One of the most powerful features of a globe-spanning transportation management system (TMS) is the ability to customize solutions to local market conditions. But the opposite is also true; a global TMS is a highly effective vehicle for implementing the same best practices across regions.

Users of the technology can have it both ways because managing cargo flows internationally requires tailored as well as standard logistics solutions.  Read More…

Albert Einstein is quoted as saying: “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”  The quote can be re-phrased as follows to describe managing supply chains in China: “Insanity is managing your supply chain the same way in every region, over and over again, but expecting the same results.”

As we manage through these challenging economic times, companies that never (truly) focused on emerging markets for growth are now looking to China. Even those companies that are well established in China are reinforcing their presence in the country.   Read More…

Lots of things deteriorate with time, the freshness of food, athletic performance, and human memory, for example. And according to research sponsored by C. H. Robinson and carried out by the Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems, Iowa State University, another item can be added to the list: truck load (TL) freight rates.

The research, described in a recently published white paper, looked at rate information on contract TL loads hauled 250 miles or more and tendered during the years 2008 to 2010. The data cover about 700,000 records in all. Every move was processed by the same transportation management system to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison in the analysis. Read More…