Author: Reiner Bachthaler
Mobile applications in the bulk goods industry
Paperless and mobile: the future of bulk goods logistics
In bulk goods logistics, the demand for digitally controlled processes is constantly increasing, while the time pressure for faster handling of processes is constantly rising. Efficient integration of the various users and seamless integration of the individual sub-area solutions into a holistic infrastructure is therefore essential. It is important to note that users no longer only use software solutions on company PCs, for which standardized desktop software would be suitable. Instead, users are often out and about in the factory or on construction sites. There, they need the flexibility to carry out their logistics tasks without a laptop or desktop PC.
The same applies to truck drivers transporting bulk goods. To ensure efficient processes, they should also no longer receive their information in the form of paper-based loading and delivery bills, but via a digital logistics workflow. This also supports the sustainability aspect associated with the demand for a paperless logistics workflow. The efficiency and time saved when the truck driver no longer has to wait for documents to be printed out should also not be underestimated. All these factors mean that the demand for mobile applications in bulk goods logistics is constantly growing.
Efficiency through networking
Although there are a large number of corresponding mobile apps on the market, these often do not meet the requirements for mobile logistics solutions in the bulk goods industry. Many of them are based on stand-alone solutions that cannot be integrated into higher-level workflow systems. The consequences are manual data entry and a lack of transparency, which leads to costly time delays and inconsistent data.
The situation is completely different with the Axians VAS Mobile Application, which enables direct and smooth integration with a central logistics workflow system such as VAS Cloud Logistics and the yard logistics solution VAS Yard Management. There, the data in the mobile app is always up-to-date and consistent and it is ensured that the information entered is immediately and automatically transmitted to central systems and all users involved. The transparency created in this way leads to greater process reliability with significantly reduced effort.
Integration of mobile applications
In the practice of bulk goods logistics, there are a wide variety of mobile use cases. As described, their successful integration is crucial in order to avoid having to maintain and manage a large number of individual solutions and provide them with individual interfaces.
The use of a mobile framework such as the apps from Axians IAS is the right answer to this challenge. With this powerful solution, a wide variety of mobile applications are controlled via a common backend platform, into which other customer applications can be flexibly integrated. The comprehensive link to central logistics workflow solutions and connections to plant logistics solutions guarantees that the apps are always provided with the data required for the respective area of application by the backend.
With a solution like this, the simultaneous use of mobile apps for a wide range of user applications becomes manageable, allowing the full potential of the apps to be utilized. The use of mobile applications in companies therefore contributes to achieving an important competitive advantage.
The use of mobile applications in practice
Bulk goods logistics is characterized by a number of typical applications in which efficient mobile solutions make all the difference:
1. Order Taking App
Order entry in bulk goods logistics is often still carried out in the traditional way by phone call or email.
This leads to delays due to limited business hours at the supplier or the lengthy research into prices and individual delivery conditions when preparing quotations.
An order taking app with a direct connection to a central, cloud-based logistics workflow solution enables quick and easy online ordering at any time of day, based on predefined framework agreements between the customer and supplier.
A fast and secure ordering process with maximum flexibility, transparency and a low error rate.
2. Full Customer App
Ordering apps often only display the actual order information and therefore only support this process step. Full transparency across the entire ordering, delivery and invoicing process and central availability of all relevant documents (delivery bills, invoices, etc.) is therefore not provided. The result is often tedious manual inquiries with high costs for the customer and supplier.
Thanks to its full integration with a central cloud logistics system, an “extended” order taking app provides data and statuses for all relevant logistics process steps, including from a plant logistics system, in the app.
The customer has all relevant information available at a central point. This leads to improved customer loyalty and less effort for inquiries and information.
3. Mobile Loading App (e.g. for wheel loaders and forklift trucks)
Mobile loading and unloading vehicles in the delivery plant and also on the construction site require reliable information on deliveries and the delivery process (customer, material, quantity, order number, license plate number of the truck, etc.). Today, this is often done manually, e.g. with paper-based pre-delivery bills that are filled out manually. The resulting high level of effort is error-prone and unsustainable.
Users receive all relevant information from higher-level logistics systems online in the mobile loading app and can immediately identify and select the pending load. The loading data is also recorded in the app and automatically transferred to central systems.
Significantly reduced effort for data recording during loading and unloading, greater safety and an improved CO2 balance, as no printouts are required.
4. Driver App incl. ePoD
Truck drivers who carry out deliveries in bulk goods logistics often struggle with incomplete information and a multitude of documents that vary depending on the customer.
A driver app handles all information and documents relating to the journey to the loading plant, check-in and check-out, the loading process, the journey to the recipient and the recipient’s confirmation of receipt of the goods. The driver receives all the necessary information in the app, selects the upcoming process and can check in and out or start the loading process at self-service terminals in the plant via the app. Status messages can also be set automatically via existing geolocation data with a GPS connection. The connection to such a central solution allows for greater flexibility, especially when used across multiple delivery plants.
Significantly reduced administrative work for truck drivers and management at the loading plant, faster deliveries, shorter dwell times at the plant, greater safety and improved sustainability thanks to a paperless workflow.
5. Ticket App
The paper-based transfer of delivery information leads to cumbersome and unsustainable processes for both drivers and goods recipients.
Conversion to paperless handling, where delivery bills are no longer printed out but transmitted electronically to a ticket app. This is either fully automated and integrated into central logistics workflow systems, or the process is handled via a plant logistics solution, e.g. by scanning a QR code at an exit terminal. The recipient of the delivery can also be integrated and receive the delivery data electronically. Confirmation of receipt of the goods is also no longer provided as a signature on a paper delivery bill, but via Electronic Proof of Delivery (ePoD), i.e. a direct signature in the ticket app.
A faster checkout process at the plant, lower CO2 consumption thanks to a paperless delivery data workflow and less effort for truck drivers and material recipients.
6. Tracking App
For many users (customer, forwarder, recipient, supplier), knowing the current delivery status is of the utmost importance. This information is often required very flexibly and in a wide variety of places, so a mobile app is the ideal way to have this data available at all times.
Monitoring of all relevant real-time data either in a dedicated tracking app or, as described above, in a customer app through its comprehensive connection to central systems.
The solution leads to improved customer loyalty and significantly reduced effort for manual inquiries. In addition, current information on each delivery can be used to intervene quickly if necessary.
There are also a number of other areas of use for mobile applications in the bulk goods industry. These include the security app, which monitors compliance with safety regulations by personnel in the plant and on construction sites. Other digital helpers include apps for lot tracking, which enables precise tracing of the material in a delivery, as well as applications for quality assurance for deliveries and means of transport or for managing safety documents in the hazardous goods sector.
Conclusion
Mobile applications for use on tablets and smartphones are becoming increasingly important in bulk goods logistics, as they enable flexible and optimized processing of a wide range of tasks outside the office environment. The use of apps leads to time savings, maximum transparency, greater security and paperless workflows, bringing significant benefits in terms of efficiency and sustainability. Users in a wide range of sectors benefit from the digital solutions; from customers to suppliers, carriers and their drivers to goods recipients. In addition, given the rapid pace of technological progress and the use of AI solutions, it is highly likely that the potential applications and market demand will continue to grow in the future.
Reiner Bachthaler Senior Product Manager