Significant IT benefits flow from new logistics alliance

A track and trace system that offers complete visibility of shipments from beginning to end, from anywhere in the world is now available to Turners Shipping customers through an easy-to-use Webbased interface. This follows the recently concluded alliance between Turners and BDP International. The BDP SmartTracking module allows the user to view the progress of the order from the time it is received through the actual discharge of the cargo, all in real time, says Turners’ national operations director, Blain Kondiah. “Everyone involved in a transaction has access – shippers, consignees, carriers, Customs clearance agents, and third-party providers worldwide – enabling better communication and documentation throughout the process.” It’s all part and parcel of the added-value benefits that have flowed from the alliance, he said. “Another important feature of the system is SmartDocs. Also web-enabled, it provides an easy way to generate, deliver and manage all the documentation involved with international shipments from insurance memos and dock receipts to certificates of origin and Customs invoices.” There are several other applications, says Kondiah – from SmartMetrics which allows clients to access a warehouse of stored data and run and download a variety of relevant financial, operational and performance reports, to SmartAlerts which allows users to set up personalised notification lists to receive alerts for any status update. According to Kondiah, Turners Shipping clients also have access to BDP Smart Vu application, launched in 2009, which expands on the capabilities of the web-based system. “It integrates in the clients’ own IT systems and provides procurement and inbound logistics managers with unparalleled visibility of each milestone in the life cycle of a purchase order,’ he said.