Unified Load Tracking Platform for Cross-System Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing freight shipments within a supply chain is challenging due to the use of multiple software tools with different user interfaces and identifiers, leading to difficulties in determining load status and arranging alternate carriers, especially when contracted carriers decline loads or offer higher prices.
Innovation Solution
A unified load tracking computing platform aggregates information from multiple supply chain management systems using a single user interface, incorporating an edge layer API, load board, and movement ID service to automate load tracking, bidding, and tendering processes, providing real-time visibility and alerts across different systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate software tools are used to manage different supply chain operations, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but the complexity of managing multiple systems increases and information aggregation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate supply chain management systems (transportation management, warehouse management, inventory management) into a single unified platform. This unified system aggregates information from all subsystems through a common user interface, eliminating the need to manually access multiple separate applications while maintaining the functional optimization of each subsystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified platform serves multiple functions simultaneously - it manages transportation, warehouse operations, inventory tracking, and load monitoring through a single system. The platform provides universal access to all supply chain data through one interface, replacing the need for separate specialized tools while maintaining optimized functionality for each operation type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different identifiers are used across different systems to track items and loads, then each system can use its own tracking methodology, but the difficulty of determining load status across systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unified platform acts as an intermediary that translates and correlates identifiers from different source systems. It maintains relationships between various tracking identifiers (load IDs, shipment IDs, invoice IDs) and provides a unified view of load status by aggregating information from all systems using their respective identifiers without requiring a single standardized identifier across all systems.
3Ease of operation
If manual contact with carriers is required to determine shipment status, then flexibility in communication methods is maintained, but the time and effort required to track loads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service load tracking where shipment status information is automatically retrieved and updated from carrier systems and other supply chain systems. Users can query load status through the unified interface without manual carrier contact, while the system automatically aggregates and presents the information, maintaining operational flexibility while eliminating time-consuming manual processes.
4Reliability
If contracted carriers are used for shipping, then reliable carrier relationships are established, but the ability to secure capacity when carriers decline loads decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform provides dynamic carrier selection capabilities that allow organizations to switch between contracted carriers and alternative carriers based on real-time capacity and pricing conditions. The system can automatically evaluate available carriers and facilitate rapid reassignment of loads when contracted carriers decline, maintaining reliable carrier relationships while providing flexibility to secure capacity when needed.
5Adaptability or versatility
If spot market auctions are used to secure alternate carriers, then capacity can be obtained when contracted carriers are unavailable, but the price variability and bidding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automated self-service auction management that handles the complexity of spot market bidding processes. It automatically posts loads to load boards, receives and evaluates bids, and secures capacity through the auction process without requiring manual intervention. This maintains the adaptability to secure alternate carriers while eliminating the complexity of manual auction management.
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and methods described herein relate to managing transportation of loads of items within a retail supply chain. A unified load tracking system aggregates information from multiple supply chain computing systems for presentation on a user interface accessible by multiple users. One user interface provide access to a multitude of information that is interconnected by a common, unique identifier for each movement of a load between an origin and destination. A load board is also provided which automates the spot market auction process and load tender process between carriers and a retail enterprise transportation management system.