Trek cycles toward trade automation

The bicycle and cycling product manufacturer and distributer selected a range of trade and logistics automation products from software maker Amber Road.    The bicycle and cycling product manufacturer and distributor Trek Bikes has selected a range of trade and logistics automation products from software maker Amber Road, the companies said Thursday.
   Trek’s bicycles and cycling products are sold via 5,000 independently-owned retail locations in more than 90 countries across North and South America, Europe and Asia.
   The company was seeking to automate its global supply chain, shipping and product classification processes. Trek especially needed a unified platform for visibility into its supply chain milestone activities to combat high demurrage and detention fees, to minimize in-transit inventories and shorten transit times.
   Roger Gierhart, Trek vice president of supply chain, said he anticipates a reduced reliance on expedited courier shipments, lowered freight expenses and more effectively management of landed costs.
   Gierhart said Trek is focusing on improved supplier productivity, coordination and management of confirmed orders throughout the purchasing cycle by using Amber Road’s supplier portal.
   Trek will also use Amber Road’s cloud-based software to centralize ocean rate procurement to comparison shop and consolidate orders and containers.
   From a trade compliance perspective, Trek will use Amber Road’s Global Product Master, which provides access to product classification information. Trek will use Amber Road’s automated ISF filing product.