Less communication with partners
Reduction of internal queries
Transparency in delivery coordination
Less communication with partners
Reduction of internal queries
Transparency in delivery coordination
The ebm-papst Group is the world's leading manufacturer of fans and drives. Since its founding in 1963, the technology leader has set international market standards with its core competencies of motor technology, electronics, digitalization and aerodynamics. In fiscal year 2021/22, the hidden champion generated a turnover of 2.288 billion EUR and employs nearly 15,000 people at 29 production sites and 51 sales locations worldwide.
ebm-papst Landshut is part of the ebm-papst Group as the Heating Technology Division. Accordingly, the company is the world market leader in the development and manufacture of innovative gas-air systems. These technologies also use green and synthetic gases, as well as hydrogen or biogases. Furthermore, ebm-papst Landshut is working on future-oriented (system) solutions in the field of heat pumps and distribution.
Coordinating the loading and unloading processes can be challenging when handling 1,250 pallets a day at inbound and 1,150 pallets a day at outbound. Until 2021, a traditional Time slot management supported the company in coordinating their deliveries. However, the desire for progress and transparency was great.
The aim was to optimize capacities through the use of AI and to achieve transparency by making all data available in a single system. The goal was to find a platform that offers a person-free check-in and a modern and clear Time slot management . In addition, there should be the possibility of empties management and personnel deployment planning on the platform. The close cooperation with the forwarding agents should always be in focus, which is why it was clear that a collaboration software is needed that extends the classic Time slot management even further.
An effective Time slot management can make the work of both the manufacturing industry and the logistics service providers and forwarders involved easier. The best possible coordination of loading and unloading processes is necessary to ensure timely supply of production and thus punctual delivery of finished products to end customers.
In order to make logistics more collaborative and efficient, TradeLink has set itself the task of filling the gaps in the existing systems. Since the handling of the conventional Time slot management systems is sometimes an obstacle for employees and partners, TradeLink was developed in such a way that the operation of the tool is very simple and self-explanatory. In addition, care is taken to ensure that the settlement process is also as simple as possible for partners, helping them to work more efficiently. A high-performance bidirectional API connection supports this.
You can read more about the differences to conventional Time slot management systems here: https://www.tradelink.co/tradelink-versus-time slot
Once contact was established between ebm-papst Landshut and TradeLink, the set-up was designed to create results as quickly as possible. The focus was also on the development of the platform and the input of Landshut's employees.
ebm-papst Landshut defined their requirements for the new platform. In collaboration with TradeLink's Customer Success Team and the project team, these were specified and implemented.
The TradeLink Check-In Terminal was created with ebm-papst Landshut and used directly at ebm-papst Landshut. In cooperation, the person-free check-in was developed in 21 languages for the Drivers . This represents an enormous relief for the information exchange with the Drivers from the most different countries of origin. In addition, a pager system was used to inform the Drivers specifically about information such as ramp assignment.
First, ebm-papst Landshut's partners tested the platform's functions. Three in-house forwarding agents were brought on board for this purpose. The feedback was very positive:
- The forwarders were satisfied
- Communication to forwarding agents was reduced -> more efficient communication
- Better coordination with subcontractors
- A fast, efficient and transparent platform
- Very good and fast support for questions
Good collaboration is a prerequisite for a promising switch between two systems and an increase in satisfaction along the entire supply chain. That is why the positive feedback from the partners was so important for further collaboration.
In January 2022, the complete switch to TradeLink took place, in which all other freight forwarders were also included. Internal departments such as sales, purchasing and material planning were also quickly familiarized with the platform in order to be able to extract information from it independently.
By using TradeLink, the logistic processes in inbound and outbound have been made more transparent. Among other things, it is now possible to track how long the loading of the trucks takes on average. Processes such as load securing protocols or the storage of external driver instruction are handled via TradeLink. In addition, supplier reporting is possible and personnel deployment planning can be simplified.
"TradeLink has helped us not only in the logistical processes. Thanks to the platform, our processes have become leaner and more efficient, greatly reducing internal communication. The new system not only maps our requirements, but also those of our partners."
- Christian Stamp (Logistics Manager, ebm-papst Landshut)
Communication with the forwarding agents could be reduced by approx. 80 % through TradeLink, since, for example, a change in a delivery can be corrected directly on the platform and the information is automatically communicated to the correspondingly stored delivery partners.
According to ebm-papst Landshut, internal communication between departments has been minimized by using TradeLink. In addition, all stored data can be called up and processed by internal Users , which has led to a reduction in queries regarding deliveries and collections by around 50%.
TradeLink provides ebm-papst Landshut with a central communication platform that can be used to map a wide range of logistics requirements. Forwarders and partners appreciate the free use of the portal and can carry out bookings independently. Functions requested by ebm-papst Landshut are, for example, an SAP connection, track & trace and the adjustment of status points. Connections for other ebm-papst Heating locations are being planned.
TradeLink stands for further development and the whole team is working daily to use the platform to make cooperation in logistics more collaborative and transparent
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