TNT Logistics rolls out Matrix – Logistics industry's leading suite of supply chain technologies
13 February 2003 - 09:54 CET
TNT Logistics, one of the world's leading providers of value-added logistics services and a division of TPG N.V. (NYSE:TP) has completed the international implementation of its Matrix Supply Chain Technologies to support the operation of both domestic and global supply chains in the automotive, fast moving consumer goods, industrial, utility and electronic sectors.As the latest version of its supply chain event applications, Matrix Supply Chain Technologies provides global material visibility and full control through real time, exception-based information. Developed and housed at TNT Logistics North America's Jacksonville, Florida headquarters, Matrix serves 30 customers and performs over 1 million transactions monthly such as shipment updates, variance notification, order processing, and pre-advice alerts as it supports logistics operations in Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Netherlands Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and United States.
Matrix takes a huge step in overcoming one of the largest obstacles in supply chain integration today - synching up otherwise disparate systems and point solutions to communicate with each other. Matrix integrates into a common architecture such traditionally disparate processes or "point" solutions as transportation, strategic planning, optimization, warehousing, and back office functions, allowing for the sharing of data among these processes and enabling TNT to operate a complete solution within a single system. The outcome is increased performance visibility for all trading partners, resulting in significantly reduced supply chain costs.
Matrix affords all trading partners in the supply chain the ability to interact through proprietary browser-based screens designed for the users' needs. A key differentiator for Matrix is the use of customer specific logic that allows for protean uses within each customer portfolio. For example, users or roles can be configured individually for varying thresholds and alerts based on a sign-on ID.
Included in Matrix are customer specific portals that allow access to all logistics information based on a sign-on ID. The customer specific portal is an excellent tool that enables users to respond to event-driven, exception-based information to drive out cost by compressing cycle time, facilitating merge in-transit inventory, consolidating transportation, reducing work-in-process and improving asset utilization, while realizing greater profits and shareholder return on investment.
Since its introduction Matrix Supply Chain Technologies has earned several accolades. TNT Logistics Australia was recently awarded the Information Technology Award by the Logistics Association of Australia for the Matrix implementation with Air International. Supply Chain Technology News awarded Matrix its 2003 Innovation Award for supply chain technology. Also, Matrix won TPG's 2002 Masters Award for Service Support category.
