The need to implement visibility and exception management systems to track containers not moving as planned is critical to the integrity of the supply chain. These systems alert shippers when ocean shipments have stalled so that they can intervene to redirect stock from another location or shipment. “But for these visibility applications to be effective, the quality of the data being fed into the system must be at a high level,” says a spokesman for INTTRA, the global multi-carrier e-commerce shipping platform. “The data must be timely, complete and accurate to be effective. When visibility solutions are used in conjunction with quality data, they are powerful tools capable of benefiting all trading partners and the end user.” INTTRA recently announced the availability of Idle Container Management (ICM) – an exception management visibility tool with alerts for containers that have exceeded the time allotted for specific events. ICM – which is web-based and free to users – allows shippers to manage outbound and inbound ocean shipments. Shippers set alarms for shipment milestones throughout the ocean supply chain – time to gate in, time to vessel load, time to gate out, and time to empty return – to quickly find and prioritise potential problem shipments. Over the past two years, INTTRA has collaborated with ocean carriers to establish data quality standards, creating processes and controls to ensure consistent, timely, and accurate shipment data. This data quality initiative also included identifying and improving potential data quality issues. “Over this period, data quality improved by close to 20% and tracking of data quality averages rose to over 90%,” the spokesman told FTW. “The value of supply chain visibility tools, such as INTTRA’s ICM, increases significantly if the data being analysed is accurate and timely and is in real-time, providing for better decision support and exception management. ” INTTRA believes it is is uniquely positioned to provide powerful information-sharing solutions due to its vast multi-carrier standardised data stream. Its network includes Safmarine, Alianca, ANL, CCL, CMA CGM, CSAV, CSAV NORASIA, Deutsche Afrika-Linien, Emirates Shipping Line, Hamburg Sud, Hanjin Shipping Co., Hapag- Lloyd, “K” Line, Libra, Maersk Line, MCC Transport, MISC, Mitsui OSK Lines, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, NYK Line, Senator Lines and United Arab Shipping Company. With an online exception alerts visibility tool, shippers can quickly send notification to their supply chain partners to meet critical deadlines, advancing collaboration and driving efficiencies for all parties. “These business performance improvements reduce unplanned costs, as well as increase a shipper’s competitive advantage and customer satisfaction.”
