To help organisations increase the efficiency of global supply chains, Oracle is adding logistics capabilities to its Fusion Cloud Supply Chain & Manufacturing (SCM) software.

The updates to Oracle OTM transportation management and GTM global trade management, parts of SCM can help users reduce costs, improve accuracy, automate regulatory compliance and enhance logistics flexibility.

Logistics specialists are overwhelmed with a recent build-up of port and shipping delays, fluctuating fuel costs, and evolving trade regulations while being at the forefront of efforts to reduce carbon emissions of goods in transit. Organisations that don’t have flexible and responsive logistics processes in place often end up passing these delays and costs onto their customers.

“The last few years tested the flexibility of global logistics operations and many organisations have struggled to keep pace with the changing market,” said Derek Gittoes, vice president at Oracle. “With Oracle Transportation Management and Global Trade Management, organisations can rapidly adapt to changes in their supply chain and logistics network. Oracle’s self-updating platform gives customers access to continuous innovation, as new features are added every 90 days without business disruption.”

The added capabilities include:

• Automated trade agreement qualification: Helps users validate certificate of origin, reduce tariffs and enter new markets. With a deep view into the bill of materials, trade agreement qualification enables users to comply with labour regulations and prove where goods were produced via auditable records.
• Logistics digital assistant capabilities: Allowusers to gain insight into the status of their shipments with simple voice commands. With the embedded logistics digital assistant, users can quickly find answers to their questions.
• Enhanced workbenches: Allow users to combine data from multiple sources into a single view to streamline operations and enhance decision making. New templates for driver management, dock scheduling, work assignments, shipment, spot bids and restricted party screening enable users to manage specific logistics processes more efficiently.
• Transportation management mobile app: Enables users to send assignments to drivers, capture arrival and departure events, and communicate in-transit status and location information. The configurable and intuitive app synchronises offline app data and allows users to execute tasks efficiently no matter where they are.
• ETA predictions with machine learning: Provide real-time updates and shipment tracking to create accurate predictions for arrival times based on a user’s unique business operations. With more accurate ETA predictions, users can take quick action to reroute shipments to enhance operational efficiency.

“1-800-Flowers has a very complex supply chain and transportation plan with our focus on high end gifting, and a strategic priority to deliver an unparalleled customer experience through operational excellence,” said Don La France, vice president of 1-800-Flowers. “Our goals were standardisation, scaling capabilities, cost savings, visibility and reporting. After some discovery, we quickly decided on Oracle for transportation management and warehouse management. We were able to stand up OTM on our largest brand in 12 weeks, improved our proactivity, and gave our teams the visibility needed to drive greater on-time performance. We are very happy with our choice and our decision has been validated by our results many times over.”

Oracle Cloud SCM helps organisations seamlessly connect supply chain processes and quickly respond to changing demand, supply and market conditions. With new features added every quarter, Cloud SCM can help users create a resilient supply network and processes that outpace change.