BDP offers retail-oriented execution web apps

The logistics provider has begun introducing vertical-specific carve-outs of its visibility and transportation technology suites, with new tracking and dashboard tools for retailers.    The third-party logistics services provider BDP International said this week it has begun creating vertical-specific carve-outs of its technology tools for shipment management and monitoring.
   The Philadelphia-based company specifically noted, Smart Retail, an expansion to its foundational Smart Suite web application array that focuses on greater visibility and execution for retailers and consumer products companies.
   “Smart Retail is a customized experience within BDP Smart Suite for our retail and consumer customers that focuses on what matters most to this business segment,” said Ken Wensel, BDP senior vice president of global sales. “For example, retail customers can follow the cost drivers, the inventory levels and the transportation visibility, from an SKU level all the way up to a carrier level.”
   The retail suite is intended to allow shippers to “visualize their logistics process and provides performance measurement reports configurable to users’ requirements,” the company said.
   BDP has similar targeted products for its chemical and life sciences customer verticals.
   The retail suite has a dashboard and maps that give users a breakdown of transportation mode usage each month, cube and weight utilization, port of arrival date vs. customs clearance date, and customs release date vs. door delivery date.
   Expanded tracking options also allow BDP Smart Suite users to select multiple manufacturing plants in their tracking filter.
   In terms of reporting, BDP said the retail-oriented suite generates graphs that look and feel the same as what customers currently experience on the Smart Suite’ dashboard page.
   “Users will also notice a quicker generation of metrics and reporting material as a result of Qlik software that will now be utilized in BDP Smart Suite,” the company said.