Cope Sensitive Freight makes inroads to a smarter freight solution

Smart is...

Full integration between warehousing and transport, allowing an end-to-end distribution system and improved client service through a more rapid response and full range of on-line self-service capabilities.

Smarter Transportation: Profile of an intelligent transport system
Instrumented: Drivers are equipped with PDA devices where they can receive jobs directly on the run. Once on-site for delivery or pickup, the drivers scan label barcodes, which have been generated by the client using their web based interface, and capture signatures on their PDAs.

Interconnected:The system is used to transmit pickup and delivery details immediately out to the field. The relevant data is then sent back to the system from the PDA so that it can be viewed on-line by the client.

Intelligent: Rather than simply allocate the job to the nearest driver, though, the Omnix dispatch system, SendSmart, applies built-in logic, taking into consideration factors such as job priority and vehicle type/size requirements. Making it even easier for the drivers is the system’s intelligent filtering and resorting of their run, based on priority codes and location.


Established in 1989 and quickly becoming Australia’s largest independent specialist sensitive freight carrier, Cope Sensitive Freight owns and maintains an extensive national fleet of purpose-built vehicles. Catering to a large yet select group of clients, Cope is typically called on to manage the secure transport and warehousing of sensitive freight, which includes computers, ATMs, consumer electronic goods and gaming machines. In providing clients with a level of service expected of a national industry leader, Cope implemented a comprehensive distribution system based on an IBM Business Parnter’s transport solution running on an IBM System x server.

Looking to technology for a solution
During the early stages of Cope’s business, the company focused its investments in vehicles, personnel, infrastructure and bricks-and-mortar. In 2005, though, with a fleet numbering over 300 and demand for Cope’s specialist services growing rapidly, there was a major push to identify and implement a high-performance transport solution that would provide: on-line client self-service capabilities, warehouse and transport management integration, and mobility features through the use of ruggedized PDAs.

For Cope’s National Business Development Manager, Cliff Capiron, selecting the best possible solution meant evaluating six different companies and their proposed solutions. “We evaluated the people just as much as the solution,” he states. “Definitely, we needed a solution that would ensure we had the features to manage a nation-wide end-to-end distribution system. But it was seen as critical that the people who were behind the solution were able to work with us to ensure it was able to meet our needs, both now and well into the future. “From our perspective, Omnix and its transport management solution running on an IBM System x server was the single and most logical choice.”

An improved customer experience
Providing customers with a straightforward interface to the company was one of the first benefits realized by Cope by virtue of the Omnix solution. Using little more than a Web browser, customers are able to log in securely to the system and from there, book pickups, organize deliveries from stock held in any one of the Cope warehouses, verify stock location and quantities, and check on the status of any current delivery.

“For our customers,” Cliff says, “it boils down to having Cope serve almost as an integrated arm of their own businesses. By eliminating the paper-based systems along with the need to communicate via email or phone to check on the status of deliveries and stock, it’s now fully on-line.”

Interestingly, the integrated on-line Omnix model is saving Cope tens of thousands of dollars a year in software and related IT support costs alone. Cliff explains: “Under our previous system, we used a software package that was installed on a PC at each of our client’s premises. That meant having to maintain an IT support infrastructure or paying an external agent large amounts of money to manage those packages.

“Even then, the only real benefit of the product was that it gave the client the ability to print consignment notes and labels. In contrast, when a client makes a booking using Omnix, the details are automatically captured and our dispatch centre receives notification within a matter of seconds.”

That notification encompasses everything from pickup and delivery addresses through to volume and even value. With that information, as well as having the ability to pinpoint the current location of individual drivers via GPS, the dispatch centre can immediately allocate the pickup to most appropriate driver.

Taking it to the street
With drivers equipped with ruggedized PDAs, the Omnix system is used to transmit pickup and delivery details directly and immediately out to the field. Rather than simply allocate the job to the nearest driver, though, the Omnix dispatch system – SendSmart – applies builtin logic, taking into consideration factors such as job priority and vehicle type/size requirements.

From that point, the relevant driver is notified of the job via an on-screen and audible PDA alert, and all job details, including barcodes, consignment notes and addresses, automatically transmitted. Making it even easier for the drivers is the system’s intelligent filtering and resorting of their run, based on priority codes and location. “For the drivers, it means a more efficient use of their time,” Cliff explains, “by eliminating instances of backtracking and arriving at a pickup only to find their vehicle isn’t suitable for the job. And this, of course, also means our clients are receiving a more responsive service than we could ever before have managed.”

Once on-site for delivery or pickup, the drivers scan label barcodes, which have been generated by the client using their Web-based Omnix interface, and capture signatures on their PDAs. Immediately, the relevant data – including signature – is relayed back to Cope’s Omnix system where it enables almost instant invoicing or account update, and can be viewed on-line by the client.

Combining transport with warehousing
One of the major advantages of the Omnix solution for Cope is that it has been able to integrate warehouse management with its transport system, essentially introducing an end-to-end distribution solution. This is of particular importance given that many of the company’s clients rely on Cope to stage product at various locations in readiness for immediate delivery.

With Omnix, as soon as a consignment is delivered to a warehouse, it is immediately barcode scanned and the relevant details, such as client, quantity, product and location within the warehouse is stored in the Omnix back-end database. Clients can then go on-line and manage their product distribution just as if all the relevant processes were being carried out by their own internal resources.

“The entire solution is totally seamless,” Cliff says. “We have pushed aside the enormous number of problems that seem to go hand-in-hand with paper-based system, and introduced a model that is much more responsive to the logistic and business needs of our clients. And it’s a model that has given us across-the-business capabilities to continue along our growth path.

Why IBM?
Beyond the ruggedized PDAs and Omnix software, though, Cope management recognizes the inherent value of the IBM System x on which Omnix runs. “The fact that the solution runs on an IBM server was definitely taken note of during the evaluation stage,” Cliff states. “Given that one of our goals was to implement a solution that would minimize support requirements and provide full support to the business and our clients, the IBM server plays a critical role.

“In the 5 years we’ve been running Omnix and IBM, we’ve been consistently running an around-the-clock system to meet the needs of an around-the-clock business.”


Solution Components

Hardware

• IBM System x

Software

• IBM Informix® Dynamic Server Express
• IBM Websphere® Application Server Express

Services

• IBM Global Technology Services

For more information
Contact your IBM sales representative or IBM Business Partner.

Visit us at: ibm.com/au