In our maritime logistics solution we look at activities as perspectives, which can be defined as a point of view towards processes, data and functionality. It is possible to setup each entity as the same, a different or even as a mixed perspective. The idea here is that many times the solution handles the same data, but from a different perspective and that data because of that can flow through the application from entity to entity. Many possible situations can be considered:

• the booking from a forwarder towards a liner agent
• the booking of the liner agent towards a principal
• the booking data of a vessel operator flowing through an owned and self-operated terminal
• the creation of bookings from multiple entities on one vessel / voyage

Because Flex Maritime logistics is  a supply chain solution, this means that we have to consider the fact that organizations can be single, multi or mixed perspective and that this can be in a single or multi entity environment. In other words, we always keep in mind that there are no fixed roles in the supply chain. Many companies need  the same kind of functionality but for different reasons.

A good example in Flex is the support per perspective for stripping and stuffing of containers:

• Forwarder, optimizes revenue by consignment of LCL shipments into the FCL container
• Terminal, as a service for vessel operators or forwarders, in combination with storage and other warehouse services
• Vessel operator, for ships convenience reasons, or to be able to accept LCL shipments
• Bulk logistics provider (3PL), receives FCL containers and strips them as a service to the customer before storing the cargo in their warehouses

In a single perspective situation processes are clear and as Flex maritime logistics, a single best of breed solution could handle this perfectly. However, in complexer situations best of breed solutions can no longer solve the case by itself.  We see more and more operational software islands, different vendors, complexer interfaces, data warehousing solutions etcetera. 

Flex maritime logistics is delivered as one integrated package to span multiple entities, perspectives, activities and processes. This means that all perspectives will be available to the customer, whether for use within one or multiple entities and eliminating the need for one or multiple best of breed solutions. Because of this almost any supply chain scenario, from origin to destination, or from factory to grocery, can be handled by Flex. If situations are non-standard then existing functionality can be reordered or reused (object oriented) and, in certain situations, maintained by customers themselves (open source code), building on the software library that comes with AX / Flex.

Traditionally, but still true today, these challenges were solved by introducing separate software solutions into the company for each operational aspect. Then these software islands would be interfaced with a financial backbone for general ledger and reporting purposes.

What makes it even harder are the situations where services of an organization are carried out by different or multiple entities, located in different countries. This may duplicate data entry, needs more complex interfaces and also means more applications to setup, maintain and support (locally).

We at Ultimate believe that we have a maritime logistics solution, based on the Microsoft’s Dynamics AX 2012 platform, that can handle these challenges. No more islands, but a central model, combined with the multi company ERP functionality of AX. This makes it possible to have different company services in the same solution and database, simply by parameterizing each company for the functionality needed. Now and in the future.

This way an organization that offers for instance transport and forwarding services, but also operates its own terminal can do this in one installation, application and database. Setup and operational data is shared between companies where needed and processes are controlled according validated business rules and workflows.

Benefits for organizations can be huge:

• lower TCO (total cost of ownership)
• no island, no bridges
• seamless flow of information through the system
• much less interfacing trouble
• thorough integration of operational and finance
• organization wide implementation (central model)
• organization wide consolidation and BI
• better control and compliancy
• Dynamics AX / SQL / Office integration
• etcetera

We launch the AX 2012 version of the solution. For more information: sales@ultimatesoftware.nl

AX2012 is the most innovative business management system and together with our FlexPort solution, it will offer your maritime business the best software to run your business available today.

Reaching key business goals for our customers, our unique focus on the maritime industry and dedication to the technological platform of Dynamics AX resulted in our award.

Also our customers will benefit from this close relationship with Microsoft.

Ultimate Software BV was founded in 1993 and the first partner to implement Dynamics AX in the Benelux. The organization works internationally with a network of experienced partners to implement solutions for the maritime, logistics, production and professional services industries.

Ultimate Software is a Microsoft Gold Partner for ERP and Business Intelligence. Ultimate is a member of the AX2012 TAP launch team.

• Operators
• (Landlord) Ports
• Terminals & Stevedores

The average terminal typically runs different software solutions to manage its business. As specially transfer of information between the wet and the dry side of business is a known issue. Microsoft Dynamics AX offers one fully integrated all in one system automating manual processes and eliminating duplication of information from one system to the other.

Benefits:

• One fully integrated all in one system.
• Flexibility to meet your unique needs under changing circumstances and requirements.
• Use of workflow approvals.
• Built on proven Microsoft products and technologies.
• Integrated web portal.
• Easily customizable and highly scalable.
• A software toolbox is available, integrated within Dynamics AX.
• Lower training costs (common Microsoft user interfaces).

Link to our RSS page to keep informed about exiting new features and changes we make to our successful ERP system for the maritime industry!

Let us help you to avoid surprises

With our software solutions all types of shipping companies can know in advance what financial obligations and returns to expect from their planned activities. Forecasting is important for setting up schedules and services. In the daily execution we help you to sharply monitor the effect of changes and update the prognoses. Our software generates the required information for evaluating day to day opportunities and change decisions on their merit to profit.

Planning and forecasting within our integrated software solutions links together operations and finance. Operational scenario’s and services are calculated and made transparent in terms of cost and return.

When bookings are slow, the sales department can take action and agents can be addressed on their performance. Profitable cargo streams / customers can be singled out, and trends in exchange rates and tariffs can be hedged.

You can know what’s on the invoices before they are posted to you

Early calculations can be made in the form of a budget for general decision making and business development about routes, cargo and customers. This supports value based decision making; sign up profitable trade agreements, or make them profitable by using your systems flexibility (ships convenience). Trade agreements are budgetted and linked to the planned voyages / schedule (seasonal influences can be inputted). This total budget and link enables optimization by vice versa change destinations and pricing. The budget is followed by an actual based on the invoices and disbursements.

All required information is registered only once at the source, and checked for completeness. From there on any break down or accumulation is possible; from total company forecasting, to individual customer value. Every booking, movement of ship and cargo is registered in relation to a planned voyage and budgetted trade agreement.

Daily change requests in price, route, additional service can be evaluated for an informed yes or no. What is the bottom line effect on profit and obligations to other customers? Also changes in oilprice, exchange rates and customer tariffs et all can be taken into account.

Are westbound and eastbound both profitable?

Projectcalculations is a corner stone in our shipping software solution. We see voyages as projects. And projects can be calculated in advance (budget, forecast), monitored up to date to the position of the vessel (running update, rolling forecast) and evaluated afterwards (actual).

A project can be anything from a single trip (tramping) to a period of time (schedule). By layering the projects in line with your specific business, total views can be generated for a ship, customer, period of time, trade agreement, and even business units or countries.

Enabling insight in specific cost such as a differentiation in ship related and booking related costs. The origin of a voyage can be for example cooled containers with fruit to Europe and for the return trip the containers are stuffed with for example cars. These ships convenience scenarios require complete and full financial understanding. Is the incoming bound profitable, can the return or next trip made profitable? How much cost can be recovered in a smart deal with an other customer by in this example stuffing containers with cars. These ships convenience scenarios are only possible when you can accumulate cost and revenue in more ways then only the project as a whole.

At any point in time the system can generate the up-to-date intelligence for making long term business decisions on routes or cargo types, and decide on immediate cargo opportunities in your front-office. By drilling down from the top both the red flags and green flags can be analysed in search for value.

Real-time all the time

Three views/levels of costs are offered; ship related (charters, bunkers, insurances, etc.), port call related (harbor fees, tugs, mooring, etc.) and booking related income and costs for cargo loading and offloading (stevedoring, pre carriage, on carriage, cargo handling). All freight and surcharges for every container movement are addressed to projects.

We build customer specific projecttrees based on the business the offer. For example a tree that starts with services, then individual voyages, with several bounds. Enabling financial insight in individual round trips (within a schedule) or in a schedule over a period of time. The same for tramping.

A single view on the truth

Our Microsoft AX based shipping solution supports both financial and operation project management. Completely integrated by design, thus enabling straight-through processing and real-time business intelligence (as explained above). We have brought together the shipping specific processes – and even accumelated the individual requirements from individual companies – with the more common processes for financial and project management. Including budgetting, invoice management, cash management, human resources, document and compliance management, et all.

We promote end-to-end administration of all activities, transactions an registrations in a single source to ensure lean operations and agile business development.

Because our system is constantly growing and getting more functionality, we are constantly evaluating our fact sheets and improving them.

After our last update in December, it was yet again time for a new version of the FlexPort fact sheet. You can download it here, or via the link in the download menu (to the left),

FlexPort is an ERP solution built to cater to the requirements and needs of today’s international port business. FlexPort is developed in the Microsoft Dynamics AX platform and used by companies involved in the port business such as: Ports, landlord ports and terminals.

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