Control Tower: Insight into essential transport data and the basis for making smart choices

Control Tower: Insight into essential transport data and the basis for making smart choices

Having control over transport activities takes more than just insight into track and trace. With the help of a Control Tower, Rhenus Warehousing Solutions keeps track of everything happening beyond the walls of the distribution centers. Although we have made a clear choice for logistics services without wheels, we do give our customers a clear view of this part of the supply chain.

The emphasis of the Rhenus Control Tower is on providing insight into the outbound flow of pallets, parcels and express deliveries in Air, Road and Sea transport modes.

Insight at any time
Customers want a clear picture of the chain, from end to end and from pick and pack to proof of delivery of a shipment. Rhenus Warehousing Solutions serves customers by clearly showing where shipments are, where out-for-delivery packages delivery are located, and when our specialists deliver large equipment, such as medical devices, to a hospital. Today's customers want to be able to see this picture at any time. At Rhenus, we offer this via a web portal. Customers have digital access to the logistics data of their products.

View of goods movements beyond the warehouse walls
Digital insight was once something mainly associated with B2C shipments. We believe that B2B customers should also be able to see where a pallet is at all times. What's more, the Control Tower functionality we offer looks beyond the walls of the various chains. Not having this view of the entire chain only leads to unnecessary questions and contact moments. We prefer to invest our energy in solving challenges that arise or in improving customer service.

The basis of successful Control Tower insight
The emphasis of the Rhenus Control Tower is on providing insight into the outbound flow of pallets, parcels and express deliveries in Air, Road and Sea transport modes. There are concrete plans to offer sustainable solutions here as well, from barge to electric and last-mile transport. Successful Control Tower insight is strongly dependent on having the right people in the right places and looking closely at who wants and needs to be responsible for what. At Rhenus, we put the right people in the right places. In addition, data from various parts of the chain needs to be logical and easily interchangeable. We collect this data centrally in our TMS.

Make smarter transport or supply chain choices
Rhenus Warehousing Solutions customers have insight into where their goods are, whether they will arrive on time, at the right price, and whether transport is sustainable. This gives clear answers to questions that many shippers are struggling with. Companies nowadays pay more attention to logistics costs, which also means that transport savings are on the agenda. As Rhenus Warehousing Solutions, we try to provide insight into which savings make sense and which do not. Smarter procurement is an option, as is making a new offer to a customer. Benchmarking is always a good idea, as is close consultation between shippers, Rhenus and carriers. This is the only way to tackle challenges such as cost increases in the chain, where possible. Customers who want more insight into their parcels and pallets, for example, receive this via the portal and Power BI. The same applies to seeing how sustainable a shipment is, which is also clearly presented via the portal.

Responding more quickly to emerging opportunities
Although a Control Tower is indispensable for providing a clear picture to customers, the underlying performance is determined by the fundamentals of Rhenus Warehousing Solutions. As an organization, our main strength is agility. We have a worldwide network of carriers, enabling us to serve our customers faster than average and reach new destinations. Combined with our Rhenus Road, Air and Ocean assets, it's clear that we can quickly make a carrier-neutral offer to shippers looking to enter a new market. The same applies to situations where there is a short-term need for additional warehouse space. As part of a privately owned company operating worldwide, Rhenus Warehousing Solutions is at home in all markets.