CEVA rolls out mobile version of its Matrix TMS

Earlier this month, global third-party logistics (3PL) services provider CEVA Logistics introduced its new Mobility Suite, which it said is a strategic mobility and shared-network suite of solutions leveraging its TMS, CEVA Matrix.

Company officials said that this offering is geared to augment operational efficiencies and also deliver real-time information and visibility for supply chain processes, coupled with increased demand and activity related to e-commerce shipments.

And they added that the Mobility Suite, which is multi platform for IOS, Android, and Windows Mobile smartphone applications, highlights multiple TMS offerings, including GPS, tracking, planning and dispatching visibility, fleet, and asset management and is comprised of:
−real-time shipment milestones, improved delivery performance, electronic signatures;
−electronic checklists, proof of delivery receipts and corresponding paperwork;
−creating/updating consignment orders, consignment status and exception notification;
−driver availability, trip status and current location visibility, dynamic dispatch;
−mobile dashboard and reporting;
−damaged goods workflow management; and
−real time customer surveys and image capture for home delivery services

Vittorio Aronica, president of IS&S Global Supply Chain and Transport Management for CEVA, said in an interview that leading reason for this specific enhancement is represented by three different and growing emerging trends: to get availability of even more ‘real time’ event management as a matter of customer service improvement; to achieve the closest integration with the e-commerce channel that is dramatically shifting the former concept of ‘batch waves orders’ to a continuous transactional flow. This provides the capability to support dynamic pick-up and delivery having flexible routing and path optimization; and to improve the end user ‘customer experience’ through real time surveys, with customers’ feedback and multimedia support virtually available as potential new feeds for Social Networks.
“The concept, design and delivery of the new platform was requested less than one year ago, including a number of iterations with some of the key CEVA stakeholders including a number of customers we consider as ‘trend setters’,” said Aronica. “This new technology will deliver significant benefits for both parties (shippers and 3PLs) but, ultimately, greater visibility linked to a most dynamic work flow will dramatically improve customer service and the customer experience. It’s pretty evident that, in the future, market differentiation will be even more focused on the ability to improve the end-user customer experience represented by the “C” (in the B2C model) of Consumers rather than the former traditional KPIs set between the logistics provider and direct customers.”
The Mobility Suite, said Aronica, is the result of an iterated experience and CEVA has passed through all the stack including batch mobile solutions, and wireless solutions using traditional handheld devices up through the latest smart phone generation.   

“According to my experience, the most interesting approach…is to get benefits from close cooperation with customers really capable of achieving an innovative and distinctive ‘quantum leap’,” explained Aronica. “I’m convinced that CEVA is a virtual bridge between the customers’ of our customers. Our goal is to interpret the desired next level and to make this available in the shortest time as possible. Today, some of the most successful companies are those one who are more capable than others in anticipating emerging trends and opportunities but spending money and effort in defending some consolidated competitive advantages. That’s the reason why we have to increase our competencies and ability in partnering with our customers in shaping the future. This is not specifically an ICT competence but much more a relationship attitude looking differently at the problems, with an open mind and mutual trust.”