'Systems integration is critical'

Information technology has fast become the essential enabler of effective supply chains. And it’s not only about having the best systems in place – it’s the integration of systems that plays a significant role, says Nachi Mendelow, national business development manager of CompuClearing. “The truth is, we no longer move cargo, we move information,” says Mendelow. “Bookings need to be made, EDI messages need to be sent, customs responses received and so on and so forth. Therefore, as long as one’s information supply chain is efficient and all parties receive all messages and information timeously, then your physical supply chain should also be efficient,” he told FTW. “We like to partner with our customer to design information supply chains that meet their physical supply chain requirements. Not everything is applicable to everyone and designing a system around individual needs is far more efficient in the long run.” He believes that full system integration is just as important. “This allows for visibility across the complete supply chain and removes the need to recapture data. It not only increases efficiency but more importantly it reduces errors while providing better control and visibility.” Mendelow, CompuClearing has invested heavily in the latest cloud technologies. “This allows our users to access our systems from anywhere in the world with nothing more than an Internet connection. Using web services we can interface with practically any system.” INSERT & CAPTION We like to partner with our customer to design information supply chains that meet their physical supply chain requirements. – Nachi Mendelow