APL Logistics offers shipment planning tool

   APL Logistics on Wednesday unveiled a new shipment planning platform aimed at changing the way large freight buyers coordinate their transportation activities.
   The company’s ShipmentOptimizer will allow shippers to generate the best shipment plan according to three variables:

• Cargo arriving at final destination on the preferred date.
• Maximization of space and load utilization.
• Minimization of overall transportation costs on a door-to-door basis.

   “This technology innovation allows global shippers to advance their allocation decisions,” said Jim McAdam, president of APL Logistics. “They are now better empowered to ship more efficiently and accurately, meeting critical in-store or planned delivery requirements.”
   APL Logistics rolled out the product with a major sportswear brand last November and has started deploying the system with two other international apparel makers, the company said.
   The products trimmed the shipment planning process for a pilot customer from two days to 90 minutes, APL Logistics said.
   “ShipmentOptimizer integrates a Web-based shipment planning and optimization tool with APL Logistics’ supply chain expertise and technology applications,” the company said. “Given the shipper’s unique preferences, requirements and constraints, all possible combinations of shipment flows, modes, routes and cargoes are duly considered before the ideal plan is recommended. The optimal plan is continually updated as assumptions or conditions change, relying on real-time data fed by other applications in APL Logistics’ technology suite.
   “ShipmentOptimizer gives the shipper greater control over its product flow. This is because the platform has the ability to forecast shipment schedules, support collaboration among the shipper’s supply chain partners and automatically flag any deviation from plan,” the company said.