Moving toward data capture over the internet

LOGISTICS AND warehousing software has gradually evolved from simple stock control systems to today’s sophisticated logistics systems, with globally integrated communication facilities, says Anthea van Breemen of Macro 2000.
The basics of receiving goods into a warehouse, tracking them through the warehouse by location and batch, then issuing and charging for services, are all commonplace and handled by all good management systems.
This was followed by bar-coded labels, with scanning via hand-held scanners.
The next step was interfacing customers’ information with their logistics provider’s systems, and interfacing all the steps of the logistics provider’s supply chain.
“Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) became commonplace and information was transmitted electronically, between all the links of the supply chain,” says Van Breemen.
“For example, details of goods dispatched may be sent to the receiving warehouses before the goods arrive.”
This resulted in goods receipt becoming much more efficient, with immediate discrepancy reports. All documentation was e-mailed between companies, she added.
But as companies became accustomed to using EDI, the Internet became more appealing. “This enabled logistics companies to offer their customers a secure logon to the Internet to view their own stock and availability.
“As confidence grows in the Internet and integrity of the data available, logistics companies are moving toward data capture over the internet. “They now offer customers the ability to place call offs of their goods, and even delivery with and invoice to their customers, all on their own letterheads, “ she said.
“It’s all a matter of better service first and cost control second,” she points out. “If your competitor is doing it, you should have done it earlier.”