CONTAINER AND REUSABLE PACKAGING MANAGEMENT
Whether they are made of plastic, metal, or wood – containers and reusable packaging are an integral part of many supply chains and industries. INFORM’s software not only gives you information on where they are, our software also optimizes container pooling and demand forecast to ensure each site has the right amount of assets at the right point in time.
Overview
In today’s complex supply chains, it is critical that crates, containers, pallets, ULDs, IBCs, or any other reusable packaging are available when and where they are needed. Moving too many into the wrong location is a serious waste of time, money, and resources.
Container and reusable packaging management is most efficient when its four core topics - demand forecast, tracking, distribution, and transport - are integrated into one process. INFORM's software for container management effectively combines these four areas and optimizes the use of loading equipment for more efficiency.
Contact
Dirk Schlemper
Consultant
Tel: +49 (0) 2408 / 9456 - 6000 D.Schlemper@informinform-software.com
Jennifer Stead
Consultant
Tel: +49 (0) 2408 / 9456 - 6000 J.Stead@informinform-software.com
Dirk Schlemper
Consultant
Tel: +49 (0) 2408 / 9456 - 6000 D.Schlemper@informinform-software.com
EXPLORE OUR SOLUTION Features
Learn how our algorithms can optimize the financial and environmental performance of your container pool.
- Automated inventory balancing
The software monitors all accounts and ensures that they are balanced on-time, eliminating stock-outs, and expensive emergency shipments. Transport orders can either be executed by a third-party TMS or by our add-on transport optimization tool.
- Alerts
Alerts like incorrect orders, rule violations, stock-outs or overstocking, entering geo-fences, or defective auto-ID hardware are automatically incorporated into the decision-making process by INFORM’s software.
- Smart Demand Forecasts
Using a multitude of variables including historical data, our software identifies demand trends and creates forecasts that are used to balance accounts proactively.
- ”WHAT-IF” SCENARIOS
”What-if” scenarios based on actual data allow you to see the scale of impact that individual decisions have onto your pooling performance.
- Advanced analytics
The built-in analytics tool allows you to analyze your relevant KPIs with just a few clicks (e.g., inventories, inventory ranges, orders, pick-up orders, cleaning times, downtimes and transport data).
- Tracking and tracing in real-time
Containers and their movements can be monitored at selected points along the cycle, providing tracking and tracing in real-time. This data forms the basis for the smart planning and execution of the container usage.
- Single source of data
Container data, such as status, orders, requested pick-ups, etc. are collected centrally from our software and relevant information can be shared with all participants.
- Account management and cost reporting
Our software updates all accounts automatically, keeps record of all transactions, and makes this information available for timely and accurate invoicing of all chargeable services.
Benefits
INFORM's software for container and reusable packaging management offers reliable supply and lower costs in container management.
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Reduced Container Loss
Our software can track all containers in real-time. Pooling cycles become fully transparent and container loss is significantly reduced.
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Lower logistics costs
Thanks to the demand-driven distribution of containers, less repositioning and emergency shipments are required.
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Less Working Capital
Reduced container loss and more container cycles mean less working capital.
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Improved supply reliability
All parties involved can be supplied on-time, even with seasonal fluctuations and short-term demand peaks - reducing the risk of stock-outs and overstocking.
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Faster decision making
Meaningful reports and targeted KPIs are available in real time. Advanced analytics support the decision-making process.
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Reduced management costs
Automated processes replace costly, error-prone data entry and time-consuming corrections. Pooling operations become faster and smarter.
Demand Forecast
Which participant in the container pool needs which load carriers and how many when? These questions are quickly answered with INFORM’s software, SyncroTESS.
It determines the container demand of all participating locations using:
- Historical data,
- Current demand reports from external systems,
- Ad-hoc bookings.
The system also takes into account seasonal fluctuations and statistical exceptions.
Our software offers an online overview of all accounts, providing the current and the planned future forecast for all participating partners.
Tracking
The system detects container location and status changes by using the unique identification of reusable containers with
- bar codes,
- RFID,
- or GPS tracking.
With this tracking and tracing, the route of every load carrier can be monitored and is traceable at all times creating transparency.
Distribution
The system has an overview of current locations and actual demand for containers. This information, combined with INFORM’s agile optimization technology enables the software to distribute containers according to actual demand.
This target distribution, as well as current and future situations, can be seen by the participating partners in an online overview. They can also manage their container accounts online.
Transport
How do the pallets, containers, crates, or other load carriers get to their next destination? This could be cleaning, repair or maintenance, to be filled, emptied, or for interim storage.
The transport request can be generated autonomously and forwarded by the system to INFORM’s software for truck scheduling or existing third-party route optimization solutions. The objective is for the container to arrive on time at its destination. The load carrier’s movement data flows seamlessly back into the container management system. INFORM’s software permits a flexible, appropriate reaction to the current transport demand. The gap between demand management and transport is closed, such that the pooling cycle continues to run smoothly.
