Our last blog discussed the challenges and potential solutions to supply chain inefficiencies. We touched on the importance of data communication, track & trace, visibility, and optimization possibilities with automated Freight Audit & Payment processes to shed more light on the future of digital solutions within finished vehicle logistics.

Our last article discussed supply chain inefficiencies and data standards challenges and combated this. This second article will discuss optimization possibilities utilizing the power of a seemingly exhausting administrative activity, the Freight Audit & Payment, and the future of digital solutions within finished vehicle logistics.

Optimization is a philosophy, not an end point. Logistics professionals should always strive to be more efficient and optimize every node in the supply chain. In our two-part series we discuss challenges to supply chain inefficiencies and data standards and how to combat this.

ICL Systems, the cornerstone of Vehicle Logistics Software in North America for 30 years, is now active on the European market, with BMW Germany as its first client. It will now provide carmakers across Europe with a comprehensive range of vehicle logistics management services, including asset tracking, invoice auditing for OEMs, and business analytics. 

Leveraging the collective real-world experience of the ICL management team, our solutions are designed from the customer’s perspective.

Over the last twenty-plus years, a common topic of discussion within Finished Vehicle Logistics has been "Do you have good visibility of your vehicles?"

An accurate ETA to dealer has always been the shared goal between LSPs, OEMs, and dealers. Still, with an increased percentage of vehicles sold before shipping and dealers expecting Amazon-like service, the industry needs to redefine information sharing for final mile delivery. In our group session, we discussed what solutions the FVL sector could deliver on consumer-like expectations, including the appetite for sharing last-mile information and potential benefits of the new data points for all parties. 

Reducing #CO2 is becoming an increasingly important KPI for the sector. Still, cost ranked as the #1 concern by #OEMs and LSPs, and from our research, Supply Chain Visibility is the biggest challenge heading into 2022.

 Check out our highlights from Jeff Dzierbicki's talk from #ALSCLive on how we plan to takle this. 

In the early 2000s, the concept of “Order to Delivery” was touted as the Next Big Thing in the automotive industry. As more consumers across the US get more selective with what vehicles they want to drive, we dive into a quick history on Order for Delivery, its risks, and impact on Supply Chain Visibility, as well as how this will shape the future for buying a vehicle.
 

As OEMs pursue ambitious GHG emissions reduction targets, suppliers, automotive manufacturers and logistics service providers must work together to balance lower emissions with other relevant KPIs such as delivery times and costs. Finished vehicle logistics will play an essential role in achieving these goals and measures to tackle emissions. In Europe and the USA, the logistics transport sector is responsible for more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the emissions come from road traffic (71%). Only the energy and heat generation sector produces more significant amounts of emissions.

Like every great company, ICL started with the vision; to be recognized as the industry leader in product visibility and invoice-auditing solutions throughout the logistics supply chain. The only question we had to ask ourselves is will it work? Leaving our corporate jobs was a huge risk to take for a chance to work at ICL. Later that night, the bound plan in my hand, I repeatedly read through the business plan, and I was sold.
Fast forward 29 years, now an industry leader within Vehicle Logistics Management, all thanks to Patrick’s attention to detail.

In the EU and the US, the logistics transport sector is responsible for more than a quarter of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Only in the area of energy and heat generation do larger quantities of emissions arise. Using the example of the EU, the following graphic shows how GHG emissions are distributed among the various modes of logistics and transport.