Take control of the supply chain

Efficient supply chains with transparent and reliable logistics partners are essential for automotive manufacturers. In today’s market, demands are changing and increasing rapidly, products are smarter and more personalized, and product life cycles are getting shorter.

Manufacturers are faced with the challenge of increasing production — and producing more complex products — in a shorter time. To stay on track, manufacturers are looking for greater control over their supply chains and visibility into logistics: inbound, outbound and within the plant.

They rely heavily on suppliers and logistics providers for the raw materials and parts required for a planned production schedule. If an order is late, manufacturers can’t finish production on time.

Transparency of supply chain processes is key, as manufacturers require real-time information about when a truck will arrive, what routes it is following, whether those are the optimal routes, and what time the truck should leave the original location to arrive on time at the destination.

Gaining greater control of the supply chain is not a simple thing. In most cases, the supply chain involves many different suppliers, transporters and logistics companies. Not all of them are working under the same contract, so manufacturers have multiple contracts to manage.

The Evertracker approach

How do you solve the transparency problem and give manufacturers control over the supply chain? One way is to better track data from supply chain partners. That is why startup Evertracker created a platform to control supply chains and logistics processes to support car manufacturers.

DXC Technology sponsored Evertracker so it could participate at Startup Autobahn, one of Europe’s largest innovation centers.

Evertracker’s platform uses real-time, trackable data from supply chains. Any device placed on pallets, trucks or containers that can send location data in real time can be connected to the platform.

The platform then uses algorithms that learn and understand process orders in the supply chain and logistics. This allows the manufacturer to see how an order moves from one point to another and what the estimated delivery time is. With these data insights, manufacturers can predict arrival times and detect delays or deviations. Already integrated with various data sources, the platform can monitor nearly every freight train in Europe.

The same concept applies to all internet of things (IoT) devices with which this platform is already connected. For example, if parts come from China and go to Europe, the platform tracks the data associated with the delivery package. As soon as the system detects a delay, the manufacturer is informed. 

Not only can the platform detect a delay, but it can also determine the cause of the delay — whether the problem was caused by the supply chain partner or another reason, such as heavy traffic. This helps manufacturers determine how to react in time and whom to call if problems arise.

In short, the Evertracker platform allows processes in logistics to be qualified: This means that the platform can be used to detect whether a process has been executed as agreed with the customer. 

This feature is also useful for billing, accounting and quality management. Currently, most contracts and payment slips are still in paper form, and there is no instrument that summarizes the quality of all deliveries. The goal is for the accounting department to have an immediate overview of the delivery quality and process payments accordingly.

In the past, the quality of processes has usually been checked manually. For example, customers sign a paper for the logistics service provider acknowledging they have received the goods. Logistics service providers testify they have picked up the goods on time, followed the routes or delivered to the right location.

SAP integration

Evertracker can automate this quality control through an intelligent analysis of the processes. DXC provides an interface that directly integrates the information generated by Evertracker into an SAP system.

This allows manufacturers to simplify accounting and save time and money. It allows them to determine whether a shipment has been delayed due to traffic, so that a logistics service provider may not have to pay a delay fee. If the delay is due to a delayed start of the truck or an unplanned stop, a delay fee may apply.

DXC and Evertracker are now partnering to connect Evertracker’s platform directly to accounting systems to qualify a supply chain process for further billing, accounting and control.

More control, transparency and on-time delivery are just some of the benefits of Evertracker’s platform. Greater control over the supply chain means reducing the risk of production delays. By integrating the platform into accounting systems — as DXC and Evertracker have done — payment processes based on delivery quality can now be automated.

It is a win-win situation for all, as it can increase the efficiency of the supply chain and provide an incentive for suppliers and logistics partners to provide better-quality services.

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