![]() The retailer who contracted with ABF to deliver household fixtures to nationwide stores wanted to receive reports on a store-by-store basis. ![]() The application puts everything ABF’s specialists need to plan, execute and manage supply chain data at their fingertips. Moreover, coordinators are managing the project’s logistics using a single app rather than juggling various apps. What once might have taken a business analyst a day to accomplish now can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. The team can establish or refine the criteria quickly to identify problems in advance. Its features simplify the process for the ABF ByRequest team to acquire information they need internally and what they send to customers. The team operates within ABF’s Customized Solutions group and works with customers to manage shipping challenges.ĪBF Freight’s Customer Shipment Manager has improved communication between the customer service department and the terminals that route trucks, drivers and freight for pickups and delivery.ĬSM uses templates to assist users in the setup process. The CSM application is used mostly by the ABF ByRequest team, a centralized group of the company’s logistics specialists. In turn, ABF customers gain real-time data that can be communicated in a variety of formats, including PDF files, EDI and Excel spreadsheets. Today, at the click of a button, ABF is able to design logistical support packages quickly based on the specific needs of each customer. This enhancement enabled CSM to import data from more data formats, including Excel spreadsheets, and leverage ABF’s Web-based shipment tracking system to create a single source of logistical management data. But the database’s relational tables soon proved to be too cumbersome for expansion.ĬSM then was redesigned to use XML to provide search engine-style speed for managing rapidly changing supply chain data. ![]() The application had the flexibility required to receive and store supply chain data, and it also was able to accept varying data formats. The CSM application intelligently pushes the proper data to the proper people within ABF to make proactive customer service decisions.ĬSM was field-tested during the fast-food restaurant project. ABF Freight initially developed CSM in this fashion as a way to integrate customer service-oriented data.Īs part of developing CSM, the IT department at ABF – a company known as Data-Tronics – created algorithms to find and filter critical data quickly for managing specific projects. More carriers now are using data warehousing technology to consolidate data across various sources into a relational database used specifically for reporting and analysis. – Brent Dorrough, ABF manager of Customized Solutions ![]() “We are able to provide information efficiently, comprehensively and accurately in an expeditious manner.” ![]() A drawback of using electronic data interchange, Web portals and other common methods to exchange information is limited flexibility to respond to specific information requests. ArcBest was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Fort Smith, AR.While transportation companies seldom lack data, the greater challenge is finding the time and resources to mine this data, especially when complex projects with tight timeframes do not allow hours or days for business analysts or computer programmers to query separate databases to obtain critical information. Its service offerings also include truckload, dedicated, managed transportation, intermodal, international air and ocean, time critical, warehousing and distribution, and household goods moving services. The company offers a full array of logistics solutions to optimize customers supply chains, while continuing to offer asset-based less-than-truckload (LTL) services through the ABF Freight network and ground expedite services under the Panther Premium Logistics brand. The FleetNet segment covers the operations of FleetNet America, Inc., and certain other subsidiaries that provide roadside assistance and maintenance management services for commercial vehicles through a network of third-party service providers. The ArcBest segment refers to the operations of the company's expedite, truckload, and truckload-dedicated businesses as well as its premium logistics services, and international freight transportation with air, ocean, and ground service offerings. The Asset-Based segment includes national, inter-regional, and regional transportation of general commodities through standard, expedited, and guaranteed less-than-truckload services. It operates through the following business segments: Asset-Based, ArcBest and FleetNet. is a logistics company which provides end-to-end supply chain services with a focus on innovation. ![]()
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