Transportation Practice

The objective of our Transportation Practice is to offer our clients full end-to-end transportation consulting & systems integration services.  Some of the services we offer as part of our Transportation Practice include:

• Transportation Assessments - Conduct a detailed “audit” of a client’s transportation and logistics operations to determine how they compare to industry standards, to determine the extent of potential cost saving opportunities, and to determine the overall impact on service and costs of these proposed changes.  The goal of this assessment is to review the current transportation logistics network, carriers, practices, and costs, compare to industry norms and best practices, and recommend possible changes for improved cost and performance wherever appropriate.

• TMS Business Case Development – Objective is to develop a Business Case to see if there is a need for a commercial best-of-breed TMS application.  As part of the Business Case we define the expected costs and benefits derived from the implementation of a TMS application.  As with any investment opportunity, a business cannot make a sound decision and commit valuable time and resources to a project without a thorough understanding of its true value and the expected ROI.  Based on the data gathered regarding opportunities for improvements, this study will focus on the realistic deployment of cost justification data to support the business case for the deployment of a TMS application.

• Custom & Semi-Custom Solution Design – In many engagements, single off-the-shelf solutions do not provide 100% of the required functionality.  4SIGHT works with our clients to address these requirements with the best, most appropriate approach.  This approach can combine and integrate multiple vendor solutions into one seamless end product; supplement package solutions with custom development; incorporate co-development options with selected vendors; and provide a clear technical Integration RoadMap.

• Transportation Procurement Events – In today’s volatile economy, the pressure to secure capacity, while reducing overall transportation cost, requires shippers to optimize their carrier relationships to obtain lower rates and react quicker to changes in their network.  4SIGHT works with clients to conduct a transportation bid using any of the leading Transportation Procurement Vendors available today.  We recommend using web-based solutions available on demand for transportation contract sourcing.  This will reduce IT overhead and enable clients to automate the procurement process (from RFP to final contract), simplify the selection of the best carriers available (for each lane in your transportation network), ensure you get the best rates from carriers (that have the capacity you need, when you need it), and align with core carrier base (and balance both cost and service).  Transportation Procurement is “HOT” because results produce an average savings of 12-14%, its being offered as SaaS solution (Software-as-a-Service), the industry is undergoing rising transportation costs, and there is no IT overhead

• TMS Evaluations and Selections – Evaluating and selecting the “right” software solution for your business can be an overwhelming and difficult endeavor.  A successful software implementation follows a proven system and selection methodology, ensuring consistency and fairness throughout the evaluation process. 4SIGHT will assist you in evaluating software based on the RFP responses from vendors to conduct an unbiased and thorough evaluation, ensuring the recommended solutions are able to meet your requirements and support the long-term goals of your business.  Our team employs a detailed, step-by-step approach throughout the evaluation and selection process making sure no stone is left unturned.

• Freight Contract Negotiations - offered through a partner of ours, they conduct a deep dive of a client’s total freight spend against existing contract agreements as it relates to parcel carriers and LTL carriers.  There is no upfront cost associated with this analysis.  The Approach - Collaborative, non-adversarial, fact-based approach with the carriers.  No fee is due until savings are realized, quantified and agreed upon.  There is NO business Impact for there are NO internal process changes, NO additional budget requirements, NO CapEx request & approval.  It’s a very limited Time Investment from the client.

• Network Optimization – Distribution network optimization have become more prevalent in today’s supply chain as companies endeavor to configure their manufacturing and distribution networks to achieve an optimal balance between service levels and logistics costs.  If executed properly, network optimization has the potential to significantly increase savings in warehouse, transportation and inventory operations, and yield substantial service improvements that may not otherwise be realized.  Network modeling can be very complex depending on the scope of your supply chain and requires a comprehensive understanding of your business objectives and overall corporate strategy.  At 4SIGHT we perform Network Optimizations with the use of commercially available Distribution Network Optimization Software applications along with the use of an econometric modeling tool.  Econometric modeling is quite simply a tool developed in Microsoft Excel that is used to portray detailed after tax cash flows at the general ledger detail so that each scenario has a "total financial story" that includes all operating expenses across the network; all capital expenditure requirements to enable a given scenario; all inventory assets; working capital requirements and cost of capital; and all one-time expenses required to transition to each scenario.  The econometric model depicts all cash flows on an annualized basis so that the results roll up into a format approved by the client's accounting standards.  Without econometric modeling, optimization tools will generate a photograph of operating expenses for a single point in time with no consideration of working capital requirements to enable the scenario.

• TMS Software Implementations – 4SIGHT seasoned Transportation professionals have implemented industry leading TMS applications throughout most of their careers.  Software implementations are the foundation of the company.  Everyone in the organization has implemented Supply Chain Software as either a Client, a Vendor, or Third Party integrator.  No one is a "trade" consultant that has only been "consulting" with respect to Supply Chain Software.  Our staff has rolled up their sleeves throughout their careers and helped integrate these solutions in LIVE production environments. Successfully implementing these projects is not easy. 4SIGHT's structured and proven implementation methodology helps guide you through the implementation process, but it's our resources that make the difference. It's a requirement that ALL implementation resources have a minimum of 5-7 years experience implementing Supply Chain Execution Software. This requirement is not typically found in other supply chain companies.  We offer Program/Project Managers, Functional/Technical Designers, Application Configuration Specialists, Interface Developers, Testers, Training Program Development, Trainers, Change Management Specialists, and Startup/Production Support.