CargoSmart releases shipment delay alert tool

   The global on-demand shipping and logistics software developer CargoSmart said Tuesday it has released a new tool that allows customers to be alerted about cargo delays.
   The tool, VisibilitySmart, sends daily, early notifications of potential delays to shippers and logistics service providers. It also allows them to measure their carriers’ on-time performance and delay reasons with monthly scorecards.
   CargoSmart said it has found that on average 95 percent of shipments arrive on time, while 5 percent have a delay that can have costly consequences. Terminal congestion, labor strikes, weather problems, or lack of space on a vessel can all cause cargo delays that can disrupt supply chain plans. Late cargo can mean chargebacks if merchandise does not arrive by a sale date, factory shutdowns if parts are not available, or even spoiled goods if the cargo is delayed too long, the company said.
   “CargoSmart’s early notifications of delays help shippers identify shipments that need urgent attention while they are still in transit,” said Graham Collins, CargoSmart director of sales and services. “VisibilitySmart lets shippers begin working with their carriers as soon as potential delays are detected, providing them with more time to adjust their downstream operations.”
   VisibilitySmart monitors and analyzes live vessel data through the Automated Identification System (AIS), sailing schedules, historical route patterns, and shipment plans to anticipate delays. It offers coverage of 21 carriers, 3,500 vessels, and 800 ports. The new solution monitors three types of delays: skipped ports of call, missed transshipments, and late arrivals. The system provides a daily e-mail with shipment delay summaries and a monthly scorecard.
   The tool was piloted in trials in October and November. CargoSmart is offering a free trial period of VisibilitySmart, beginning in January 2013, which includes a daily e-mail of shipment delays and a carrier scorecard at the end of one month. CargoSmart also publishes a free monthly e-newsletter about cargo delays, Innovations, and maintains a blog for the industry to share information about delays they are experiencing. – Eric Johnson