As Wal-Mart continues to push forward with their RFID mandate, a larger percentage of suppliers will soon be affected. We are currently evaluating the hardware and software necessary to produce the EPC Labels. As a full service third party logistics provider, we intend on investing in the technology to offer this value added service.

Although the overall deployment of RFID in the retail supply chain has been slow, it will continue to gain momentum as retailers look for ways to increase visibilty and efficiency.

Stay tuned. We’ll provide updates on our progress and developments with customers who benefit from this service.

Ace Hardware Arrives at Our California Warehouse Facility

As retail suppliers continue to look for ways to cut costs and reduce lead times, the advantages of having a California warehouse become clear.  

A recent shipment of product for a Canadian based supplier was received at the port in Los Angeles, unloaded at our warehouse, sorted/palletized, and then sent to the Ace Hardware cross dock facility just down the road. The entire process was completed in 48 hours.

The ability to move goods as quickly as possible into your retail customer’s supply chain can mean the diffference between success and failure.

Our proximity to the ports and numerous retail consolidation points in Southern California provides a key advantage to suppliers located elsewhere in the country and around the world.

We are going to attend the SPS Commerce Customer Council event on October 27 & 28 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. George Hynes, President of Logistic Edge, will be speaking at the event. Topics covered will include 3PL technology solutions, the role of WMS software and EDI, Retail Supply Chain Compliance, and more.

You can find more information about the event here:

http://www.spscommerce.com/news_events/events.shtml.

A Retailer's Best Friend UCC-128 Label

The UCC-128 (GS1-128) label is a critical piece of the EDI puzzle.

The labels can be applied to both pallet shipments and individual cartons. Each label has information about the origin, destination, and contents of the shipment.  Additional information typcally includes a PO number and carrier code (SCAC).

The UCC-128, along with an ASN (856), deliver the relevant details of a shipment to the retailer. By utilizing a standard label format, retailers are able to gather uniform information across their entire supplier network.

By connecting to numerous retailers through our EDI network, we are able to produce and apply these labels on our customers’ products. This service allows our customers to comply with the critical routing  requirments of any given retailer.

Retailer compliance is an added benefit of using a 3PL provider who has an established EDI network.

Utilize Technology to Keep Your Shipments Straight

When considering the services of a 3PL provider, it is crucial to examine the technical capabilities of all parties involved.

As a 3PL provider, we must remain technically flexible while also meeting the exacting standards of “big-box” retailers. Our ability to efficiently process data is directly affected by the manner in which the data is received in our Warehouse Management System (WMS).

Although we can receive information in a variety of formats, from email to fax to flat-file, we prefer to leverage the power of EDI. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), a standard format for exchanging business data, can help bridge the gap between a customer’s ERP system and our own WMS.

Since direct integration is not always possible/desirable/economical, you can use standard EDI documents such as the 940 and 945 to seamlessly trade order information. By receiving a 940 document from an ERP system such as SAP, you can process an order and return all relevant shipment details via a 945 document. In addition, the details of the 945 can be translated into an 856 (ASN) suitable for those “big-box” retailers.

Further integration can be accomplished with 943/944 documents to communicate on inbound inventory shipments. A 943 can be generated and sent when a container is on the water to a 3PL provider. When the container is received, a 944 stock receipt can be sent to confirm the arrival of the inventory.

The relationships between a 3PL provider and it’s customers can be greatly enhanced by the use of technology. By mapping out the technical requirements of everyone involved, you won’t get lost when it comes time to deliver.

Wal-Mart Arrives at Our Facility

A valuable benefit of utilizing a Third Party Logistics provider is the ability to meet the demands of retail customers.

While many people relate their difficulties in dealing with companies such as Wal-Mart, we take great pride in the opportunity to service their needs. After all, it has been said before that Wal-Mart is a Logistics Company which just happens to sell products. Their efficiency and execution set the standard for supply chain excellence. 

The role of a 3PL company is to uphold the standards as established by large retail customers. Furthermore, there should be a willingness among 3PL companies to promote those same standards to all customers.

In the end, greater efficiency and higher productivity lead to lower prices for goods as well as services.

Our latest news involves the new partnership between SPS Commerce and 3PL Central. Driven by Logistic Edge’s requirement for an integrated, Software-as-a Service (SaaS) platform which combines EDI and WMS functionally, these two premier companies have joined forces. SPS Commerce is the leading hosted EDI provider. 3PL Central is the first hosted WMS software and services provider.

You can read more about this news on the following logistics industry website: http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/CA6591053.html

Inside Our Third Party Logistics Operation

One of the goals at Logistic Edge is to educate our customers.

We have decided to enhance the education with this blog. We will be covering a wide variety of industry specific topics ranging from the benefits of utilizing a 3PL to EDI and WMS software.

Real world, practical insight from people who are performing the tasks on a routine basis.  

Future posts will appear on this page, so sign up for the RSS feed or add our blog to your browser favorites.