linking business processes, performance metrics, practices, and people skills into a unified structure.

By providing a mobile option for the SCOR model, APICS SCC provides supply chain professionals around the world with access to this supply chain-spe-cific process model that supports communication among supply chain partners. The SCOR mobile application offers on-demand access to the most popular elements of the SCOR knowledge system.

APICS SCC designed the mobile application to enable users to easily access the four main areas—process, performance, practices, and people—or simply search for a level-one or level-two definition. Users can quickly view definitions and see the relationships between interrelated elements.

The SCOR mobile application is available for download through iTunes or Google Play for 99 cents, with all proceeds going toward APICS student programs. The complete SCOR Framework is only available to APICS SCC affiliates and APICS sponsors. (APICS Supply Chain Council, apicsscc.org)

LTL service: DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist within Deutsche Post DHL Group, has announced the launch of its Trans Border Connect less-than-truckload (LTL) service between the U.S. and Mexico.

As part of DHL’s portfolio of domestic freight services, Trans Border Connect is a bundled solution that offers a single quote for pickup transport, linehaul transport, border crossing, cross-docking, border clearances, and U.S. and Mexico customs border brokerage and expertise.

According to DHL, Trans Border Connect reduces supply chain costs and simplifies billing as well as shipment visibility by providing a single point of contact that is monitored by experts in its centralized control tower in Laredo, Texas.

The service is being rolled out initially for transportation to and from five strategic markets in the U.S. and Mexico, with all border crossings at Laredo, Texas. In the U.S., shipments are available to and from Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In Mexico, shipments are available to and from Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterey, Queretaro, and San Luis Potosi.

With Trans Border Connect, DHL is eliminating multiple carrier bills and handoffs by acting as a single-source provider for door-to-door surface moves. The company’s centralized control tower in Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, is staffed by a team of 155 people who specialize in transportation between both countries.

Trans Border Connect is designed for all sectors and types of goods and services, with the exception of hazardous materials, textiles, toys, finished electronic items, personal goods, shoes, garments, pharmaceuticals, and artwork (such goods can be quoted separately). Sectors currently using this service include the automotive, engineering, manufacturing, and aerospace industries. (DHL Global Forwarding, Americas, www.dhl.com)