Big Data Improves Shipping Supply Chain Sustainability, Visibility

Inttra, the world’s largest multi-carrier e-commerce network for ocean shipping, is launching three initiatives that it says will improve supply chain sustainability and visibility by using big data.

Only 9 percent of logistics professionals have complete visibility into their supply chains because of the lack of access to quality data and a reliance on manual processes, according to a 2013 KPMG report. Moreover, with quality data typically available to only the largest global shippers, many logistics professionals remain without effective supply chain shipment visibility — resulting in inefficient processes and information gaps, Inttra says.

CEO Ken Bloom says bringing Inttra’s e-shipping strengths to the supply chain visibility arena will ensure the best information is available to shippers of all sizes, around the world. The company’s new strategic Vision for Visibility involves three initiatives.

First, its supply chain shipment visibility service, available early 2014, will give shippers and freight forwarders access to data from Inttra’s ocean carrier network and ultimately include optional data sources, such as US rail and trucking. The company says it will enable large volumes of timely container event information to be obtained, viewed and analyzed to improve the shipment delivery process, and enhance decision-making and logistics management.

Second, Inttra has signed an agreement with multimodal transportation management software company Kewill. Kewill’s technologies underlie Inttra’s new supply chain shipment visibility service, combining Inttra’s multi-carrier shipping network with Kewill’s supply chain visibility software to form this new offering.

Third, Inttra says it has created a comprehensive shipment information quality program for the ongoing analysis of data quality on its network of ocean carriers, and for driving sustainable quality enhancements. This program provides carriers with a systematic approach for gauging the timeliness, accuracy and completeness of container status events, and for helping them collaborate with shippers to pinpoint improvement areas.

Late late week, John Viera, Ford’s global director of sustainability and vehicle environmental matters, detailed the ways the automaker is using big data and analytics to increase fuel economy, reduce vehicle emissions and drive other sustainability advances.

General Electric’s big data navigation system, called Required Navigation Performance system (RNP), could reduce Brazilian airline GOL’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,620 pounds and save $24 million in operational expenses over five years at the Brasilia airport alone, according to the airline’s estimates.