nVision Global recognized as Top 100 IT Logistics Providers by Inbound Logistics for the Sixth Consecutive Year.

Every April, Inbound Logistics editors recognize 100 logistics IT companies that support and enable logistics excellence. Drawing from a pool of more than 300 contenders using questionnaires, personal interviews, and other research, Inbound Logistics selected the Top 100 Logistics IT Providers who are leading the way in 2010. Editors sought to match readers' fast-changing needs to the capabilities of those companies selected. All companies selected reflect leadership by answering Inbound Logistics readers' needs for simplicity, ROI, and efficient implementation.

Felecia Stratton, Editor of Inbound Logistics notes that when choosing this year’s Top 100 Logistics IT Providers, Inbound Logistics editors looked at excellence in solving transportation and logistics challenges at a higher, more strategic level. Selections were based on how transformative logistics IT solutions impact all business activities and drive integration across internal processes as well as external processes for vendors and customers. nVision Global was selected for a sixth consecutive year because it offers solutions aimed at solving specific logistics challenges and improving processes, thus creating a ripple effect of efficiencies across the entire value chain. Inbound Logistics is proud to honor nVision Global for innovative solutions empowering logistics and supply chain excellence.

As we progress through 2010, nVision Global will continue to expand its efforts to provide innovative, value-creating technologies that will help our customers streamline and optimize their global supply chains.

About Inbound Logistics

Inbound Logistics is the pioneering publication of demand-driven logistics practices, also known as supply chain management. IL’s educational mission is to guide businesses to efficiently manage logistics, reduce and speed inventory, and neutralize transportation cost increases by aligning supply to demand and adjusting enterprise functions to support that paradigm shift. More information about demand-driven logistics practices is available at www.inboundlogistics.com

(to view the Press Release on nVision's site, please click here)

Transportation Management Software

iProcurement: nVision Global's freight bid management software offers a full-service platform for all modes of transportation.

iShipStatus: Easily track shipments through EDI updates with this transportation management software.

iClaims : Have loss and damage claims? Streamline your businesses' freight claim process with this module.

For more information on our software and freight audit services, please visit our website or contact us at 770-474-4122.

The Hines Story

Mr. Hines, the owner of the Hines Lumber Company recently had to fill a top executive position. Two of his managers with equal experience were considered but the choice went to the man who had fewer years with the company. Upon learning of the promotion the other man asked Mr. Hines why he wasn't the one selected. Instead of answering him Mr. Hines asked him if any lumber had come in that day. The man said he would check and a few minutes later reported that a carload had arrived that morning. Mr. Hines then wanted to know the type of lumber. After again checking, the manager told him it was number 6 pine. Mr. Hines then asked the man how many board feet were in the order. Again leaving the room to check he returned shortly with the answer of 3500 board feet. This type of questioning went on for several minutes and then Mr. Hines asked the man to sit in the next room, leaving the door ajar so he could still hear.

Mr. Hines then called to the manager who had been promoted and asked him if any lumber had arrived that day. The manager said he would check and in a few minutes he returned with the following answer. A carload of number 6 pine had come in on track three at 9:30 A.M. and totaled 3500 board feet. The lumber was unloaded by 2:00 P.M. and stored in warehouse number 18. It was order number 65-03 for the Williams Company and its total value was $16,352.00.

Mr. Hines thanked the man and said he could go. After the second man left Mr. Hines called in the first manager who had heard the entire conversation. The first manager said he knows now why the other man had been promoted instead of himself.

Read The Hines Story on nVision's website.

nVision iProcurement

Utilizing our proprietary Online Freight Bid management application, nVision provides global freight bidding services to deliver competitive rates from a vast number of qualified carriers worldwide.

nVision provides a full scale freight bid platform supporting all modes of transportation. nVision's “Bid Services” offers a suite of four freight bid services specifically designed to reduce workload, increase market visibility and support the decision-making process through nVision's advanced optimization and allocation tools.

Supply chain: "Diagnosing Greatness: Ten Traits of the Best Supply Chains" hits the book stores Recently published book uses case studies to highlight

Lorie King Rogers, Associate Editor -- Logistics Management, 1/27/2010

It's no coincidence that industry leaders share common traits that set them apart from the competition. In the recently published "Diagnosing Greatness: Ten Traits of the Best Supply Chains," authors Frank Quinn, chief editor of LM's sister publication Supply Chain Management Review (SCMR), Chuck Poirier of CSC Consulting and Morgan Swink of Michigan State University, highlight 10 common denominators of successful supply chains.

These traits, which range from close collaboration with key business partners to superior logistics execution, are detailed in depth in this new book. The authors explain how these traits of excellence translate directly to higher revenues and lower operating costs. They also present a series of case studies that show how the leaders have put the traits into action. A valuable glossary of supply chain terms rounds out Diagnosing Greatness.

Quinn said in an interview that a series of annual studies conducted by SCMR triggered the idea for the book. He said that for the past several years SCMR had been surveying supply chain practitioners to identify a number of key business practices. The 8-page survey asked for feedback in a number of areas, including management processes, strategic mission with regard to supply chain issues, and the impact of supply chain initiatives on cutting costs and generating revenue.

"For the first couple of years, we reported the results," Quinn said, "But then we started to see patterns and make correlations between organization initiatives and how effectively the supply chain was able to cut costs and increase revenue."

Top 10 traits of the best supply chains include:
1-Sound supply chain strategy supported by solid leadership
2-Intense focus on financial metrics
3-Commitment to innovation and process improvement
4-Close collaboration with selected partners
5-Superior strategic sourcing
6-Excellence in logistics execution
7-Proficiency in planning and responsiveness
8-High customer integration and satisfaction
9-Ability to anticipate and manage risk
10-Globally optimized operations

When asked how these traits resonate within the materials handling industry, Quinn explained that "Materials handling is part of a broader concept known as supply chain management. These traits span all industries. They are broad principles, some very intuitive, that will contribute to the success of any business. This book is a culmination of seven years of research in the global survey of supply chain progress. We're proud of the final product and think that it's a worthwhile addition to the body of today's supply chain literature."

Transportation Management's Role in Supply Chain Excellence

At the turn on the new year, it will be important to face new concepts and challenges with transportation management. Services offered nVision help you enhance current processes with the simplest, best solutions out there. We understand how important it is to have seasoned professions that can help you streamline your supply chain. For more information on our logistics management software, please visit the nVision Global website.

To help put the changing roles in transportation management into perspective, we found an great article on Logistics Management. Let nVision Global simplify the five "personified" roles. Working hand-and-hand with you, we can work to contribute to the supply chain excellence this article talks about!

Transportation management's role in the new supply chain

-- Logistics Management, 12/1/2009

Historically, logistics and supply chain professionals excelled at managing the core components of transportation, including truck routing and the sourcing of air contracts; yet few of them understood the direct and indirect impact transportation management has on other parts of a business.

That's all changed. These days, it's imperative that logistics professionals gain a comprehensive understanding of how transportation management affects all areas of a company—from business strategy to finance, sales to service—in order to develop a supply chain that drives value to the bottom line.

In this session, Albert Lo and Dan Albright of Capgemini ask attendees to take the first step in that direction. “Few shippers first grasp the holistic approach to transportation management,” says Albright. “They understand the components, but they don't know how transportation management fits into the performance of the entire organization.”

To help break down those barriers, Lo and Albright introduced attendees to the five “personified” roles of transportation management: The Service Representative (by managing risk of service interruptions); The Gymnast (driving value through innovative programs); The Bouncer (protecting cargo from increasing risk of theft); The Environmentalist (adopting leading supply chain practices); and the Financial Analyst (promoting lean practices to cut waste and drive value).

“Performing these roles will allow the transportation management function to contribute to overall supply chain excellence,” says Albright, who calls supply chain excellence an “ever-changing” goal that companies must strive to achieve. “As customer requirements, infrastructure, and technology change, so too do the requirements to achieve supply chain excellence.”

To view article please click here.

Ocean shipping/Global Logstics: Port Tracker report calls for positive growth in early 2010

WASHINGTON-Even though import cargo volumes at major U.S. container ports has been down year-over-year for 27 consecutive months through September, there is a chance these volumes may shift towards year-over-year increases in early 2010, according to the monthly Port Tracker report from IHS Global Insight and the National Retail Federation.

While a change in direction regarding the volumes is possible, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said in a statement that while there is not yet enough data to establish a clear trend, he is hopeful a recovery is coming.

According to Port Tracker data, U.S. ports included in this report handled 1.14 Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in September, which fell short of August's 1.17 million TEU. Despite the sequential decline, September was the fifth straight month to surpass the one million container mark. September was down 16 percent year-over-year.

Port trade forecasts in the report cover all containerized trade, not just retail goods, according to IHS Global Insight and the NRF. The ports selected for coverage are those considered most important to retailers, but, for reasons of monitoring the potential for overall congestion in the system, the organizations look at containerized imports, including business-to-business shipments of items like components used in manufacturing or other wholesale goods.

The ports surveyed in the report include: Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle, New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, and Savannah.

As has been the case with other freight transportation modes, the healthier year-over-year volume comparisons being projected may have more to do with the economy tumbling this time a year rather than true economic growth and recovery.

IHS Global Insight Economist Paul Bingham told LM that fundamentally the retail volume turning positive is a sign of the recovery, albeit a weak one.

"Year-over-year comparisons get easier from now on for 2010 vs. 2009 as opposed to most of this year versus 2008, especially during the period before the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent sharp drop off in trade volumes that followed," said Bingham. "For shippers, the takeaways are that volumes are still weak, and though the upswing continues, the seasonal pattern continues with monthly volume declines in winter post-peak season."

While holiday shopping has the potential to portend an uptick in consumer spending, Bingham said this is an example of the month-to-month seasonal trend at work, with spring uptick following the trough in slow season in February happening every year.

"There is no sign of strong holiday consumer spending, and retailers have tried to be careful to try to balance still-weak sales against the desire to not suffer stock outs of those items that are selling this season," said Bingham. "Inventories are still lean. Retail port volume growth will likely remain soft as retailers will wait until next year to take inventories to high levels as the pent up consumer demand starts to show up in store sales."

Read the rest of the logisticsmgmt.com article here.