Optimized Planning & Execution

Transportation procurement, routing and freight settlement

Managing transportation requires careful planning and good communication among all parties – shippers, carriers, and vendors. Whether it’s inbound freight, intra-company moves, or outbound shipments to end customers, staying on top of the details and controlling costs are critical. RedPrairie’s solutions for Optimized Planning and Execution give you the tools you need to move freight efficiently, whether cross country or just across town.

Carrier Bid Optimization

Carrier Bid Optimization automates the process of negotiating annual contracts. The solution enables carriers to bid flexibly and creatively, choosing which lanes they would like to service and put forth their best proposals based on their strengths. Carriers can bid on specified lanes, package lanes together with more efficient pricing, provide conditional (if/then) proposals, bid on capacity or volume commitments, suggest alternates on equipment or move type based on their assets, or alternate lanes based on their network strengths.

• Automates RFI collection, carrier evaluation, and approval
• Analyzes hundreds of thousands of bid attributes alongside thousands of business constraints and preferences simultaneously
• Lane attributes are easily configured to support specific business needs and supply goals
• RFI assessments can be incorporated into bid analysis as meaningful decision points
• Enables shippers to perform “what if” scenarios to determine optimal award allocation

COPLEX Routing Optimization

COPLEX®, RedPrairie’s continuous planning and execution engine, provides real-time optimization of transportation planning. Using proprietary algorithms, the optimization engine constantly evaluates incoming orders and order changes, fulfillment requirements, capacity limitations, and other constraints to automatically generate the most effective, lowest cost plan. COPLEX handles the full breadth of transportation planning situations, such as inbound consolidation, multi-origin to multi-destination, merge in transit, and assignment of multiple distribution points. Loads are released for execution when an optimal solution is achieved or to comply with customer requirements for “just-in-time” delivery.

• Provides continuous planning and optimization of shippable orders
• Evaluates shipments for optimal mode selection and routing
• Supports multi-origin to multi-destination route planning
• Identifies opportunities to consolidate smaller orders into larger shipments
• Loads can be released for execution automatically or manually

Collaboration Portal

RedPrairie’s Collaboration Portal allows vendors, carriers, and customers to collaborate via the Internet, providing increased visibility and greater control of freight moves. The solution can be deployed as a standalone application or integrated with RedPrairie’s warehouse management and transportation management systems, as well as other third-party software. Key capabilities include:

• Enables accurate and timely management of third party originated shipments
• Captures and validates inbound supplier and return shipment needs
• Allows users to manage multiple shipment releases against a single PO
• Provides robust data handling (weight, cube, pieces, pallets, freight class, third party locations)
• Supports intra-facility transfer of goods not for resale and returned merchandise
• Enables carriers to schedule appointments via the web and provides enterprise-wide dock scheduling visibility

Parcel

RedPrairie’s Parcel module is a shipment processing tool integrated with Transportation Management and Warehouse Management. The solution provides carrier rate shopping and parcel manifesting at both carton and shipment levels. At the heart of Parcel is the ability to control costs through carrier rating, maximizing available discounting through centralized submission, and shipment consolidation. Parcel currently supports UPS, FedEx, DHL and USPS carriers in addition to LTL single and mixed class shipments and consolidation.

• Operates as both a workstation and within an inline point and apply process
• Includes integrated tracking for automatic proof of delivery notification
• Provides advance updates of published rates for UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL
• Supports zone skipping for an unlimited number of drop-ship entry points
• Reduces freight costs and eliminates carrier charge-backs

Freight Settlement

Freight Settlement, an integrated module of RedPrairie’s Transportation Management system, streamlines carrier payments through invoice-less (self-pay) and match & pay payment methods. Advanced auditing capabilities enables shipper’s to define limits and tolerances around specific freight line charges (line-haul, accessorials, special charges, etc.). Detailed cost analytics enable cost allocation to order item (SKU) level through configurable allocation algorithms. By automating invoice processing and carrier contract compliance, the solution enables shippers to eliminate errant and duplicate charges, improve carrier relations, and gain control over the freight settlement process.

• Automates freight payments based on carrier contracts and business rules
• Enables automated match and pay invoice processing
• Supports user defined allocation methods
• Prevents carrier overcharges and duplicate payments
• Integrates with standard general ledger and accounts payable systems