Trans-Tasman win for TransLogix

Gordon Peters
Thursday, 02 December 2010 21:31

IT Industry - Deals

Transport and logistics solutions vendor, Translogix, has scored a double-header, sealing a contract with Contract Warehousing on both sides of the Tasman.

Contract Warehousing New Zealand and its Australian operation, Contract Logistics, are the latest customers for Translogix' integrated Sapphire transport & logistics management suite.

The Auckland-headquartered business, with an annual turnover in excess of NZ$4 million and more than 90 clients across New Zealand and Australia, is in mid-implementation of the transport, warehouse, accounts and Web server modules of Sapphire.

Contract Warehousing group has now moved from simple trucking and handling in the late 70s to delivering third party (3PL) warehousing and logistics solutions as well as 4PL supply chain services, and is now also fulfilling a 5PL role on behalf of one client for whom it is currently buying NZ$300K - NZ$400K of stock per month. According to Translogix, Contract Warehousing is not aware of any logistics operator in New Zealand offering 5PL e-business support capabilities.

Contract Warehousing founder and managing director, Rod Giles, said: 'we can't afford to stand still. As our customers grow, we have to be able to keep ahead of them. When we saw what Sapphire could do for us, we pulled the plug on an expensive program implementation which was going nowhere. We know 3PL and 4PL and with the developing 5PL our partnership with TransLogix is the way of the future.

'This industry is no longer about trucks and sheds. It's all in the service offering. We saw the opportunities that 4PL full accounting (including GST returns and monthly balance sheets) offers and TransLogix is equipping us for it.'

According to Giles, sees with the new system in place the group will be able to maintain current staff levels while continuing to grow profitably. He said the self-service web portal within the new system will put daily reporting of stock levels and activity at customers' fingertips. 'This makes the business more accountable and also provides clients with a greater comfort level.'

Training is seen as a key component of the new Sapphire system, and Giles said Contract Warehousing already has its core staff testing and using the system, and he reports Giles that their initial feedback is very positive.

After the three month implementation and testing phase, the Sapphire project will go live in New Zealand on 1 January next year and roll out to the Australian operations on 1 April at the start of the company's new financial year.

According to TransLogix New Zealand country manager, Trevor Ammundsen Rod Giles and his Contract Warehousing group is a 'prime example of where the smart logistics operators are heading; with a tight focus on service levels and a sustainable future.'