In The News
Parcel Magazine - Painting The Trucks
by Pete Starvaski
As a provider of multi-carrier shipping software, I am often explaining why there are geographic pockets where FedEx, UPS, DHL, TNT or some other carrier cannot be supported with the carriers' standard software. The reason is often the carrier expanding their footprint through an acquisition.
Lloyd's List - Electric Dreams
by Isabel Iesto
What does Kewill’s Universal Carrier Module (UCM) do?
UCM gives shippers anywhere in the world control over the carriers and the services they choose; they don’t have to depend on carrier-based software anymore.
Won’t shipping lines insist on their own software being used?
Shipping lines’ own software does not satisfy the requirements of complex shipping environments. Many customers already use third-party software that provides choice between services, but only those services already embedded in the software.
DC Velocity: Eyes On The Skies
by Mark B. Solomon
Cloud-based technology is being hailed as the next big thing in the parcel management sector. But first, providers have to allay shippers' concerns over cost, reliability, and data security.
In April, the U.S. division of the British firm Kewill PLC, a major player in the parcel technology segment, met in Nashville, Tenn., to hold its annual customer conference, which was dominated by the company's parcel clientele.
Though the conference covered various topics, the most popular, according to those in attendance, was the symposium on cloud computing.
Parcel Magazine - Economic Optimism and Parcel Shipping
by Pete Starvaski
I just attended the Internet Retailer show in Chicago. I was an attendee, not an exhibitor, which allowed me the ability to attend presentations and visit some of the key players in this mecca of direct to consumer shipping. Over 8,000 people attended the three-day conference. The mood of the conference was extremely optimistic. While the rest of the world is mired down in economic pessimism, Internet retail sales last November and December were 35.5 billion (according to the research service comScore) up 15% from a year ago.
Parcel Magazine - The New United States Postal Service
by Peter Starvaski
I've shied away from writing about the United States Postal Service in this column. The reason is simply because the situation is so dynamic that it lends itself more to the immediate feedback from social media rather than the lead time required for print...However, as a big supporter of competition in the parcel shipping arena, I think that the United States Postal Service has an important role in maintaining a competitive landscape and wanted to discuss some areas that are major concerns for them.
Supply Chain Management Review: Kewill Flagship Express to aid specialized supply chains
by Patrick Burnson, Executive Editor
Kewill has expanded its supply chain management services with a non-premise-based technology designed for small-and medium-sized businesses.
Parcel Magazine - Going Mobile
by Peter Starvaski
One of the hot trends is being able to provide your software or a component of your software as an 'app' on a mobile device. All of the carriers have them now...But when I think of parcel shippers and the readers of this magazine, I do not think that a mobile app for our industry segment needs to let you ship a package, find a location to drop of a shipment or, quite frankly, do most of what the carrier apps today provide for functionality.
Logistics Management: Logistics Technology - GTM seeks higher ground
by Bridget McCrea, Contributing Editor
With freight costs rising, capacity constraints looming, and the complexities of global trade on the rise, our top analysts concur that global trade management (GTM) software will continue its slow-but-steady infiltration into today's vernacular-that is if shippers can justify the ROI.
Supply & Demand Chain Executive: Kewill Selected to Deploy Multi-Carrier Shipping Solution
Leading golf products company to use Kewill to improve customer service and reduce costs.
Software solutions provider Kewill Inc. announced that it will now deploy Acushnet Co.'s golf products-including balls, clubs, shoes, globes and apparel-for their nine U.S. locations with potential for global roll-out in the future.
World Trade - Trends to Watch in 2012
by Martha Walz
The year 2011 was a very instructive one for the global supply chain. From the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan, to the volcano eruption in Iceland, to the floods in Thailand, Mother Nature forced companies to scramble and, in some cases, rethink their supply chain policies and strategies.
Globalization of the supply chain has made it more vulnerable. While there are cheaper labor and production costs overseas, the natural disasters of 2011 showed us exactly how tenuous the links in the supply chain are.
Read the Article
Logistics Management: 2012 Customs & Regulations Update - Balancing risk and reward
by Patrick Burnson, Executive Editor
A flurry of new trade agreements should signal greater opportunity for U.S. importers and exporters. But this means that another layer of compliance complexity has been introduced. How will today's global shippers deal with the new risk/reward scenario?
Parcel Magazine - Cloud vs Server
by Peter Starvaski
People often ask for a comparison of premise-based and cloud-based shipping applications, this article discusses the two scenarios and looks at some pros and cons to each option.
Internet Retailer - Many retailers still use old shipping methods
A Kewill survey finds that many companies lack automated shipping management
by Paul Demery, Managing Editor
Although retailers and other companies in a recent survey say they're handling increased shipping volumes this year, partly because of a rise in e-commerce sales, nearly 40% say they still spend one minute or more per parcel to enter order data into a shipping management system, according to a recent survey of 820 companies by Kewill, a provider of shipping management technology. Kewill did not break down how many of the companies were retailers.
Parcel Magazine - What's the Tipping Point for Changing Modes?
by Peter Starvaski
Last issue, we discussed the six pack. This issue, we'll take a look at your legs - your shipment legs, that is. From a shipper's perspective, when you contract with one carrier to pick up and deliver your parcel, that's one leg (even if the carrier may move it to different modes along the way). However, there can be cost savings by managing your own modes, or legs, and consolidating the front end of transportation.
