Big Data in logistics: from operational efficiencies to sustainable advantages

Using Big Data in Supply Chain Management is a real game changer for logistics service providers. Not only does it provide intelligent insight into improving operational efficiency, it also helps to better satisfy customers’ economic and environmental expectations. But on one condition: a solid foundation for Data analytics must be built.

Thanks to the latest advances in technology, logistics service providers are now capable of better exploiting data, which brings a host of benefits to the entire supply chain: planning; production; delivery; returns; improved truck circuit management; prioritization for new orders; improved delivery times; better route planning; and improved traceability, etc. By using Big Data, supply chain players can optimize operational costs, enhance their operational efficiency, and help customers find the best ways to deliver their products to consumers. 

While the advantages of Big Data are now widely known, they only become tangible if the correct approach is used. Concretely, we are building an adequate data platform architecture to allow the information to be transmitted and analyzed in real-time. It mainly consists of replicating our raw data from one operational database into a Google Cloud platform and of converting it into a format that can be easily accessed and understood by all, not just our TMS or WMS experts. Once it’s all completed, we will benefit from centralized access to 100 % of our data and be able to produce standardized reports and KPIs.” 

Enhancing the customer experience

Thanks to the work carried out over the past two years, intelligent data is becoming more accessible to Winsail Logistic’s operational teams. We built dashboards to monitor our activity on a daily basis, both for our warehouse and transport operations. We now have KPIs for volume monitoring, the daily number of pallets prepared and shipped, productivity, delays, anomalies, and much more. 

Going further in data analysis / Unlocking the full potential of data

It takes quite an effort to reap the full benefits of Data analytics. Whilst Winsail Logistic is beginning to see the advantages of its investments in Data implementation, the priority now is on providing more comprehensive analytics so that it can make better data-informed decisions for its customers. Another main project on Winsail Logistic’s agenda is to create a transversal database, combining data collected from different sources and covering the entire value chain: functional, commercial, operational, HR, and so on.