Combining Retail Software and EDI to Reduce Errors and Increase Efficiencies (Webinar March 7th).

B2BGateway and Brightpearl have partnered to give online retailers and distributors a cutting edge in today’s modern world of omni-channel commerce. Combining B2BGateway’s award winning, cloud based EDI technology with Brightpearl’s class leading retail management software suite benefits the end user by:

§  Eliminating the need to re-key data which in turn reduces errors and cuts down on labor costs associated with manual data entry.

§  Can handle all international EDI file standards including X12, EDIFACT, Eancom, Tradacoms, PEPPOL, oioUBL, etc.

§  EDI is widely used in Box Store Retail (Tesco, Walmart, Boots, etc.), the Online Marketplaces (Amazon, Jet.com), Logistics, Government and Finance.

§  Can handle all communication protocols required VAN, AS2, FTP, sFTP, etc.

§  Compliant with all trading partner requirements and regulations

§  Full integration to Third Party Logistics Provider (3PL)

§  Supports Drop Shippers

§  GS1-128 Label and Packing Slip capabilities

To highlight the benefits of the combined solutions, B2BGateway and Brightpearl will co-host a webinar on Tuesday, March 7^th at 5pm GMT (9am PST). For further details and to register to attend please visit http://bit.ly/2kWbM0t

B2BGateway at UK Logistics & Supply Chain Excellence Awards

The B2BGateway and Maclaren team who attended the recent UK Logistics & Supply Chain Excellence Awards in the Park Lane Hilton Hotel in London. B2BGateway was shortlisted as a Finalist in the Technology Awards Category.

What is Supply Chain Management (SCM)?

Would you like to understand the concept of supply chain management but don’t have the time to do so? The good news is that in some upcoming posts we will explain to you the key principles and terms of supply chain management (SCM) that you can read and learn in under 3 minutes!
In this post we will focus on introducing the term ‘supply chain management’ and how your organization may improve the competitiveness of your supply chain.

The term “supply chain management” arose in the late 1980’s and came into widespread use throughout the 1990’s. Prior to this, businesses used terms such as ‘logistics’ and/or ‘operations management’. In the late nineties individual authors undertook an attempt to express the essence of supply chain management in one definition. Its constituents are the subject of a management philosophy, target group, goals and numerous ways to achieve these goals.

The subject of supply chain management is, of course, a chain that represents a network of all the organizations that are involved, through links up and down the chain of different processes and activities creating value in the form of products and services for the end customer.

In broad terms the supply chain consists of two or more separate organizations legally connected with one another by the flow of materials, information and finance. These organizations may be companies that produce parts, components and finished products, logistics providers and even the final customer. Network connections do not usually focus on the flow inside a single chain, but consists of complex flows associated with a variety of customer orders, which must be operated in parallel.

In the narrower sense of the term supply chain, it is used for large companies with multiple locations, often located in different countries. Co-ordination of the flow of materials, information and finances in multi-national companies effectively is still a huge challenge. The objective of managing all links of the supply chain is to increase competitiveness. This is possible because individual organizational units are not responsible individually for the competitiveness of their products and services in the eyes of the end customer but the responsibility lies with the supply chain as a whole. Hence competitiveness shifted from individual companies in the supply chain.

There are two broad ways to improve the competitiveness of the supply chain. One is the integration (or co-operation) of the organizations involved, and the second is better co-ordination of the flow of materials, information and finances. Overcoming organizational barriers, adjusting strategy and accelerating flows along the supply chain are the main subjects in this context.

If you would like to see how B2BGateway can help improve your organization's supply chain processes, please email Sales@B2BGateway.Net today

Multi-Channel Vs. Omni-Channel Explained

I recently came across a great article by Linda Bustos of Get Elastic who describes the differences between “mutli-channel” and “omni-channel”. Linda also expands on these terms and predicts what the store of the future will look like.

In the early days of e-Commerce, traditional brick-and-mortar and catalog retailers added transactional websites, becoming “multi-channel” retailers. For many, the online “channel” functioned as its own entity with its own systems, even with its own P&L competing against the box store or mail catalog retail division. Some even outsourced e-Commerce – notably Target and Borders, who let Amazon run their online stores for years before taking control in-house. Regardless of the model, online and in-store customer experiences were completely separate.

In recent years, the “multi-channel” concept has morphed into “omni-channel,” these buzzwords often used interchangeably – but they’re not exactly the same concept. If you want to get etymological, multi means “more than two” and omni means “every.” You can operate in as many “channels” as you want, but you’re not an omni-channel business unless there is interconnectedness between every touch point you offer from the perspective of the consumer.

Omni-channel isn’t about pushing in-store customers to buy more online. There’s a myth of the uber-profitable “multi-channel customer” that splurges wherever you accept a credit card. It is about supporting the customer’s shopping needs and preferences, with the online channel as much of a customer service tool as it is an option to purchase from.

Accenture found 73% of North American consumers have show-roomed at least once in the last 6 months, and 49% think integrating stores with online and mobile touch points is where retailers need to improve the shopping experience most.

Today, having a website with transactional capabilities isn’t an option for retailers – it’s an expectation. And having a mobile-friendly site is now table-stakes too, not just as a complementary touch point to the ecommerce site, but as an in-store shopping aid. You can read Linda’s full article here including her predictions on what stores of the future will operate.

If you would like to know more about how B2BGateway can help support your omni-channel requirements and improve your supply chain call +1 401-491-9595 (North America) / +353 61 708533 (EU) or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net



Top 5 Advantages of EDI

B2BGateway and Acumatica partner to deliver best of breed cloud based EDI and supply chain solutions to Acumatica users.

B2BGateway, a leading global EDI and automated supply chain solution provider, and Acumatica, the cloud ERP, have partnered to deliver Acumatica users the best in breed in cloud based EDI technology.
 
Acumatica is a leading provider of cloud ERP applications that empower SMBs to stay competitive. Born in the cloud, Acumatica’s browser-based Cloud ERP software offers many choices in deployment, licensing, integration, and customization.
 
Today EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) has become a standard business requirement in wholesale distribution, manufacturing, retail, automotive and ecommerce industries. By having B2BGateway’s fully integrated EDI solution, Acumatica users can now connect seamlessly with online retailers such as Amazon, eCommerce platforms such as Magento, box store retailers such as Walmart and third party logistics providers (3PL). In essence B2BGateway provides a ‘one stop’ solution that can cater for any organizations omni channel logistical and supply chain needs.

For further information on how B2BGateway can further help you automate your organizations supply chain processes with Acumatica call +1 401 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

EDI in the Transportation Industry

 

EDI has become very popular in the haulage and transportation industry as transportation companies and load brokers are adapting their systems to cater for EDI document exchange.

The advantages for those working in the transportation industry is that routine high volume communications can be automated allowing dispatchers and accounts receivables staff more time to focus on more productive/profitable tasks and provide clients with better customer service. One of the main advantages of EDI is that it eliminates a dispatcher from having to manually key information into the dispatch operational and billing system. This results in saving time and money while eliminating any costly data entry mistakes. The other advantage is that transportation companies who are EDI compliant can communicate seamlessly and electronically with all parties in the supply chain process.

 
All data is communicated between the carrier, shipper, and the consignee in electronic EDI documents known as ANSI X12 “Transaction Sets.” The most commonly used EDI Transaction Sets in the Transportation Industry are:

204- Motor Carrier Load Tender

211- Bill of Lading

212- Delivery Trailer Manifest

214- Shipment Status Message

210- Freight Details and Invoice

820- Payment Order/Remittance Advice

 

990- Response to the Load Tender

997- Functional Acknowledgement

 
Being EDI enabled allows carriers to have access to the vital information that helps them perform at optimum efficiencies and effectiveness, while at the same time saving time and money.
 
For further information on how B2BGateway can help your transportation organization become EDI compliant and meet the needs of your clients and their trading partners call +1 (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net  

Integrate your Omni-Channel Logistics with cloud based EDI solutions from B2BGateway.

 

To fulfill goods and services for the ever increasing world of Omni-Channel Retail, suppliers have to create excellence in their Omni-Channel Logistics operations. Omni-Channel Retailing is best described by Wikipedia as the evolution of multi-channel retailing, but is concentrated more on a seamless approach to the consumer experience through all available shopping channels, i.e. mobile internet devices, computers, bricks-and-mortar, television, radio, direct mail, catalog and so on. Retailers are meeting the new customer demands by deploying specialized supply chain strategies and software solutions.

The major challenge for suppliers, in order to meet the retailers’ new omni-channel needs, is to get their goods and services to the correct channel as quickly and as accurately as possible and, needless to say,  in the most cost effective manner.

In order to help suppliers achieve excellence in Omni-Channel Logistics, B2BGateway has developed full end to end seamless connectivity between the supplier and all parties in the supply chain from box store retailers (Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, etc.) to online retailers (Amazon, Buy.com, etc.), to manufacturers, third party logistics providers (3PL) and even the suppliers own online shopping carts (which may be powered by online platform providers such as 3dcart, Volusion, Magento, etc.).

 

Through specially developed, cloud based EDI software, B2BGateway’s Omni-Channel Logistics solution fully integrates the suppliers ERP software with all parties in the supply chain, thus allowing fully automated and seamless connectivity for the exchange of all business documentation needed such as Purchase Orders (EDI 850), Invoices (EDI 810), Inventory Updates (EDI 846), Warehouse Shipping Orders (EDI 940), Advanced Shipping Notices (EDI 856) and so forth.

  

As there is full automation and no need to re-key data, the supplier benefits greatly from increased speed, increased accuracy, greater visibility and reduced labor overheads.

 

If you would like to learn more about B2BGateway’s fully integrated Omni-Channel Logistics solution please call +1 401-491-9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net  



 

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and EDI

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software application that supports the day-to-day operations in a warehouse and is a key part of the modern supply chain process. WMS programs enable centralized management of tasks such as tracking inventory levels, receiving, picking, put-away and identifying stock locations.

 
A WMS monitors the progress of products through the warehouse. It involves the physical warehouse infrastructure, tracking systems, and communication between product stations. More precisely, warehouse management involves the receipt, storage and movement of goods to distribution centers or to a final customer. In today’s modern world, organizations may use multiple levels of warehouses. These may include a central warehouse, regional warehouses (serviced by the central warehouse) and potentially retail warehouses (serviced by the regional warehouses).
 
Early warehouse management systems could only provide simple storage location functionality. Current WMS applications can be so complex and data intensive that they require a dedicated staff to run them. High-end systems may include tracking and routing technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and voice recognition.
 
No matter how simple or complex the application is, the goal of a warehouse management system remains the same -- to provide management with the information it needs to efficiently control the movement of materials within a warehouse.
 
WMS systems may be standalone applications or modules of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.  B2BGateway offers clients fully integrated, cloud based EDI solutions to link their WMS with their ERP or Accounting Software solution. This automates the flow of data between systems and removes the need to re-key data.  This in turn gives the client greater accuracy, reduces charge backs and saves both time and money.
 
To learn more about B2BGateways fully integrated EDI solutions for WMS call +1-401-491-9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net 

Logistics Pooling

At the recent ECR Ireland Supply Chain Summit in Dublin, two themes for the supply chain future prevailed: Sustainability and Logistics Pooling. In this short blog I am going to concentrate on Logistics Pooling – what is it and what are its advantages?

 
Logistics Pooling has been defined by Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu as the common usage of logistics resources: material (vehicles, platforms), human (drivers, land operators) and immaterial (software tools, information) between organizations. It consists of a semi-closed group of collaborators who share vehicles and platforms to reduce their logistics costs and the environmental nuisances related to last mile distribution in urban dense zones. 
 
Quite simply it is the sharing of transportation resources to get goods to the same distribution centre by making best use of space available (i.e. sending one full truck with multiple organizations goods on board, rather than sending many half empty trucks for each organization).
 
Logistics Pooling offers the following advantages to suppliers and manufacturers:

·         Ability to meet demands of retailers who want smaller volumes to be delivered more often(greater freshness of product, reduced inventory levels, etc.).
·         Ability to reduce transportation costs.
·         Environmental awareness and sustainability by reducing CO2 emissions.
 
For further information on automating your supply chain processes and making the best use of supply chain logistics please contact our sales team today on 401-491-9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

We probably all have heard of 3PL’s and 4PL’s in the logistics industry, but what on earth is a 10PL?

In the world of modern logistics we probably all have heard of 3PL’s and 4PL’s. A 3PL (abbreviation for Third Party Logistics Provider) is a firm that provides service to its customers of outsourced logistics services for part, or all of their supply chain management functions. 3PL’s typically specialize in integrated operation, warehousing and transportation services that can be scaled and customized to customers' needs based on market conditions. Whereas a 3PL service provider targets a single function, a 4PL targets management of the entire process. Some have described a 4PL as a general contractor that manages other 3PLs, truckers, forwarders, custom house agents, and others, essentially taking responsibility of a complete process for the customer.
 

Now some logistics providers have further increased their services and are calling themselves 10PL’s. Here is pyramid chart of the services and functions offered by a 10PL:

 

At B2BGateway we provide cloud-based, fully integrated EDI and automated supply chain solutions that will directly link you to your logistics provider, be they a 1PL, 2PL, 3PL, 4PL……..10PL. For further information on how your organization can communicate seamlessly with your logistics provider please call +1 401-491-9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net



 

Most common EDI transaction sets used by Third Party Logistics providers (3PL’s).

 

Most common EDI transaction sets used by Third Party Logistics providers (3PL’s).
ANSI X12 Transaction	Transaction Name	Transaction Description
940	Warehouse Shipping Order	Data contents of the Warehouse Shipping Order Transaction Set (940) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. This transaction set can be used to enable the depositor to advise a warehouse to make a shipment, confirm a shipment, or modify or cancel a previously transmitted shipping order.
943	Warehouse Stock Transfer Shipment Advice	Data contents of the Warehouse Stock Transfer Shipment Advice Transaction Set (943) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used by a depositor or an agent of the depositor to advise the recipient that a transfer shipment has been made. This transaction set provides a receiving location with detail information concerning product being shipped to that location.
944	Warehouse Stock Transfer Receipt Advice	Data contents of the Warehouse Stock Transfer Receipt Advice Transaction Set (944) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used by a receiving location to advise a depositor or an agent of the depositor that a transfer shipment has been received. This transaction set provides the depositor or the depositor's agent with detail information concerning product that has been received
945	Warehouse Shipping Advice	Data contents of the Warehouse Shipping Advice Transaction Set (945) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used by the warehouse to advise the depositor that shipment was made. It is used to reconcile order quantities with shipment quantities.
946	Delivery Information Message	The transaction set can be used by a receiving location to advise a depositor or an agent of the depositor that a transfer shipment has been received. This transaction set provides the depositor or the depositor's agent with detail information concerning product that has been received. If you need help supporting this EDI document, please visit our signup page. We will contact you shortly after the information is received. Thank you
947	Warehouse Inventory Adjustment Advice	Data contents of the Warehouse Inventory Adjustment Advice Transaction Set (947) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used to inform a warehouse/depositor of a quantity or status change to inventory records. This transaction set provides detail information concerning the internal adjustments which occur between a warehouse and a depositor.
997	Functional Acknowledgement	Data contents of the Functional Acknowledgment Transaction Set (997) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used to define the control structures for a set of acknowledgments to indicate the results of the syntactical analysis of the electronically encoded documents. The encoded documents are the transaction sets, which are grouped in functional groups, used in defining transactions for business data interchange. This standard does not cover the semantic meaning of the information encoded in the transaction sets.
856	Advance Ship Notice/Manifest	Data contents of the Advance Ship Notice/Manifest Transaction Set (856) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used to list the contents of a shipment of goods as well as additional information relating to the shipment, such as order information, product description, physical characteristics, type of packaging, marking, carrier information, and configuration of goods within the transportation equipment. The transaction set enables the sender to describe the contents and configuration of a shipment in various levels of detail and provides an ordered flexibility to convey information. The sender of this transaction is the organization responsible for detailing and communicating the contents of a shipment, or shipments, to one or more receivers of the transaction set. The receiver of this transaction set can be any organization having an interest in the contents of a shipment or information about the contents of a shipment.

 For a full list of all EDI X12 documents supported bt B2BGateway.Net please visit http://www.b2bgateway.net/edidocs.asp

B2BGateway launches Logistics Matters - a new quarterly newsletter on EDI for the Third Party Logistics (3PL), Shipping and Freight Industries http://bit.ly/NpXmK7

Advantages of EDI for 3PL's

Advantages to 3PL's, Logistics Organizations, Warehouse and Shipping Companies in becoming EDI compliant:

• Able to handle more daily shipments and customers
• Provides greater efficiencies on the production environment
• Accuracy boosted through integration and minimizing manual data entry
• Secures larger more sophisticated client base
• Enhances ability to build more business through differentiation
• Order-to-cash cycle time reduceded
• Retailer chargeback fees minimized for your clients

Check out www.B2BGateway.Net for more details or view a brief video demonstration on EDI for 3PL's here http://www.b2bgateway.net/videos.asp?id=26