Simacan: Control Tower Solution

The readers have been presented in the previous blogs with the definitions, characteristics, types, advantages and challenges regarding to the implementation of Control Towers solution for modern supply chains. In the today’s blog I will write more about Simacan company which can help you implement a Control Tower software solution in order to execute and deliver according to your requirements for transportation. The structure of the blog evolves around the following sub-topics:

1. Simacan’s Control Tower Solution: 4 Core Elements
2. Advantages

1. Simacan’s Control Tower Solution: 4 Core Elements

Simacan is a company focused on delivering software solutions for the logistics and supply chain industry. Their software and data solutions focus primarily on delivering real-time traffic information in primary business processes with a specialisation on geospatial data.

The Dutch company was founded in 2013 by Rob Schuurbiers and Felix Faassen, two engineers with more than 15 years of experience in developing innovative products and services for the B2B, the government, and consumer market.

The solution is based on 4 core elements:

1. Focus;
2. Resolve;
3. Inform;
4. Achieve

Simacan’s Control Tower solution supports with visibility and tracking real-time performance of the transportation fleet in order to fulfil the supply chain needs and activities of a logistics service provider, or of a multi-national / manufacturing company in a dashboard overview. As shown below, this dashboard overview shows:

1. Active shipments;
2. Real-time location progress tracking & trace of of trucks / vehicles fleet;
3. Arrival times;
4. Delays: extra minutes / hours of order shipment;
5. Destinations

Logistics managers, supervisors and employees are able to flexibly track in real-time the location and the status of their shipment orders progress, 24/7 from anywhere, at anytime, as long they have an internet connection and the user credentials (user rights) on 3 available platforms:

1. Desktop;
2. Tablet;
3. Phone

Focus

The first core element is called Focus. This element zooms into specific routes in order to gain visibility of the current traffic status, such as congestion, accidents or any damages on the road and calculates the extra additional time required for deliveries. The feature is especially useful for the last-mile deliveries, where time is critical. In case the order exceeds its delivery window, and thus does not respect its Key Performance Indicator (KPI) such as 95% service level for example, the system immediately emits alerts and warnings.

Resolve

The second core element is Resolve. This feature provides route optimisation by showing the shortest and fastest possible route to the destination. Additionally, in case of any unforeseen circumstances during transportation such as bad weather, congestion and accidents, it can calculate new routes. In these cases, instructions can be sent directly to the driver’s onboard computers.

Inform

The third core element Inform has the purpose to provide real-time information of expected delivery times of the shipments, at selected destination points, and at various time intervals. Additionally, the system shows the amount of completed deliveries per day. The status for the completed orders has the green tag “Arrived” and for not-arrived yet deliveries the yellow tag “Underway“. In case of delays, the direct chat feature supports real-time communication for the reason of the delay.

Achieve

The fourth core element is Achieve and its main function is to track performance in percentage expressed as the completed on time deliveries. In this way, the performance can be tracked for the weekly and monthly reviews. As such, it shows the total number of trips performed. The results are shared among shippers, carriers and charters. Additionally, for the rest of the 30% of the shipments not delivered in time, a root-cause analysis can be executed, in order to identify and determine the main factors that influenced not achieving the service levels.

2. Advantages

Simacan’s Control Tower solution has the following six concrete advantages:

Conclusion

In conclusion, Simacan’s Control Tower software solution is a reliable and complete business package based on a full-working platform, with proven advantages which can optimise any supply chain by means of improving visibility and real-time decision making.

In my opinion, I consider Simacan’s Control Tower as a starting entry point solution, focused on managing accurately the current fleet management of a company, suitable for small and medium sized (SME’s) businesses. However, the solution is limited in functionality and size.

I believe that they provide a great starting solution, however for larger databases, for additional features capable to optimise the entire supply chain network, able to meet additional KPI’s and for escalating (Plug & Play) solutions among individual firm’s subsidiaries globally, for companies such as Unilever, Nestle, or ExxonMobil, Simacan cannot fulfil these complex needs.

I think this is perfectly normal, as Simacan has its own product market combination (PMC) and specific market segment to focus on. In my opinion and concluding this blog, the following five key characteristics of Simacan can add value to any interested SME for implementing a Control Towers software solution:

1. Low-Medium costs Control Tower solution;
2. Fast implementation: no configuration needed;
3. Performance Dashboards Overview available on 3 platforms;
4. Customer support: 24/7 monitoring + emergency hotline;
5. Proven successful track record with 6 reputable customers