Christopher Hewlett, Managing Director of BoxTop Technologies Ltd, long time sponsors and supporters of BIFA, was pleased to present the Supply Chain Management category award to a delighted Philip Brown, representing SBS Worldwide.

In it’s submission SBS Worldwide described how, jointly with its consultancy, it revolutionised the consolidation of printing for a medical publishing client of theirs. The newly-created supply chain now allows the publisher to consolidate the printing of millions of books per year in Asia, whilst having massively reduced the logistics costs in year one of operation.

SBS Worldwide is the deserved winner of this category for illustrating an excellent example of a true vendor relationship. Their tailored real-time web solution not only provided end-to end-visibility, via multiple media, but also incorporated their customer’s key performance indicators, in addition to demonstrating tangible benefits in cost, transit time and flexibility.

Judged by David Streather of Lloyds TSB, Keith Madeley (known as Mr. Yorkshire), together with Jonathan Jones of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey (UK) LLP, the six award categories were bestowed on companies that have embraced the coaching process and as a result were able to demonstrate outstanding business performance. These categories included Marketing, Innovation, Entrepreneur, Team, Financial and Business of the Year. “This year the judges have had a tough choice as so many companies have shown incredible success in so many different ways” stated Keith Madeley.

The most sought after award on the night ‘Business of the Year Award 2011′, was won by GXD Logistics from Goole. Managing Director Graham Cross was delighted to have been honoured for the successes achieved in his business over the last 12 months and said “The award came out of the blue but once I’d had time to think about it I could see how it amounted to recognition of what the whole team has achieved at GXD.” The business offers an unrivalled freight forwarding service, their expertise and experience enables them to transport cargo safely and efficiently by air, sea or road. Their success, despite the current economic climate, has enabled them to substantially increase turnover, generating raised net profit returns. Graham has been coached by ActionCOACH Mandy Hildred of York over the last two years, Graham has said “The effect of Mandy’s coaching is that I am working more efficiently and so is the business, with systems that measure on a daily basis where we are and where we want to go”.

Paul Richardson, BoxTop’s Business Development Manager says “We’re always delighted to hear success stories, but especially when it involves one of our customers! On behalf of everyone at BoxTop I’d like to congratulate Graham Cross and the whole team at GXD Logistics on winning this prestigious award.”

• Matt Beech
• Chief Executive
• Maltacourt Global Logistics

In data we trust…

The background

Maltacourt is a privately-owned UK-based freight forwarder, offering international air and sea services and European road freight. It was established in Widnes, UK in 1981 and now also has offices at London’s Heathrow airport and in Australia, Canada and Hungary. Maltacourt is a growing business and has recently (Nov 2009) doubled its warehouse space near Heathrow and expanded into central Europe.

The challenge

Maltacourt’s business was growing and it needed to find a more efficient way to manage the information along with the freight itself. In order to remain competitive, it needed to improve productivity per employee and to link its Widnes and Heathrow offices.

Maltacourt also wanted to improve visibility for customers – to allow them to access what information they needed, when they needed it. It also wanted to improve visibility for its own employees – so they could always access information about the status of the cargo and, most importantly, be alerted to potential problems. The existing system was no better than just recording data for invoicing.

The solution

Maltacourt investigated a variety of freight forwarding software systems and narrowed it down to the last two. Matt Beech, CEO, says the functionality of the two was very similar but what persuaded him to select BoxTop was its ease of use. “We asked the operations people to look at the systems and they were able to use BoxTop straight away. It was obviously designed by people who understand the industry. Training takes a minimal amount of time and it is a quick and easy system to use.”

Matt Beech also wanted the system to be based on Microsoft SQL “so we could build anything we wanted to sit alongside and extract and exchange data. Data is only interesting if you can use it.”

This means Maltacourt can give its customers exactly what they want. “One customer wanted a POD with more information than just the time, date and person who signed. So we added the data they wanted, created it in the format they wanted and send it to their server automatically twice a day.”

Maltacourt also asked BoxTop to help when it needed to interact more easily with a partner in Hungary who was handling goods out of three factories there. “Our partner can now input data about the cargo, using an Internet process designed by BoxTop – what, where and precisely what time the goods were picked up as well as warehouse and trucking data, and this information updates BoxTop instantly for us. This has greatly increased efficiency – and the accuracy of the data.”

The result

Maltacourt has found that customer satisfaction levels have improved. “With BoxTop, we can always give our customers exactly what they want. BoxTop is led by its customers. We ask them if they can offer us a particular facility and they almost always can deliver it!

“BoxTop is a vast improvement on what we had in the past and on what others can offer. They promised us a swift and seamless transition to their system – and they delivered.”

• Glyn Smith
• Operations Director
• Mapcargo International

Sole success…

The background

Mapcargo International Ltd is an independent freight forwarder and high value logistics provider, heavily involved in steering global procurement services. It has five offices in the UK, seven in the USA and two in Asia. Through its international air, ocean and road logistics services, Mapcargo provides key links in its customers’ supply chains.

The challenge

Mapcargo was offered the chance to enter a new market – high value fashion goods imported into the UK from Italy and distributed to retailers, shops and even to individual customers. They already had the trailers and the staff to do the job.

“We needed a warehouse management system that would communicate with our customer’s computers and allow us to quickly handle a huge number of stock movements, especially during the pre-Christmas panic season,” says Glyn Smith, Operations Director, Mapcargo.

The solution

Although Mapcargo has been a BoxTop customer for many years, its need to integrate with its customer’s systems and to process goods through the warehouse without re-typing the information, required BoxTop to undertake some extra development.

Mapcargo explained the challenge to BoxTop and the team there came up with the precise solutions that Mapcargo needed. Glyn Smith admits that he changed the criteria a few times during the process “but they were very good and patient with us.”

“With a single click of a button we can now automatically process hundreds of pick orders, print off packing lists and automatically build our delivery jobs. BoxTop even designed and wrote a barcode scanning system to handle check-in, picking and inventory operations.”

He believes that the BoxTop team’s background in freight rather than just IT has great benefits. “They really understand what we are trying to achieve for our customers.”

The result

BoxTop enabled Mapcargo to enter into the new sector of hi-value fashion goods and offer a competitive service. Without the installation of the BoxTop system, when a trailer arrived with more than 700 garments it would take one person all day for the information to be keyed in and processed. “Now it is done at the press of a button,” says Glyn Smith.

“Over the past 12 months, the BoxTop stock control module has helped us to move over 10 million items in, out and around our warehouses. Within seconds we can reliably view stock levels and movement history for any item. Plus, all the information is available instantly on-line for our customers.”

Multimodal 2011 is the UK and Ireland’s largest and most transport and logistics exhibition. The event is huge. Hall 4 at the NEC is 16,700m2 – almost 2.5 the size the times of Wembley!

This year – the event welcomes BoxTop Technologies Ltd for the first time – a leading freight management software suppliers in the UK.

As well as almost 200 exhibitions stands, Multimodal featured a whole array of seminars, workshops, trade briefings, networking occasions and features. All free-of-charge to visitors – and visiting was free too!

With ample car parking, fantastic train connections and Birmingham International Airport on-site – the NEC is the perfect location to host this prestigious event.

According to Multimodal, this exhibition provides visitors with hard-to-get information, a “shop-window” of top service providers, unrivalled networking opportunities and great peer-to-peer contact.

Commenting on the success of the exhibition, Paul Richardson – BoxTop’s Business Development Manager says “This was the first time we’ve exhibited at Multimodal and it’s been a resounding success. Not only did we get a chance to say hello to some of our existing customers but we were also delighted with the number and quality of prospects that visited our stand. We’ve already decided that we’ll be back in 2012 with a bigger and better stand!”

We have more to offer customers now, including much better visibility throughout the supply chain.

This is helping us win more business.”

• Alan Vincett
• Operations Director
• Oceanteam Logistics

Value on-board…

The background

Oceanteam Logistics, a highly successful independent freight forwarder, based near Heathrow, was founded in 2000. It has a wide variety of customers but is keen to expand both the business it does for existing customers and its total client base. To cope with the growing focus on this side of the business, they have expanded the export department and, more recently, have taken over the lease on the neighbouring premises.

The challenge

Oceanteam Logistics had an existing freight software system but it just couldn’t deliver what Oceanteam – and, more importantly, its customers – needed.

“For instance, we wanted a better web tracking system for our customers,” explains Alan Vincett, Operations Director. “And we needed a package that would link to our accounts software to help us work more efficiently.” Just as importantly, Oceanteam felt that it should be able to get faster response times from the software provider when any problems or queries arose.

Additionally, a major customer, was considering moving its European Spares Operation out of the Amsterdam warehouse of one of the world’s largest logistics companies. And Oceanteam needed a warehouse software system to be able to secure the business.

The solution

“We began working with BoxTop in January 2009,” says Alan. “The system is definitely more user-friendly and very logical. It is easy to show a new employee how to use it.” It also has better functionality, including creating air waybills, road freight CMRs and sea freight bills of lading more easily.

To win the new warehouse contract, Oceanteam thought it was faced with having to invest significant sums in a bespoke warehouse management system. “But when we looked at our existing BoxTop package, we found that everything we needed was in that – at no extra cost! That showed we had made the right decision when we decided to work with BoxTop.

“We talked to Christopher [Hewlett, BoxTop co-founder and Managing Director] and Alex [Delmonte, a member of the BoxTop development team] about BoxTop’s warehouse features and very quickly we discovered we already had a proven solution that could provide exactly what our customer needed.”
Using BoxTop’s web interface (BoxTrax), our customers can now access the inventory in real time and place orders 24/7.

The result

Since July 2009, Oceanteam Logistics has run the European distribution centre for one its customers. It arranges the collection of goods from throughout Europe, warehouses around 3,000 line items and then picks and delivers these items around the world at the customer’s request.

“BoxTop were an integral part of our securing the business,” says Alan. “We had the people and the skills but we needed to prove that we had the systems to match our customer’s requirements. BoxTop was so flexible that it allowed us to make the changes that our customer wanted – quickly, easily and without additional cost.”

An added bonus is that Oceanteam can now use BoxTop systems to attract other customers. “We have more to offer customers now – both the better visibility through the supply chain and the warehouse software. This is helping us win more business.”

• Michael Jones
• Director
• Dynamic International Freight Services Ltd

Focussed on delivery…

The background

Dynamic International Freight Services Ltd is a privately-owned UK-based freight forwarder, offering international services and specialising in the film/television production market. It has a strong loyal customer base, demanding a very high level of on-time delivery.

The challenge

Dynamic had some freight forwarding software but decided it needed a more sophisticated system – partly to make sure that it was able to offer the same level of service as the global integrators. And also to ensure its own management of the freight and its reporting systems were as effective as possible.

The solution

Dynamic selected BoxTop after comparing the systems offered by four rival software companies.

Michael Jones, Director, Dynamic International, says: “BoxTop has a good reputation – it must be the top of the tree in terms of independent software suppliers. We looked at the system and liked both it and the people.” But it was not until the system was installed and in use that the team at Dynamic realised how much easier it made their jobs.

“It looked like a good idea and it transpired that it was,” says Michael Jones. “Once you get it, you realise how good it is. Every piece of information is captured and you can drill down into the system and cherry pick any bits of information that you need.”

Dynamic is particularly impressed by BoxTop’s response to its requests. “We call up Christopher (Hewlett, BoxTop co-owner) and stuff happens. BoxTop are always willing to look at any sensible – or even not so sensible – ideas we have and see if they work.”

Although BoxTop supports a worldwide customer base, it remains focussed on the individual needs of its customers. An example of this is a bespoke project undertaken to send electronic invoices streamlining the accounting process and allowing Dynamic to continue to satisfy the changing demands of a prestigious account.

The result

Dynamic International can now compete more effectively with the big integrators as it can gather and use a much greater range of information about any shipment.

Michael Jones says: “BoxTop, in terms of technology, brings us up to the level of the express companies. In fact, it is better. The express companies are stuck with what they specified years ago. We have a lot more flexibility as BoxTop works with us to give us exactly what we need to meet customer needs and make the whole process run more smoothly.”

Testimonials

“BoxTop gives me a handle on every operational aspect of the business.” says Michael Jones, Director, Dynamic International Freight Services Ltd.

• Jon Smerin
• Logistics Manager
• Hankyu Hanshin Express UK Ltd

Flexible nature…

The background

Hankyu Hanshin Express (UK) Ltd is a new company created by the merger of two Japanese transport giants in 2008. It offers international freight forwarding services, specialising in high value, time-critical express freight.

The challenge

Hankyu in the UK was using a software system which had been chosen for the company’s European offices in 2001 and was not delivering what it promised in terms of functionality, development or support for the UK. The company had invested a significant sum in this system so could not easily change.

Jon Smerin, IT and UK Logistics Manager, knew there was a better way. “We employ quite a lot of temporary staff and they kept asking us why we didn’t use BoxTop as it is a far better system. I got a bit tired of hearing about BoxTop to be honest!”

The solution

However, when the opportunity arose to explore new systems, Jon Smerin did look at BoxTop. “I immediately liked the fact that there is no massive investment upfront. You rent it, rather than buy it like most other freight systems. BoxTop set it up for nothing and we just pay per user.”

It is a very easy system for people to learn. “In the past, it was not worth taking on temporary staff for a few days because it would take them so long to get used to using the system. Now, even if they don’t already know BoxTop, they pick it up very quickly and are productive straight away.”

BoxTop also greatly reduces the need for re-keying of data as it links to both ASM for Customs and to Hankyu Hanshin’s own accounts system.”This saves a lot of double entry – and cuts down the potential for errors.”

He is also impressed with the support. “In the past, we had to send an email request and screen shots to the support desk and wait for a reply. Now we can just pick up the phone and, if necessary BoxTop will instantly logon to the user’s screen to see what’s happening and provide an immediate suggestion or solution.

The result

Jon Smerin says: “The support is fantastic. We call them with a problem or idea and they immediately know what we are talking about. A lot of them have freight forwarding backgrounds, so they understand our needs – and our customers’ needs.

Testimonials

“The system is really easy to use. It is laid out in a logical sequence, the way the job flows, and users like it. There are not a lot of fancy buttons that are pointless. The system has streamlined our business considerably.” says Jon Smerin, Logistics Manager, Hankyu Hanshin Express (UK) Ltd