Fargo TOPS helps Maritime streamline shipments
Container logistics specialist Maritime Transport is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the implementation of the TOPS transport management solution from software provider Fargo Systems – which it reports is yielding benefits across almost all aspects of its business.
Tim Goddard, IT director at Maritime Transport, said: “I was initially brought in by Maritime to oversee the introduction of TOPS. The decision to invest in this new ‘off the shelf’ technology was made to replace an outdated and inflexible system currently in operation and to equip the business for growth.
“From the outset, what was appealing about working with Fargo Systems was the team’s understanding of our business; a result of their logistics background, and their commitment to work with us and further develop their systems to meet our evolving needs.”
Managing over 10,000 shipments a week, 90 per cent of Maritime’s work is now received via EDI directly into TOPS from customers, forwarders and shipping lines’ systems. TOPS helps to efficiently meet customers’ reporting requirements by sending automated job acknowledgements, status updates and PODs back to the originating systems, and where required can also provide electronic invoice transactions via EDI, which speeds up the process of issuing invoices and of invoices being approved.
Interfaces to Maritime’s telematics system assist the traffic planners by sending job details direct to the drivers in the cabs, who receive automated job updates. These are processed in real time into TOPS, and vehicle positioning data is retrieved for use on the traffic sheet. This data is also of huge benefit to the fleet department.
Creating an electronic process for defect reporting is vital for a fleet of over 3,400 truck/trailer assets. Defects captured by the telematics are processed into TOPS, where fleet appointments can be scheduled and purchase orders raised.
The partnership between the two companies has strengthened over the last decade and today Fargo Systems works closely with Maritime Transport to develop systems which link together administrative IT functions across the business. TOPS is integrated into Maritime’s accounting system, with plans to use data in other areas such as purchase order processing as well as the payroll and HR systems.
Tim continued: “The size of our operation today, which includes over 350 desktop users, 17 depots, 1,400 vehicles and 2,000 plus trailers, means it is vital that our IT systems maximise every piece of data.”
Whilst reaping the benefits TOPS provides, Maritime was keen that its blue chip customers should also share the real-time information as it relates to the progress of their shipments. Unique to Maritime, MTLTOPS Lite enables customers to make bookings and provides real-time management information and reports, as well as the ability to retrieve PODs online.
Tim added: “Customisation for each client was crucial as the information a shipping line requires is very different to that of a retailer. It also enables customers who use a number of shipping lines to access a consolidated overview of their logistics operation in real-time.
“The benefits MTLTOPS Lite provides go far beyond customers being able to view the status of their shipments. Immediately after the service was deployed we saw a reduction of calls into our customer service centre, as many of the day-to-day queries received were being resolved by the client accessing the information they needed on MTLTOPS Lite, freeing up our customer service agents to respond to clients’ more pressing anomalies.”
As pioneers of ‘joined up’ IT systems in the logistics industry, Maritime will be taking its integrated IT approach one stage further, when it launches a fleet vendor web portal shortly.
Tim continued: “It’s important that we don’t treat any aspect of our business in isolation. Our fleet and our employees are assets and it’s vital that all are achieving their maximum potential.
“An example of the integration the new system will bring is when a driver reports a tyre blow out, the repair company will be notified immediately and will then receive instant approval to attend the breakdown and undertake the repair. The system will pre-advise the driver of the ETA of the repair van and simultaneously raise a purchase order for the repair company to invoice against.”
