Added logistics capabilities in Oracle’s Fusion Cloud SCM supply chain and manufacturing offering can help reduce costs and improve planning decisions.

To help organisations increase the efficiency of their global supply chains, Texas-based Oracle has announced logistics additions within Oracle SCM. The updates to OTM transportation management and GTM global trade management can help users reduce costs, make better planning decisions and improve customer experience.

“Last year tested supply chains to a breaking point and exposed the limitations of older, on-premises systems that don’t provide the flexibility organisations need to run an efficient logistics operations,” said Chris Cunnane, research director at Arc Advisory Group. “Oracle Cloud SCM’s latest update adds new artificial intelligence, machine learning and integrated IoT features to improve real-time monitoring of shipments and enhance the efficiency of trade and logistics processes.”

SCM helps organisations enhance supply chain operations, improve planning and execution across the entire business, and deliver a better customer experience. The additions are:

• Logistics machine learning: Helps users leverage machine learning in transportation processes to predict transit times accurately, reduce costs associated with unplanned delays, increase logistics efficiency and enhance customer experience.
• Rules of origin qualification: Helps users comply with rules of origin criteria across hundreds of different trade agreements.
• Connected logistics: Helps better predict and manage shipments and inventory, while monitoring location and conditions such as temperature and humidity, by connecting logistic flows between OTM, Oracle Warehouse Management (WMS) and Oracle IoT.
• Ocean enhancements: Help automate transactions with ocean carriers, from booking through financial settlement.
• 3D load configuration editor: Provides flexibility in managing container-based shipments and how they are loaded.
• Logistics digital assistant capabilities: An accelerated access experience and enhanced conversational interface helps OTM and GTM users access all shipment information and send requests while on the go.

“Using Oracle Transportation Management, we’ve been able to get almost immediate results on the rate changes that impact our shipping costs,” said Matt Kirchner, senior logistics analyst at White Cap, formerly HD Supply. “We utilise Oracle Transportation Management for export lane cost-by-carrier analysis and, when we’re comparing the different costs, we’re able to easily try different carrier combinations and compare the planned cost versus the lowest cost. We’ve found that, on average, we’re able to reduce costs by approximately six per cent.”

Derek Gittoes, Oracle vice president, added: “As organisations reimagine their supply chains in the wake of 2020, creating robust and resilient logistics processes that keep the business moving efficiently should remain a key priority. With the new capabilities within Oracle Transportation Management and Oracle Global Trade Management, we are helping organisations streamline logistics to fulfil orders faster, cheaper and more sustainably to ultimately meet and exceed customer expectations.”