Social Solutions Global, the leading cloud software provider for nonprofit and public sector social service organizations, today announced the availability of the company’s inaugural 2020 Impact Report. Results show that demand for services continues to exceed the capacity of nonprofits’ ability to serve all those in need, and importantly, that investments in data and technology are the keys to unlocking the ability for these organizations to scale and enable communities to drive impact together.

“Everything we do at Social Solutions is driven by our purpose of empowering lasting social change,” said Erin Mulligan Nelson, CEO of Social Solutions. “For over twenty years we’ve been helping our nonprofit and public sector clients effectively deliver services, measure and optimize outcomes, and ultimately deliver greater human impact. Our first Impact Report directly demonstrates that data-driven impact analysis and management delivers value and direct results to people, families and communities via the social good organizations we work with on a daily basis.”

Impact Report Highlights How Social Solutions Benefits Thousands of Social Good Organizations

The Social Solutions Impact Report features statistics showcasing the current state and future of social good, as well as the impact on efficiency and effectiveness that human services agencies across every sector are seeing as a result of deploying technology and data to help them run and guide their organizations. In addition, the report discusses the increased demand for social services, which began even before the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the reality of career “burnout” as at least 38 states across the US don’t have enough social workers to meet the needs of the people seeking services.

Since bringing the Social Solutions software online, The Riverside County Children & Families Commission, more commonly known as First 5 Riverside - has dramatically increased efficiency and effectiveness around data, analytics and reporting. As a result, First 5 has been able to increase collaboration across service providers for the benefit of children and families. “The software is the connective tissue of data and reporting across the services we provide and fund,” said Piera Causley of First 5. “The work is moving so quickly in human services, so for us, it’s about building an amazing framework with ideas and vision.”

The Time is Now: Funding Opportunities Increase Across the US; Potential to Accelerate Lasting Social Change

The US administration is calling this period in time a ‘once-in-a-generation-economic crisis’, alongside a ‘once-in-a-generation investment’. This brings along a massive opportunity for nonprofits to benefit from Social Solutions’ platforms, which can propel a direct impact to empower communities to accelerate lasting social change.

There are increased investment opportunities within the social sector already seeing an opportunity to apply for an influx of funding through programs such as The American Rescue Plan Act; The American Jobs Plan; the American Families Plan; the George Floyd Plan; the Equality Act; VAWA and Immigration Reform. Nonprofits have played a critical role in the pandemic response, and they will play an even larger role in the recovery through executing their programs more efficiently, driving intelligence and ultimately better outcomes. Social Solutions is actively partnering with nonprofits to develop strategy, design programs and deliver services to take a long view on how to achieve the greatest impact. The data in the Impact Report clearly outlines this need for support, whether it is helping poverty, food insecurity, violence survivors, health or child services.

• Read the 2020 Social Solutions Impact Report
• Learn more about Social Solutions
• Learn more about Social Solutions case management software

About Social Solutions Global:
Social Solutions, a Public Benefit Corporation, is the leading provider of cloud software for nonprofit and public sector social service organizations. Our Apricot, Penelope and ETO products offer clients the most comprehensive and secure social good platform available, including case management, participant connection, data insights, outcome analytics and funder enablement solutions. Based in Austin, Texas, Social Solutions was founded 20 years ago by social workers who saw the potential of technology to improve outcomes and help accelerate lasting social change in the communities they serve. To date, more than 90,000 users have adopted the Social Solutions platform to improve their data by measuring and optimizing outcomes. Social Solutions is backed by Vista Equity Partners and serves clients in the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. For more information, please visit our website, www.socialsolutions.com, or follow us on Twitter: @SocialSolutions.

According to Global Trade, telematics will play an important part in the future of supply chain technology. 

Today’s consumers expect goods to be delivered faster and on shorter notice than ever before. 

Read the article on Global Trade

According to Virginia Business, supply chain management tech company Interos has achieved unicorn status. 

Following its $100 million Series C financing round, Arlington-based supply chain management technology company Interos Inc. has been valued at $1 billion, reaching coveted unicorn status.

Read the article on Virginia Business

According to Supply Chain, RAIN RFID could be the key to transforming supply chains. 

Across supply chains around the world, we have seen leading companies rely heavily on technologies like AI and IoT during the pandemic. These digital solutions have enabled businesses to accurately capture and ultimately use their own first-party data to drive efficiencies and protect increasingly fragile bottom lines.

Read the article on Supply Chain

Excellence in supply chain management may translate to business success. If you are good in this area, you will likely impress your customers in delivering the right products, in the correct quantity, at the right place, at the lowest possible cost and the right time, and to the correct people.  However, getting it right in the supply chain is easier said than done. Unlike the thinking that excellence in managing the supply chain can be achieved through few steps, the truth is that it goes much deeper and entails many other defining actions and strategies. For supply chain professionals, it means that they must have extra attributes that enable them to stand out. Here are some of the winning traits that should define your supply chain.

1. Embrace innovation

Like any other industry, innovation in the supply chain is everything. Leaders ought to always look for innovative methods to improve operations and enhance customer experience. Some ways of ensuring you stay ahead are adopting new technologies before anyone else and experimenting with new techniques and processes. According to Deloitte, more than 96% of supply chain leaders recognize innovation as an essential factor for growth. Over 75% use mobile technologies, while 65% use RFID tagging, among other approaches. In short, the adoption of technology is the leading way of ensuring you stay ahead of the game.

2. They are data-driven

We are living in a highly data-driven world. Therefore, you must always gather data on your supply chain and create actionable information to drive growth. A report by Deloitte shows that 75% of supply chain leaders use data optimization software to gather actionable information. With the proper tracking of the supply chain and recording of data, you will increase efficiencies in operations. You will efficiently handle critical aspects like materials and optimize floor space while also forecasting the future. With the right data in your possession, you are assured of making the correct decisions at all times while minimizing costs and improving productivity.

3. Successful supply chains empower employees

Employees are crucial for any successful supply chain operations. Any organization that intends to succeed must always empower its workers and invest in their wellbeing and knowledge. Investing in the right way gives employees a sense of belonging and fosters success for the company. Through incentives on performance and careful tracking to identify and determine bottlenecks, you can control costs in your supply chain. Successful supply chains put their employees in places where they are needed and give them the right tools to get the job done. As a supply chain company, give your employees the technology to ensure their work is easy and successful.

4. Successful supply chains are transparent

Transparency in the supply chain builds trust among the stakeholders. This usually comes with sharing information and data freely throughout supply chain firms. Therefore, companies in this sector should ensure that their supply chains are not siloed. With connectedness, efficiency is increased, and profitability can be achieved as well. Furthermore, tracking needs to be enabled to enhance accountability and compliance. Transparency gives supply chain firms the ability to know the expiration dates of products, inventory levels, and potential losses.

5. They are prepared for the unexpected

Supply chains keep changing, and companies must always stay on top of issues to remain relevant. The most successful supply chain companies can apply values and vision to the solutions required and overcome unexpected challenges. Supply chains must always take advantage of new opportunities and make the best decisions considering potential risks. With the right plans in place, you will get your business decisions right, and efficiency will be improved significantly within your organization.

Leaders in the logistics sector cite the ever-increasing complexity of the supply chain as the main challenge they encounter. This is true considering the changes that we often see in this sector. For instance, there was a time when distribution was local from local producers or the delivery was done by rail or interstate highway. However, the requirements that logistics operations and operators face today are much more complex than ever. Furthermore, the expectations from the customers have evolved significantly. In a more globalized supply chain that we have today and trade routes keep advancing, the logistics and supply chain companies have no option but to change their tactics. Here is what modern supply chain companies, managers, and logistics firms need to do to cope with the ever-increasing complexity in their respective industries. 

• Improve your logistics and supply chain forecasts

With the disruptive nature of the modern supply chains, the outcome of specific decisions can be disastrous. The unexpected events are likely to come up, and this may derail your plans. As a way of coping with this, it is ideal to predict or forecast what lies ahead with predictive analytics. By leveraging the existing operational data into the analytics, you can easily understand the potential future trends and respond to them accordingly. Make use of big data analytics to understand the market and identify the expectations using data-driven models. 

• Use real-time data

Things tend to move with so much speed in the supply chain. This means that you have to move with the same or even more speed since situations can change within a short time. As you plan to deliver items with unmatched efficiency, you need to cope with the speed by taking advantage of real-time data. With real-time insights, you can make adjustments faster and preserve maximum value in the face of uncertainty. While doing this, be proactive, reactive, and be in a position to identify possible challenges and risks. This way, you significantly reduce complexity and risks. This results in more deliveries and fewer issues with the customers. 

• Use “what if” scenarios

The “what if” scenarios enable you to understand the potential events and try to hypothesize what could happen if you do something. This is a good thing for planners who could respond to events even before they occur. For example, what if you are removed from a particular hub or cross-dock? What if you could add another warehouse? The what-if scenarios allow brainstorming of certain events and determining with certainty how you can respond to the effects or unexpected disruptions. 

• Find good partners

Having the right people and surrounding yourself with the right partners can take you far. Although you can do many things alone, you need to consider the right people as partners. They will help you limit the complexities in the supply chain by enhancing delivery speed and innovation. 

• Control your capacity management

As the number of trade routes and the number of shipping routes increases, it is crucial to note that transport planning begins with you. Therefore, you must begin by understanding the global marketplace and demands. Begin by determining your capacity against the demand levels. Also, understand the bottlenecks within your transport and production lines and find ways of managing them accordingly. Examine the requirements of the customer based on their location and other requirements. By acquiring insight into your specific area of control, you will be in a better position to manage and ensure that you are in a position to fulfill the needs of the client regardless of their location.

Over the past year, the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the world and adversely impacted almost every industry and economy in general. While there have been many challenges that came with the pandemic, there is a brighter side. The good thing is that the pandemic brought changes that will be helpful to businesses and different industries for years to come. One industry that has seen significant, pandemic-driven changes in the supply chain sector.

With the rising number of items ordered online, the supply chain sector had to change to accommodate the new demands. As the consumers were forced to adopted e-commerce shopping due to social distancing restrictions and lockdowns, the pressure was on supply chain and logistics companies who had to keep up with the rising demands. The supply chain companies had to adopt innovative technologies to surmount these challenges. Here are some of the technologies that are some of the innovative technologies:

• Blockchain

Blockchain has been among the most talked-about technologies due to its potential to change different industries. In 2019, the spending on blockchain solutions was at 2.7 billion. However, this is expected to hit over 11 billion, according to DHL. This technology is fast-growing in terms of adoption and is reshaping global logistics trends. As challenges associated with security in supply chain networks increase, blockchain technology is helping companies enhance security and build a paperless and data-driven environment. In 2021, blockchain technology will be adopted more as organizations seek to reduce the cost of operations.

• Digital training solutions

With the pandemic, e-commerce companies have seen a rise in the number of buyers forcing the companies to hire new employees to increase order fulfillment speed. Companies such as Amazon must train their employees on what is needed in their new engagements with the new employees. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted in-person meetings,  training, and hiring processes forcing companies to move to digital training solutions and virtual/remote work. In 2020 alone, Amazon embraced digital hiring and training, which saw them hire more than 1000 tech professionals to automate recruitment, hiring, and training. This is the same for other companies.

• Warehouse automation

Although warehouse automation was already gaining momentum pre-covid, the pandemic has increased the pace at which supply chain companies embrace automation. In 2019, a report predicted that the warehouse automation market would grow at 12.6% CAGR in the next five years. This seems to be the direction we are heading as more business leaders embrace automation as a game-changer with regard to cost-reduction and efficiency. Companies such as Amazon and other e-commerce giants are investing heavily in automation to enhance efficiency and minimize operations costs.

• The Internet of Things (IoT)

Accurate tracking and management of goods on transit are one of the targets of any logistics company. This can only be achieved by having cutting-edge technology, and this is where IoT comes into play. The IoT allows logistics companies to track goods on transit and manage transportation. IoT connects various devices that logistics companies use to monitor their goods.

• Cloud computing

Cloud computing is part of the ongoing digital transformation in logistics. The growing digital logistics has necessitated cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions that will become an integral part of logistics companies. This will minimize communications hurdles and security as well as collaboration for logistics providers.  

• Big data

Big data is changing things in many industries, and logistics is one of them. Logistics companies are using big data to optimize routing, streamline operations and factory functions, and enhance transparency in the entire supply chain. This is a good thing for logistics and shipping companies who need the right information to make the correct decisions necessary for success.

If you’re saving up to buy a Tesla – you may have to wait a bit longer. Elon Musk, founder and CEO of the electric vehicle brand; declared that prices of certain models were increasing due to a supply chain disruption that’s currently affecting the auto industry.

After a twitter user Ryan (@Ryanthe3nerd) tweeted “I really don't like the direction @tesla is going raising prices of vehicles but removing features like lumbar for the Model Y…” Musk tweeted back explaining, “Prices increasing due to major supply chain price pressure industry-wide. Raw materials especially.”

While the original tweet was in reference to the Model Y vehicle, Tesla increased the price of numerous models over the past few months including their best-selling model – Model 3.  The Model Y electric car is Tesla’s offering in the compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) category. The SUV can travel up to 326 miles fully charged and prices begin at $39,990.

While the supply chain disturbance is frustrating for both Tesla and their customers – it’s not necessarily surprising. During an earnings conference in April – Musk admitted the company was experiencing "some of the most difficult supply chain challenges” due to a chip shortage.

The semiconductor chip shortage has not only affected Tesla but the entire auto industry. To combat any future disruption to their supply chain – Tesla is in talks to purchase all of their computer chips upfront from their supplier. This may prove to be a pivotal move as Bloomberg recently predicted “a critical shortage of computer chips could cost automakers billions this year.”

The global shortage is so bad that many car makers including Nissan, Audi and Mitsubishi have ceased operations at certain plants until they can receive more chips. Electronic companies such as Samsung and Intel have since begun to make the necessary computer chips – but it’s not enough. Auto makers have resigned themselves to the fact that the disruption may not end until 2022.

Car makers are not the only industry suffering from the lack of semiconductor chips. They are found in a lot of products from computers, televisions, dryers, and even electric toothbrushes.  On a call with analysts Ben Suh, head of Samsung’s investor relations warned that “due to the global semiconductor shortage, we are also experiencing some effects especially around certain set products and display production.” To combat that – Suh explained that Samsung has been “discussing with retailers and major channels about supply plans so that we are able to allocate the components to the products that have more urgency or higher priority in terms of supply.”

“In my 34 years of working within the IT industry, I have never experienced or seen such shortages,” said David Kan, CEO of Mustek. “As a result of the shortages, pricing has gone through the roof.”

Companies are beginning to adapt to the shortage the best way they can – whether it’s shutting down plants like Nissan or staggering releases of their products. For example, Apple has debated whether or not to stagger the release of their iPhones while Samsung announced in March that they may delay the launch of the newest version of the Galaxy Note smartphone.

Transportation technology is in the middle of a major revolution. This has been occasioned by the ever-changing technological landscape that is causing major inventions in the sector and improving efficiency on the existing transportation methods. The new inventions in the transport landscape are poised to reshape the way we move entirely. Here are six technologies that will change the transport and supply chain sector for the better, forever.

1. Self-driving automobiles

Self-driving cars are a new talking point in the world today. Many automakers are trying their best to find out ways in which self-driving vehicles can help. While the self-driving automobile sector is still in its early stages of development, it is finally here with us and is already proving to be of great value for the transport and logistics sector. Although some of the major concerns in self-driving vehicles, such as accidents, there is a great potential for this industry in the future.  

2. The internet of things

The internet of things (IoT) is among the leading technologies that are changing the transport, logistics, and supply chain in general. IoT ensures that people and items are connected through networks. The vast connected networks will influence many aspects of driving, such as the planning of routes. The IoT sensors placed in vehicles communicate with the GPS services to determine the right routes. This directs drivers on the best route they should take. Sensors are also crucial in alerting drivers of the position of other vehicles on the road, therefore preventing collisions. IoT is also useful in monitoring the status of the products/items being transported by identifying things such as temperature and the humidity of the containers.

3. High-speed rail networks

Railways have been there for decades and have proven to be helpful in the supply chain. However, high-speed rail networks are a new area of interest that is generating tremendous interest across the world. Beginning with Asian nations such as Japan and China, countries are hoping to increase their networks to make transportation effective. According to the officials, the United States is already in the initial stages of constructing high-speed rail networks. They are considering more than ten high-speed rail networks.

4. Advanced GPS tracking technology

Global positioning systems (GPS) have been helpful to logistics service providers in managing their supply routes for decades. In the past, GPS was used to assist in route planning, tracking freight, and providing general estimations for shipping costs. The modern GPS systems allow logistics firms to develop a better and accurate plan for their routes and adjust to weather. With mobile applications, customers can easily access freight tracking programs online.

5. Advancement in Wireless communication and CRM

Modern logistics companies are taking advantage of the advanced communication networks to deploy proprietary software or (Customer Relationship Management) CRM programs. This allows them to connect with their customers faster, accurately, and with little to no downtime. Most of these CRMs are cloud-based, therefore allowing remote access to customer’s logistics accounts via any internet connection. The enhanced customer service will improve efficiency among logistics firms.

6. Drones

Drones is a massive industry that has seen tremendous growth in many industries. In the United States, the introduction of Exemption 333 in 2015 by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), which lifted the prohibition of flying drones, saw many companies and individuals adopting drones. This led to massive investment and subsequent growth in the sector. Now companies such as Walmart and Amazon are investing in drone deliveries, an aspect that will change the supply chain industry for the better.

When everything runs smoothly at our ports, companies will get their goods at the right time, logistics firms will adhere to their promises to the customers and buyers will get their items in a predictable, timely and reliable manner. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In many instances, there are supply chain disruptions caused by overcrowding, weather problems, and geopolitical problems. When you add the global pandemic into the mix, things take a new turn for the worst. With all these challenges, consumers are expected to increase in the future. Also, the amount of goods being shipped from overseas, mainly China, is expected to grow.  With this increase in demand, there is a likelihood of port congestion.

Port congestion or overcrowding is largely caused by the arrival of ships at the port but cannot be loaded or unloaded due to the already full capacity of the port. Furthermore, vehicles or trucks that transfer items can wait for long hours for their turn to get a spot at the port. However, with the problems listed above, the well-laid plans are disrupted, and the entire shipping process is slowed. According to INTRIX, a company that analyzes and ranks the effects of traffic congestion and overcrowding, congestion is "the demand for road space exceeding supply" and the impact of this is broad and often complex. Overcrowding leads to obvious time losses for both the companies and drivers, with losses from hours wasted waiting to load amounting to millions of dollars annually globally. In the United States alone, the total cost of congestion hit over $60 billion this year alone, with the majority of the losses occurring in urban areas.

With the pandemic-led lockdowns that curtailed the movement of goods and services, the movement in ports was adversely affected. The pandemic has disturbed the demand and availability of goods but increased the container volumes as companies tried to meet the sudden spike in demand following the reopening of economies after the lockdowns. Supply chain companies are bearing the most burden as the shippers play a critical role in the global movement of goods and trade. However, this cost is often passed down to the cost of delay to shippers, which in turn raises freight rates. The cost of storage also increases as the movement of goods is hampered.

In many countries, the growth of imports in combination with lack of adequate investment in port and inland transport infrastructure has been the main cause for decreased reliability and the rising cost of the supply chain and logistics. With the port congestion and overcrowding now that the world is reopening, companies are looking for ways they can solve the problem, both in the short and long term. For example, the American shippers and ports are concerned with looking for viable alternatives to handle imports in containers from the Far East due to congestion in West and West Coast.

Many options can be used as alternatives to normal shipping to avoid overcrowding, mainly in ports. One of those is air freight. While this option is fast and often ensures timely delivery of items, it is expensive and can be between 7-10 times that of sea transport. This makes sea freight a choice for many companies. Companies can also use alternative ports that are less overcrowded. However, such ports are often constrained in terms of resources and capacity to handle a specific type of item. There is also the rail transport approach for inland delivery of goods. This method of transport has its bottlenecks. Although these measures can offer a short-term solution to the problems, they will not solve them entirely. The solution lies with governments reconciling demands for road use with the available supply.

With the proliferation of telematics through sensor technology, mobile-based data collection and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI), there is an unprecedented amount of real-time information fleet managers can acquire from their connected vehicles. However, having all that data at your fingertips and knowing exactly what to do with it are two completely different propositions. 

Take, for example, this common scenario: As a fleet manager you’re pushed for time to get deliveries out and you have drivers with limited available driving hours and a finite amount of equipment to ship the goods. Now what? Use the data sets available to you in real-time to calculate who is the best driver, vehicle and route combination to get said deliveries out, making the most of the available resources based on the data you have. 

Think about your business objectives. Are you looking to reduce fuel costs, become a safer fleet, hold drivers and/or customers accountable, set smarter prices, map out the best routes -- or all of the above? Knowing your business objectives will help set the course for use of a telematics data system. The data from the telematics system will be an invaluable asset in reaching your business goals and can then help your fleet become more competitive, by winning and renewing more contracts, attracting and retaining the best drivers, and by making compliance a practically automated endeavor. So, how do you do it? The answer is all in the data, which will help you to expose inefficiencies, identify positive anomalies which can drive you to take knowledgeable actions in real time.

Identify inefficiencies 
Even with an abundance of raw information, it can be tough to know what the data means without something to compare it to or help ‘connect the dots’. That’s where AI coupled with Machine Learning creates predictive analytics and historical data to highlight certain data points which can guide fleet managers as they review and make decisions. 

Comparisons are critical for spotting harmful trends that can be improved upon, or a surprising positive trend that should become standard process and replicated. Through AI, a base dataset is calculated to determine how your fleet currently performs. Through machine learning, that baseline is then assessed against new information from which opportunities can be recommended. Without much user intervention, some of the areas AI can expose include:

• Examining how long drivers take on similar types of jobs and routes
• Monitoring fuel spend and consumption
• Tracking idle time data coupled with location to see if you can avoid high idle zones
• Service companies can look at time on site data across the field to see if some of their technicians are more efficient than others
• Reviewing specific driving behaviors along with maintenance records to see if some drivers are causing more frequent repairs, or if some drivers have fewer repairs and figuring out why that might be
• Seeing which jobs take the longest or cost the most
• Identifying the correct equipment to use for different loads and/or different routes
• Becoming predictive with maintenance so that fleet managers can avoid safety issues, catch maintenance items before they get worse, ensure that vehicles are not pulled off the road due to unexpected maintenance items or vice versa are being serviced too frequently
• Analyzing driver records from deep knowledge of the vehicle telematics and onboard sensor information to coach desired driver behaviors

Look at anomalies
Sometimes projects may go off the rails and fleets could out- or under-perform drastically compared to the expectation. These instances can be easily found and sorted through an advanced telematics platform and trigger a deeper dive into the numbers. Something off about a data set might require a closer look at other data points to get to the bottom of the issue. Fleet managers can set up their platforms to automate this data-discovery process and get the answers they need in an instant. Deep machine learning technologies can discover anomalies based on historic data and associated real-time data. For example, this may show why fuel costs spike on a Friday on a given delivery, or why it takes less time to complete similar jobs for a specific client.

Take action
Through the use of smart telematics platforms powered by AI, fleet managers can effectively use the data to make actionable decisions with confidence. Often when there’s an inefficiency or a safety hazard, the course correction becomes apparent. The platform can be configured to provide fleet managers with important data patterns so that they can then identify trends and determine the best course of action in real time. Some of the common data-based fleet decisions include:

• Educating and rewarding drivers
• Immediate route adjustments to routes or schedules
• Proactively identifying maintenance for in-service vehicles 
• Purchasing equipment that has been proven to last longer
• Identifying which warehouses are causing delays in your routines to hold them more accountable or to renegotiate contractual terms
• Downsizing or adding to your fleet to increase production and revenue
• Immediately identifying and acting on trend that may have a better safety outcome
• Recognizing “hotspot” areas where increased idling or speeding events occur to explore how to avoid them
• Using the right vehicle and driver for each task
• Identifying customer issues before they arise and taking immediate counter measures to provide the best service

Fueling decisions with data
All of these points are based on the data you receive, but is there such a thing as too much data? Yes, sometimes you can have too much data, especially if you’re unable to draw important and actionable conclusions. 

The key is to choose a telematics platform that is powerful enough and can secure the right data for your fleet. Through innovations in AI, machine learning, geofencing, data collection and camera/streaming technology, there has never been such a huge opportunity for fleet managers to have deep insights into what is going on with their fleet. A telematics system that uses next-gen technology like these also decreases the need for a data analyst and removes costly analysis periods where revenue may be lost waiting for those conclusions. 

With these advancements in telematics, fleet and asset management platforms can now tell fleet managers what they don’t know when they need to know it. This further enables them to draw their own conclusions, apply their own best judgement backed by real-time data, and coach and enforce the best course of action. Ultimately, this updated technology allows fleet decision makers to get ahead of potential issues rather than identifying them through historical data.

Andrew Rossington joined Teletrac Navman in February 2016, working first as Vice President of Transtech (Division) before becoming Vice President, Transport Solutions in February 2018 then onto becoming Chief Product Officer in October 2020. In this role, Andrew is responsible for all transport industry solutions, including product development, go to market, team development and financial responsibilities. Since joining the business, he has overseen year-on-year growth in the transport vertical across the Australia/New Zealand region of Teletrac Navman. Prior to this, Andrew was the Chief Executive Officer for Transtech, which was acquired by Teletrac Navman. He has spent the last 20 years focused on transport industry solutions and has extensive experience managing software development teams and implementing key business systems for some of Australia’s largest transport operators and software companies, including Toll, ComTech and Dimensions Data. He is passionate about the transport industry and using technology to enable successful business outcomes.

2020 was one of the most challenging years in modern history. The year saw many people lose their lives and livelihoods, businesses were closed, and millions of people got sick, all happening because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The changes in how we work, behave and live have caused disruptions of monumental proportions and supply chains have changed drastically from what it was in 2019. Fast forward 2021, we still see the damage caused by the pandemic, albeit better than last year. As such, most companies will change in the future to accommodate the new realities. Here’s how logistics are changing in 2021.

• The changing demands by the shipper

Unlike the past, when logistics service providers had almost all the say, consumers now have more choices than they ever did, thanks to the rise in e-commerce buying patterns, driven mainly by the pandemic. With the new arrangement, e-commerce will ensure that only companies with the best logistics products or services win, and survival for the fittest will be a new norm. Ecommerce will bypass the traditional order where a consumer had to go through a retail buyer, and consumers will no longer have to wait for the conventional brick-and-mortar supply chain. Instead, they can easily purchase through e-commerce options. 

• Omnichannel services and contactless product deliveries

Customers today want flexibility in their orders. As such, companies that have omnichannel delivery options will best meet their needs and enhance their experiences. Whether customers are shopping online or offline, they want flexible delivery options. The omnichannel approach, which offers a personalized, customized experience, will become a new strategy to win customers over in the new logistics industry after COVID. Customers will demand flexible delivery options for their in-store and pickup locations.

With the pandemic, no-contact delivery has become a new normal. Companies with various drop-off delivery options that meet the desires of the customer while minimizing physical contact will become a reality. This will see increased adoption of robotic and drone deliveries.

• Logistics and Technology

Even before the pandemic, technology had cemented its place as the key enabler of transformation in logistics. However, with the pandemic, the world has seen areas where technology can complement humans and keep people safe. Massive development of 5G and IoT are but a few of the technologies that will shape the logistics industry in 2021 going forward as companies seek ways of making their supply chains lean but effective. By the end of the decade, technologies such as the internet of things, robotics, and 5G will have changed the logistics industry as we know it today. Big data and analytics are also some of the technologies that make the decision-making process accurate and straightforward.

• Cybersecurity

As technology continues being adopted in the supply chain, cybersecurity is coming into a sharper focus now than ever. This aspect can no longer be neglected considering the targeting of ransomware and hacks, which accelerated in 2020.  Cybersecurity challenges can destabilize the supply chain leading to closures and locking up of orders or disruption of payment platforms. With working from home now a new normal, hackers work overtime to cause problems to shippers, clients, and logistics firms, most of who cannot fight back.

Generally, as we enter a new age in supply chain and logistics, there is a need for flexible and agile firms with the capacity to adjust faster to the changing customer needs by expanding or contracting depending on the vendor or customer requirements. There is also a need for contingencies to meet the political, labor, and natural disaster disturbances that can impact the supply chain, as 2020 has taught us.

Transacting business in the supply chain generally means communicating orders via EDI formatted files or some other equally rigid set of rules. The reasons are easy to understand; order times are critical and specifications for orders are complex so their formats need to adhere to formats that can be instantly read by computerized systems.

EDI requirements may be rigid but they change frequently so there’s some reason to believe that there is in fact, flexibility within the order process. But getting the details wrong causes errors and costs money. How will this tight connection fare in the age of what’s called ‘Industry 4.0’ as new technologies are brought into the mix? Is it possible that the long-standing EDI format will be replaced by directly connected machines (IoT) that avoid the details of creating and processing orders? Or will the deeply embedded format keep business at a slower pace than might be possible if things changed?

Industry 4.0

Internet of Things (IoT) is impacting manufacturing, shipping, warehousing, delivery, and even customer support by adding smart devices to things that have traditionally been, well… dumb. Dumb in the sense that they don’t communicate or have any way to sense their surroundings. That’s changing rapidly as we approach the widely touted 50 billion IoT devices expected to populate the earth by 2020. Whether any particular company wants to move toward these automated pipelines is as moot as those who declared they were not abiding by Walmart’s demand to implement EDI years ago.

Manufacturing facilities around the globe are adding smarts to their machinery or replacing old machines with newer and smarter ones that can go beyond the basics of their intended functions. They are attached wirelessly directly to their company’s management and ERP systems and communicate their current status. They take instructions about manufacturing conditions to adjust their speed and can even sense variations in the materials they work with and adjust their actions to create products that meet required specifications.

The data passed between those machines and the systems that control them amount to magnitudes of data that never existed meaning that traditional manufacturing facilities that operated manually and on a completely analog basis are becoming digital factories. The data itself presents both issues and opportunities for every point along the supply chain because it’s now possible for the end customer to be aware of the status of the product they expect to purchase, and for the manufacturing machine to know how many units it needs to build to meet demand.

Flexibility stretched

Every participant in the supply chain is being armed with more data than they have ever encountered. Their first challenge is to collect and store it; in itself a mundane IT task of managing storage and connectivity. But what is done with that accumulated data as it passes along the chain is what will define the next generation manufacturer, transport company, retailer, and even the end customer. Those that devote the time and resources to understanding, then imagining how Supply Chain 4.0 will look.

It’s been a while since Walmart first insisted that its suppliers moved to its digital order process. Back then the prospect of using EDI rather than fax or phone to place orders seemed like a technological hurdle. And in fact it was a significant hurdle that plenty of suppliers bucked against. But today Walmart’s tactics have become accepted and electronic order processing is no longer the pariah it once was. Now the retailer is making another mandate to its suppliers. But this time it’s not about what but where.

Amazon’s Web Services (AWS) has been the go-to supplier of cloud based software deployments and an overwhelming number of companies have put their online software there. It’s easy, reliable, and competitively priced. But now that Amazon is competing directly with Walmart for retail business Walmart doesn’t want the digital guts of its business hosted on a competitor’s site. That’s understandable, and in fact in 2014 the company moved its entire ecommerce presence to the cloud - and not Amazon’s cloud.

Our colleague Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols explains the move and strategy here. 

So where’s the mandate?

It isn’t enough that Walmart hosts its own data away from AWS. The retailer doesn’t want its suppliers hosting its data and the transactions they process on its competitor’s cloud either. The most recent mandate instructs suppliers to move their systems off AWS. They’re apparently fine with alternate cloud vendors like Microsoft Azure who are not direct competitors, but Amazon is a no-no. 

To be clear, the mandate (for now) is directed at tech providers. So product suppliers who host their own systems on AWS may not be affected. But the move may turn out to indirectly impact product suppliers if their EDI service providers host their applications and data on AWS.

The ripple effect

Amazon has done a great job of delivering cloud computing facilities that make it easy for companies to deploy their software services. In fact it may be the default choice for smaller EDI service providers because they can concentrate on developing their systems and delivering high quality customer support while leaving the heavy lifting of server farms and data centers to Amazon.

If your EDI provider has received a mandate letter from Walmart to shift its cloud hosting services you can bet they are scrambling to meet whatever deadlines are being required. Their revenue is reliant on delivering their customers’ transactions (your transactions) to and from Walmart and every other trading partner you deal with. And because of the depth and breadth of Walmart’s vendor base nearly every EDI service provider has connections to Walmart.

Be proactive

Don’t know if you will be affected? Ask your EDI service provider where their applications are hosted and how they are responding to Walmart’s mandate. Either your provider will need to change or you will need to change your provider if you want to keep your business relationship with Walmart.