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EURO-LOG delivered advanced logistics information and communication system for PACT
As KŸhne & Nagel Logistics and SERNAM joined forces, they founded PACT in answer to the Hewlett Packard requirement for European distribution. In order to guarantee smooth logistics between the 14 HP hubs, PACT needed a highly available tracking & tracing system providing visibility throughout Europe.
After having thoroughly investigated the market, PACT decided on EURO-LOG. The challenge was to implement a solution that guarantees gapless flow of shipment information despite of the large variety of data formats. Also it was crucial to integrate the existing IT environment into the new IT-infrastructure. EURO-LOG had proven to be able to deliver.
PACT took advantage of EURO-LOG's already existing standard modules to provide fast and flexible solutions for the different work sectors of the company: operations, administration and billing.
The system was logically divided into three parts:
- The order and shipment management
- The tracking and tracing system
- The operational systems at the hubs and depots
The different system components had to be connected by a unique IT-solution network, called Central PACT System - short CENPACT2.
CENPACT2 assures the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between the different hubs of the PACT network. All involved partners are connected to the central database in the EURO-LOG data centre, which is responsible for the distribution of information to all hubs involved in a shipment. At the data centre the information is stored, converted and send to the PACT centres involved according to routing directives.
Each PACT partner can have different roles in the logistics workflow with each role requiring slightly different tasks to be performed. A shipping hub is responsible to picking up the goods at a shipper depot. The goods are then distributed to transit or distribution hubs. A transit hub receives goods from various shipping hubs and depots to sort, consolidate and ship the goods on to distribution hubs. A distribution hub receives goods from various shipping or transit hubs to deliver to the consignee.
As soon as information for a shipment is completed, the shipment is released and the information is sent automatically to all centres involved. Barcodes positively identify all packages. Tracking milestones along the transport chain provides status updates to all participants. Thus, the information always precedes the actual shipment.
For every transport in the PACT network, a virtual truck is created at the local CENPACT workstation. If such a truck is bound for another hub, the truck info - estimation of loading yards and the numbers of boxes to be shipped - is distributed to receiving hub automatically.
The CENPACT2 system consists a plurality of applications in order to guarantee the efficient and seamless flow of information between the different partners involved at all business levels:
- The Local Kit Workstation handles data processing in the various hubs of the CENPACT2 Scenario and have the capability to print documents, such as load lists and un/loading reports.
- The CENPACT2 Scanner supports the process. Items are scanned at loading and unloading and the information is transmitted directly to the workstation and the central database for distribution. In addition, the warehouse scanner supports the sorting of items according to destination and consignee, and the packing of pallets.
- The CENPACT2 Invoicing. An automatic invoicing process is running twice a month. Sophisticated calculations automate the entire process. The application grants PACT shipping hubs access to historical invoicing data stored in the data centre.
- The CENPACT2 KPI application is a web-based application using Java servlets, XSL and XML. It handles the performance evaluation of individual parts of the network as well as the entire PACT organisation.
- The web-based CENPACT2 CALL HANDLING application enables customer support the access of the central CENPACT database in the EURO-LOG data centre for general information.
- The CENPACT2 Track & Trace application enables flexible object tracking e.g. boxes or units containing several packages such as a pallet, a truck or a Consignment Delivery Documents. PACT hubs, PACT central users or consignees can all access the application via the Internet.
CENPACT2 is an advanced logistics information and communication system. The entire implementation process took 6 month. EURO-LOG provided beside design, development and implementation the extensive employee training at all PACT sites.
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