At project44, we say our advanced real-time transportation visibility platform provides the “connective tissue” for the supply chain ecosystem. So, you ask, what do we mean exactly by the term “connective tissue?”
Combining Disparate Systems into a Functioning Whole
In physiology, connective tissue binds structures together, forms a framework, and supports the body as a whole. It provides the cohesion for the body to function as a system.
For supply chains, project44 does the same thing. Our visibility platform acts as the “connective tissue” between transportation providers, third-party logistics companies, and shippers. It binds together supply chain partners into a system and provides a framework so they can all communicate and collaborate to support the supply chain as a whole. In doing so, it unites a fragmented supply chain and solves the problem of supply chain partners using disparate systems and software.
One-to-Many API Technology
Our platform was purposely architected to be the connective tissue for the end-to-end supply chain. It uses Application Programming Interface (API) technology that gets information directly from the source — a truck, a train, steamship line, or an airplane — to pinpoint shipment location in real-time. With the widespread adoption of electronic logging devices, telematics devices, and satellite-based monitoring systems by carriers, we are able to use one-to-many API technology to gather location data across all transportation modes in multiple regions to provide a unified view of shipments and orders in transit.
We then cleanse and normalize data to produce timely, accurate, and complete information — what we term “high-fidelity” data. Next, we aggregate that data to create a single version of the truth that allows supply chain partners to have the same view of what is happening across their supply chain in real time.
In addition to end-to-end supply chain visibility, our platform provides predictive estimated time of arrivals (ETAs). Predictive ETAs have become essential information for supply chain operators to manage the shipment lifecycle and pipeline flow of inventory to ensure parts and product availability in a global network. To calculate the predictive ETA, we use real-time geolocation data and take into account vessel or vehicle speed, the transit distance, route traffic, incidents like weather, and historical performance trends.
Automated Workflows
But our connective tissue does more than just provide a picture of shipments in transit and ETAs. It digitizes workflows to eliminate manual work leading to full shipment automation. As a result, it automates processes such as shipment status updates, rate requests, dispatch, and truck shipment booking. It also analyzes data on carrier performance to enable data-informed decisions on carrier selection and routing.
The Connective Tissue
By being the connective tissue for the supply chain ecosystem, our platform enables both a comprehensive and shared visibility of shipments in transit for all supply chain partners. It also provides the insights to understand how the ecosystem is working and how to improve its functioning. Finally, the connective tissue provided by project44’s platform enables a group of companies to function as one supply chain system for enhanced efficiency, inventory optimization across the network, and collaborative decision making.