In-platform collaboration: The key to efficient exception management 

Every day, transportation managers across the globe are tasked with ensuring goods are delivered on time and in full, regardless of the mode of transport or geographical challenges. While on this mission, they face a formidable opponent—the exception. These disruptions, whether they are delays, misroutes, or documentation issues, throw a wrench into operations and can wreak havoc on supply chains. 

For transportation managers, exceptions are not just minor setbacks; they present two pervasive problems that can derail even the most meticulously planned shipments: 

  1. Late or missed detection: Too often, exceptions are either identified way too late or slip through the cracks entirely. This delay in recognition means losing precious time that could have been used to mitigate the issue. 
  1. Manual, labor-intensive responses: Once an exception is spotted, it triggers a cumbersome chain reaction of manual tasks—sifting through stale data, back-and-forth emails, endless phone calls. This process isn’t just painful; it’s archaic and inefficient. 

As the leader in transportation visibility, project44 isn’t just observing these issues; we’re solving them. We’ve taken steps to address these challenges head-on, transforming how exceptions are managed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. 

Streamlining exception detection 

Exceptions are a major pain, and timely and accurate identification is crucial for maintaining operational stability and meeting service commitments. 

At project44, we understand this pain and have long supported our customers in navigating the complexities of exception management by delivering powerful capabilities including predictive insights, customizable notifications, and easy reporting. However, we recognized a need for a system that wasn’t just robust but also simple and intuitive. Our response was to develop the advanced Exceptions Engine, a tool designed to transform the landscape of transportation management by pinpointing critical issues with unprecedented speed and accuracy. 

The Exceptions Engine is built on the foundation of our deep industry experience, enhanced with cutting-edge technology to offer: 

  • Rapid identification: The engine quickly identifies exceptions before they escalate into larger problems, reducing the typical lag time that plagues traditional methods. This prompt detection is crucial for maintaining operational stability and meeting stringent service commitments. 
  • Customizability and flexibility: Understanding that no two logistics operations are the same, we’ve equipped the engine with the capability for customers to define their own exceptions based on specific operational requirements. Whether it’s a truckload shipment running late by a set number of hours or a documentation discrepancy, our engine accommodates it. 
  • Integrated visibility: Once exceptions are defined, they become immediately visible across the project44 platform. This integration ensures that all relevant team members are on the same page, working with consistent and accurate data tailored to their specific needs. 

Through these enhancements, the Exceptions Engine not only supports proactive disruption management but also empowers teams to tailor their approach to match their unique operational needs. By autonomously identifying exceptions, the Movement platform cuts down the time required to recognize issues by an estimated 40%. This efficiency boost enables teams to move swiftly towards resolution, enhancing responsiveness and minimizing the impact of disruptions on operations. 

Simplifying steps to resolution 

Managing exceptions is rarely a solo job. Effective resolution often requires collaboration across multiple team members and departments, and keeping track of responsibilities can be a challenge. Traditional methods, like sharing shipment links via email, often result in outdated information and fail to clarify who is actively managing at-risk shipments. This lack of clarity complicates collaboration but also hinders efficient resolution. 

project44’s Task Management functionality streamlines this process by empowering users to create, assign, and resolve shipment-related activities directly within Movement. Upon logging in, users are immediately shown a summary of their tasks, enabling them to quickly prioritize and tackle important activities. 

Users can swiftly investigate details of each task, add comments, and update task statuses, ensuring comprehensive communication and collaboration. Actions within the platform trigger email notifications to involved parties, keeping team members informed and engaged, even if they don’t regularly login to the platform. This system marks a significant improvement over traditional communication methods like phone calls and emails, which are often disjointed and lack real-time updates. 

With Task Management, project44 reduces the time to resolve exceptions by an estimated 20%, enabling teams to address disruptions swiftly and effectively. This enhanced management capability not only simplifies the prioritization of urgent shipments but also fosters effective team collaboration, significantly improving operational efficiency and accountability. 

Exception management in action 

Consider a scenario where a Transportation Coordinator receives an email notification that a truckload shipment is marked with the exception “Late >1 Day.” She quickly initiates a task for herself to contact the carrier, making her action visible to her colleagues. This transparency ensures that everyone in the team knows she is addressing the issue, and they don’t accidentally duplicate efforts. 

Based on the carrier’s feedback, she decides to cancel the shipment and assigns a new task to a colleague to secure an alternative carrier, minimizing disruption and maintaining service levels. Her colleague immediately receives an email notification about the new task, enabling him to take swift action. 

This process exemplifies how Task Management not only streamlines the identification and resolution of exceptions but also enhances transparency and accountability within teams. All team members can follow the progress of exceptions and view a history of actions taken, ensuring no critical shipment is overlooked. 

Get a demo 

Movement doesn’t just give you visibility of your shipment, it supercharges your team’s efficiency and collaboration when the unexpected happens.  

Ready to see for yourself? Request a demo today and see how Task Management can revolutionize your operations from the ground up!