This article was originally published by MHD Supply Chain.
Logistics Service Providers (LSP) across the supply chain industry have historically struggled to incorporate technology solutions that help them meet their current and long- range objectives.
Origin, Sandfield’s supply chain division, not only caters to the core requirements that are universal across the logistics sector, but also thrives when supply chain operations invariably get “creative.”
With over 30 years of experience delivering supply chain software, Origin uses its suite of products and development expertise to help its customers differentiate themselves from the competition.
Origin partners with organisations across the entire market but has often found they align best with businesses whose supply chain needs are both unique and complex. This includes specialised freight types used in the transport of containerised goods, break bulk, bulk goods, and general freight.
“These businesses are not just looking for software; they’re looking for a unique way of working that the software can showcase,” says Alan Dowsett, Head of Origin, Sandfield.
Some of Origin’s customers include Qube, Tasman Logistics, PrixCar, Mainfreight, and HW Richardson to name a few.
Many LSPs (like those involved in mining contracts or operations at ports) need specialised logistics solutions to secure contracts and provide services to their customers in the way they demand.
In some cases, the physical requirements dictate that entirely new types of equipment need to be built to properly service the contracts. Lateral thinking is the key to helping these companies succeed.
“Typically, customers come to us because they are trying to do something complicated, something different from their competitors,” says Alan.
“They’re responding to unique customer requirements or new contract demands.”
Generally speaking, these businesses are utilising processes that involve a level of specificity (both in terms of equipment and infrastructure) that is unable to be adequately served by off-the-shelf software systems. As an example, one Origin customer manages the transport of industrial steel coils and beams using rail.
In recent years, there has been a shift in how logistics companies view their technology stack.
Many of these companies have not historically viewed technology as a way to differentiate themselves; rather, they saw software technology as a tool to meet basic operational needs.
“In the logistics sector, if you’re not approaching things with a unique mindset, you’re going to struggle to win new contracts,” says Alan.
Previously, the industry relied on large ERP systems that attempted to cover all aspects of the business without really standing out in any particular area. Over time, the market has evolved and now there’s a growing preference for the flexible and scalable capabilities that SaaS (Software as a Service) options provide.
The rise of SaaS solutions has further complicated the landscape. While these solutions often excel in their niche areas, they can be challenging to modify and integrate.
“Many large logistics companies still look for solutions they can alter to fit their business needs, but SaaS solutions don’t always play nicely with that requirement,” says Alan.
This situation creates a dilemma: companies want the flexibility to adapt software to their unique processes,
but they also want the efficiency and scalability that SaaS offers.
Origin’s journey from a custom software developer to offering a suite of productised solutions reflects its growth and expertise in the logistics sector.
“We built a platform to support our custom solutions, which over time,
has evolved into productised offerings in transport management systems, container freight station solutions, and customer portals,” says Alan.
This evolution allows Origin to offer robust solutions that not only supply the core capabilities needed to cover the bulk of industry-standard operations, but also provide the flexibility to pivot to additional capabilities, as needed.
Due to the varied and specific requirements of most logistics operators, companies will always lean towards software solutions that not only integrate seamlessly across various platforms, but also offer the flexibility to adapt to unique business needs.
Through various projects Origin has been able to work with supply chain partners to create solutions that did not exist. This focus on customisation, integration, and direct client collaboration positions Origin as a leader in providing innovative logistics solutions.
“For us, it’s about ensuring our clients have the tools they need to differentiate themselves in a competitive market,” explains Alan.
“Digital experience used to just mean you could email the customer,” says Alan.
Now, customers expect real-time, accurate information, accessible through portals and integrated directly into their systems. They also want to receive timely, accurate data in a format they can work with. Without this functionality, it’s nearly impossible to productively interact with the data so that basic tasks can be completed, such as updating order statuses or disputing charges.
This shift towards customer visibility and self-service is a critical factor in the logistics sector’s digital transformation.
Origin’s collaborative approach extends beyond software development to implementation and support.
Rather than outsource these functions, Origin’s dedicated teams work directly with clients throughout the process.
“Our developers, who are also experts in the software and supply chain, help implement and support it,” says Alan.
This direct involvement ensures that clients receive tailored solutions and timely support, a key distinction in the market.
One of the biggest technology challenges in logistics today is managing and integrating a variety of systems across the supply chain that may have been built by multiple providers and were never specifically designed to work together.
This often results in applications that don’t communicate effectively with each other, leading to siloed data and labour inefficiencies.
“If you’re moving goods around your supply chain and those goods touch each of your different systems, which one do you look at to find out where the goods are right now?” asks Alan.
Origin addresses this challenge by utilising Sandfield’s integration solution, Crossfire, to connect both the internal and partner systems creating a single source of truth across the supply chain.
“We collect and organise all the necessary data together to provide visibility and orchestration across these solutions,” adds Alan.
Crossfire has been designed specifically for the high-performance requirements of supply chains, processing over 1.4 billion messages annually.
Alan emphasises two key aspects: internal integration within a company’s systems and external integration with customers’ systems.
“It’s not just about logging into a portal to see where something is; it’s about having that data integrated directly into the customers’ systems,” says Alan.
The single source of truth provided by Origin is crucial for companies that need to coordinate activities across multiple systems and provide real-time visibility to their customers.
“Crossfire connects these different systems together and then Origin makes sure they can work together in a meaningful way,” says Alan.
One example of Origin’s unique approach is its work with a prominent LSP in the vehicle transport sector, a niche market with few available solutions.
Origin provided a middle ground between a custom option and a productised solution, helping its client meet the conditions unique to their business without having to build a solution from scratch.
Another example is Origin’s technology managing the complexities associated with the loading, unloading and tracking of specialised bulk container transport used to move ore from mines to destination ports. Due to the complex nature of the operation, Origin’s client was looking for a partner who could examine the problem creatively.
In the end, Origin was able to accommodate the nuanced processes of this large logistics provider and allowed them to streamline their operation and improve performance.
What sets Origin apart from other logistics software providers is its ability to efficiently adapt its product suite to meet specific business needs.
Origin’s core range of technology products have a long history of streamlining operational processes across the supply chain. Origin works closely with its customers to adapt its software to fit their customers’ unique requirements.
“We never say no to a challenge,” says Alan.
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