4PL solutions: connected supply chain by Rhenus

As a supply chain management software, the Online Supply Chain Accelerator (OSCA) is the digital core and integration gateway for organising all partners and services. It is a centralised 4PL logistics tool that enables end-to-end visibility, data centralisation and optimisation for coordinating multiple suppliers and logistics activities throughout the supply chain. OSCA allows for cross-functional collaboration that integrates all stakeholders, and its neutrality ensures digital independence. The software can be easily connected to all common systems in your IT landscape via interfaces, either manually or via existing APIs.

Behind all 4PL and OSCA-related activities is the Rhenus Control Tower. Using a central dashboard and their extensive 4PL logistics expertise, our Control Tower teams keep an eye on individual shipment movements.

From our sites in Bangkok and Hilden, our 4PL freight logistics experts take over the coordinated and integrated control of all logistics activities – across different companies, modes of transport, national borders and time zones.

Based on the central platform, the Rhenus experts in the Control Tower ensure effective organisation and standardised transfer of information to the parties involved – for maximum transparency between trading partners and optimal responsiveness to a wide variety of developments.

No two supply chains are alike: you need to choose the right products based on your individual requirements. That is why we offer strategic and operational counselling in different key areas – for a tailor-made 4PL solution that optimises your supply chain just the way you need it.

Our 4PL Control Tower solutions offer continuous monitoring and tracking of all logistics and supply operations, ensuring transparency and proactive identification of problems, while taking prompt corrective action which is focused on maintaining the efficiency and integrity of the supply chain.

Integrated 4PL logistics optimisation services and multi-supplier coordination as well as the development of strategies that focus on cost reduction and process efficiency.

Commercial customer relationship management and monitoring of account development including QBRs and central rate management.

Consolidation of master data such as shipper, consignee, material, stackability, routes, carriers, rates, transit times and configuration in the system.

Assistance in structuring the RFQ based on customer’s requirements to achieve a comparable rate structure.

Implementation management and training of 3rd-party providers, including performance review meetings.

Central booking management, transport order validation, handling of ad-hoc requests and management by exception to ensure proactive management of deviations as well as central document management and auditing of freight invoices.

Coordination of purchase order readiness with your vendors and vendor performance reviews.

Provide real-time visibility on SKU level and/or sustainability reports to measure your CO₂ footprint.

Acting as the extended arm of the customer, a provider of 4PL, or fourth-party logistics, represents a higher level of supply chain management compared to the 3PL model. It involves the implementation of a control tower, which gives customers comprehensive oversight of their supply chains. This oversight extends across various entities, including warehouses, shipping companies, freight forwarders and agents.

A 4PL logistics service provider functions as a partner who is entrusted with managing and enhancing a company’s supply chain and who offers tailored solutions to address the company’s unique requirements. Moreover, a 4PL service provider efficiently manages supply chain operations.

The 4PL shipping service provider establishes connections among intermediaries within the supply chain, serving as a single point of contact and a central coordination hub for all logistical activities, without direct asset involvement. Logistics processes are streamlined as a result of data integration and as a result of monitoring by the Rhenus Control Tower.

By overlaying its IT infrastructure and systems onto the customer’s network of suppliers, warehouses, production facilities and sales offices, the 4PL freight provider continually strives to enhance processes, promoting efficiency and sustainability.
The goal of 4PL logistics is the integrated control and further development of cross-company supply chains by developing and using OSCA.

The main difference between 3PL and 4PL lies in the scope of services and the responsibility of the service provider. The 3PL service provider takes on specific logistics tasks such as storage and transportation, while the client retains control of the supply chain and is responsible for coordination. A 4PL service provider, on the other hand, takes care of all activities by coordinating several 3PL service providers as a central point of contact. Rhenus optimises the entire process with our advanced 4PL logistics solutions.

The Rhenus 4PL solutions have the potential to add value to various industry-specific approaches in sectors such as chemicals, automotive, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), Life sciences & healthcare and manufacturing. Contact us and find the right service to fulfil your logistics needs with our tailor-made 4PL solutions.