¿Qué es la logística inversa y qué tipos hay?

logistica inversa

En el mundo de las empresas de distribución nos encontramos muchas veces con preguntas que nos interesan y nos hacen pensar. ¿Qué es la logística inversa? En un entorno donde la logística tradicional gestiona el flujo eficiente de productos desde el origen hasta el cliente final, la logística inversa se mueve en la dirección opuesta a las rutas de carga tradicionales. La integración de un software de logística se ha … Read more

7 Answers to your questions about our TMS for carriers

tms-para-transportistas-Imagen de vectorjuicea en Freepik

En el dinámico mundo de la logística, cada detalle cuenta. En Hedyla, entendemos las complejidades a las que los transportistas se enfrentan diariamente, y por eso hemos desarrollado un potente TMS  (Sistema de Gestión de Transporte) para transportistas diseñado para responder a las preguntas más frecuentes de nuestros clientes en el sector de transporte. Asignación … Read more

Hedyla: The modular logistics solution to optimize your business

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En un mundo empresarial en constante evolución, la capacidad de adaptación y flexibilidad son esenciales para mantenerse competitivo. En este contexto, Hedyla se presenta como una solución logística que no solo es modular, sino que también se adapta perfectamente a las necesidades cambiantes de tu empresa. Modular y personalizable Una de las principales ventajas de … Read more

Everything you need to know about the digital delivery note

Primer plano las manos apuntando a la tableta - ventajas del albarán digital foto

Document management is one of the activities within the logistics sector that requires a lot of circulation and agility in the preparation and presentation of paperwork. For this reason, as the demand in the transport of goods grows, it is already a necessity to digitize the processes and start applying the digital delivery note.

To better understand what a digital packing slip is, how it differs from a paper packing slip and what benefits it offers, read on to learn more.

What is a digital delivery note?

A delivery note is a document with detailed information about the products delivered that serves as documentary proof of delivery. It is the selling company that generates the document and keeps a copy for the customer or the receiving company to receive the original and check that everything is in order. 

What is the difference between a paper packing slip and a digital delivery note?

Traditionally, these documents were generated with office software, printed and delivered on paper to the customer, while the salesperson kept a copy.

In contrast, the digital delivery note is generated with various types of programs, for example, with a module within a logistics software. In addition to that they are signed with an electronic device such as a smartphone so that the delivery is confirmed and all data is well checked.

What are the advantages of the digital delivery note?

Faster and easier access to information

When important documents such as delivery notes are printed and photocopied, copies are often limited for the number of staff who have to file and manage them. This leads to the situation of spending a lot of time searching for the papers when they need to be rechecked.

En cambio, con un albarán digital, todo el personal autorizado tendrá acceso a todos los albaranes desde los dispositivos que trabajen y podrán monitorizar cuándo son firmadas y confirmadas las entregas. Además de que los documentos se pueden gestionar directamente con un software específico, como con un TMS.

Reduction of errors and avoidance of losses and damages

Paper documents are more prone to errors, since the process of generating them is more manual. Moreover, another major disadvantage of physical documents is that they can be lost or damaged, which causes a lot of problems in document management.

For this reason, with a module in the software that creates and sends digital delivery notes, it is more difficult to make mistakes because its management is more automated. In addition, there is no longer the fear of losing the delivery notes once they are inside the company's ERP.

Concepto de firma digital ilustración vectorial de dibujos animados. Aprobado - ventajas del albarán digital vector

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How packaging and logistics software can become great allies for business improvement

Cómo el packaging y software de logística optimizan operaciones vector

Logistics and packaging are known to be key elements in the supply chain, especially if their design and management are well optimized for success. As the logistics industry has become more competitive, more solutions have come to market such as logistics software and new packaging designs that make the difference to be more efficient.

That said, what elements do packaging and logistics software have in common to improve the supply chain? How can they be combined to be more efficient and provide better customer service?

The following points will explain how packaging and logistics software can become great allies in improving profitability and customer satisfaction.

Load optimization

Load optimization is one of the key aspects in the improvement of freight transport, as non-optimized planning can lead to loss of profitability due to the costs involved in transport. Both logistics software and packaging play an important role in this improvement.

It is known that one of the most common bad practices is the inappropriate use of larger packaging than necessary, which leads to more space being taken up in the load and has an impact on optimal load planning. Therefore, the application of more packaging types that cover the usual order range is indispensable for optimal load planning.

In addition, properly sized packaging gives a true picture of the capacity of the vehicle fleet, avoiding empty spaces that could be used. As a result, logistics software focused on route optimization and fleet management does a better job of planning the transportation of goods, helping to reduce costs and resources.

Applying sustainability in logistics operations

Nowadays, there is greater awareness on the part of companies regarding the environmental impact generated by the logistics sector, such as waste generation and CO₂ emissions. As a result, innovative solutions have been created in packaging and logistics software that aim to be sustainable.

For example, in the case of packaging, apart from using the right size, the aim is to use recycled and/or biodegradable materials and reduce the use of plastic in packaging in order to generate less waste. On the other hand, logistics software can have built-in modules specialized in emissions control that help calculate the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and make better decisions to reduce them.

Primer plano repartidor cerrando caja cartón cinta mientras prepara paquetes su envío - cómo el packaging y software de logística optimizan operaciones foto

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How IoT and AI is making a big impact on the logistics sector

Entrega autónoma concepto abstracto ilustración vectorial - Cómo se usa el IOT y la IA en la logística vector

For several years now, IoT (Internet of Things) technology has been increasingly known and applied in different fields thanks to its increasingly reliable and complete technology. Undoubtedly, among the industrial sectors in which the use of IoT technologies is trending, the logistics sector stands out due to the growth it has experienced in recent years and the needs it entails. 

It is well known that all logistics operations require rigorous monitoring and agility to run efficiently, from supply chain management to last mile distribution. For this, one of the most popular solutions is IoT and digitization of certain operations in the logistics department.

In this case, in which logistics operations is IoT technology used specifically? If you want to find out how IoT and AI are used in logistics, read on:

Predictive analytics

It is one of the best known tools where both AI technology and IoT are used. It consists of using previously collected data to forecast future results and, to do so, it organizes the data obtained, preprocesses them and develops predictive models so that the results can be validated later.

The advantages of applying predictive analytics to the logistics sector are varied. Some of its most frequent uses are:

  • Demand forecasting: We analyze the sales history together with the market and estimate the sales that would be generated on the products.
  • Supply chain planning and optimization: Thanks to a prior analysis of the demand, the right quantity and timing of the production of the goods can be calculated.
  • Inventory optimization: Demand estimates help in making decisions about optimal stock levels for each type of inventory.
  • Improved resource management and savings: By applying current data taking into account constraints and other characteristics, it is possible to optimize resources and reduce operating costs.

In general, predictive analytics act as a guide for decision making and to give us a more accurate estimate of future activities. In this way, a clear view of the current and future situation of the supply chain and company is obtained.

Real-time shipment tracking

The most important and essential thing that customers ask for today is transparency in reporting the status of the order in real time to ensure that it arrives at its destination at the agreed time without incident. Today it is possible to receive all the data thanks to geolocation algorithms received by sensors via wireless networks.

The advantages of order tracking focus on estimating delivery times and detecting and solving problems. For example, if an order is not going to arrive on time or has been lost due to a wrong address or accident, the incident can be solved as soon as possible or an alternative can be offered to the customer.

Mujer joven tomando fotografías de cajas de entrega - Cómo se usa el IOT y la IA en la logística foto

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5 ways to streamline your supply chain

Ilustración vectorial del concepto de análisis de la cadena de suministro - maneras de agilizar la cadena de suministro vector

Una cadena de suministro que no está agilizada y no es eficiente solamente supondrá una carga para la economía de una empresa y podría causar el declive de ésta. Por este motivo, la cadena de suministro es primordial para la actividad económica y el control de las operaciones logísticas y se debe trabajar en aplicar … Read more

Logistics KPIs and the importance of analyzing them

Cerrar la mano del hombre de negocios ocupado en el escritorio de oficina en el cuaderno y documentos de trabajo - KPIs de logística foto

In many professional fields, especially in business, it is of utmost importance to collect data and organize it into performance measures, better known as KPIs. Because you can analyze performance with numbers, either a quantitative or qualitative value, you have clearer information about the progress of your objectives.

It is very important to establish logistics KPIs because they have one of the highest costs along with manufacturing and marketing expenses. This would result in huge losses if they are not properly monitored. This is when we ask ourselves, what are the essential KPIs to accurately measure your logistics objectives?

If you want to learn more about the different areas of logistics where the logistics KPIs cannot be missing in the dashboard, take a look!

Storage

It should be noted that warehousing should not be confused with inventory or stock because these indicators do not indicate the stock itself. KPIs are about analyzing the internal processes that take place in warehouses, such as picking and order preparation.

An example of logistics KPIs used in warehousing is the unit cost of warehousing which calculates their respective expenses. Apart from that, to analyze warehouse performance and productivity there are the KPIs of on-time complete delivery rate and internal cycle time that serve to calculate the time elapsed between the order request and the dispatch of the order itself.

Inventory

This is, of course, one of the most important sections of logistics because it deals with the products themselves and the stock that circulates through the supply chain. In addition to the fact that classifying and sorting the different types of stock is paramount to its proper functioning, so is assigning objectives and their respective logistics KPIs.

For that, the KPIs to be commonly taken into account are the following: Stock Breakage to analyze how many times the inventory has been emptied and what can be improved, Stock Turnover to estimate how many times the inventory needs to be renewed and, of course, inventory costs. It is worth mentioning that a high Inventory Turnover means that profits are being made on sales.

Ilustración de concepto abstracto de kpi - KPIs de logística vector

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Do you know how to manage your fleet and get the most out of it with a TMS?

Mujer joven preparando paquetes para su entrega y escaneando el código de barras - administrar tu flota con un TMS foto

Fleet management is an arduous and tedious task in which it is easier than we would like to admit to make mistakes and pay for it with poor performance and loss of time and money. For this, there is the option of managing your fleet with a TMS to assist, optimize and automate operations.

However, TMSs are thought to be a product exclusively for large companies with huge fleets because of their sophistication and complexity. But, nothing could be further from the truth, any company that manages its supply chain and operates with a transportation fleet has the need to install a digital control tower for cargo operations.

If you want to know the advantages of managing your fleet with a TMS, take note!

Allows you to organize the company and grow with it

Thanks to the ability of a TMS to collect all the necessary information about your fleet, your customers and your orders, it is now possible to unify all the data in one place. This eliminates the need to go through calls, messages, e-mails and paper documents to check the accuracy of accounts, which wastes too much time and resources.

Therefore, apart from the ease of successful operations, it is also much easier to collect the KPIs applied to your monthly, quarterly and even annual targets and act on them. In addition, thanks to better communication and customer satisfaction, it allows the company to grow and adapt to the volume of demand, because it takes just a few steps to add new vehicles and new hires to the TMS database.

Avoid unnecessary calls

Usually, to carry out the transportation of an order, either to get it to the distribution center or to the end customer, a team member is needed to make the calls to the shipper and the broker to check the availability of the freight and agree on a rate. With this action, too many time and financial resources have already been invested that may result in the freight not being available or not being dealt with by the people involved.

However, the TMS automates this entire process, as the system collects information about the available fleet and sends this data to customers in very few steps and time invested. In this way, time is spent on other tasks and relationships with shippers and intermediaries are improved, and they are eager to return to your services because of their effectiveness.

It is worth noting that shippers are looking for their automated processes to adapt to the automated processes of third parties, as they want to leverage their investment in a TMS and would be burdened by doing business with a logistics operator that does not have one.

Ilustración vectorial del concepto de solicitud de presupuesto de flete - administrar tu flota con un TMS vector

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Hedyla en el e-Show de 2022

stand de Hedyla e-Show 2022

La semana pasada parte del equipo de Hedyla ha estado presente una vez más en el e-Show de 2022 que tuvo lugar en la Fira de Barcelona, en particular en el recinto de Montjuic. Este año se ha notado más afluencia que el año pasado gracias a la relajación de las restricciones de la pandemia. … Read more

7 benefits of a TMS that will help your business

Ilustración de vector de concepto abstracto de gestión de cadena de suministro - beneficios del tms

You've probably already heard about why it's so important for your company to implement transportation management software because of all the benefits a TMS provides. Thanks to the growth that the TMS industry has experienced, there are now more affordable options for small and medium sized companies along with that of large enterprises.

However, it may seem complicated to install a TMS and that it will take time to understand its interface and manage it. But the opposite is true: it saves time and money in your logistics operations.

If you want to know in detail the benefits of a TMS, take a look at the following tips:

Unify all data in one place

Imagine a TMS as a control tower that also unifies all types of data on a single platform, from the manufacturer to the last mile. In this way, you can visualize it from a single platform and always keep the information up to date.

Thanks to this unification, managers and staff can make changes easily and with all the updated information. From route adjustments to implementing new processes, this is one of the key benefits of a TMS for your company.

Increases warehouse efficiency

Being up to date on the life cycle of orders throughout the supply chain gives a clear view of future needs and anticipates when inventory needs to be replenished.

Having full control over the loads entering and leaving the warehouse helps to better calculate the amount of stock needed to meet demand without delays and also to avoid stock-outs.

Let's not forget either that all the time saved on more automated tasks can be invested in this very important aspect of the entire logistics process.

Save transportation costs

It is known that one of the most costly activities in the entire logistics process is transportation, due to the fact of handling fuel, distances traveled, personnel, among others. It is estimated that it accounts for more than 50% of the total logistic cost of all companies.

However, one of the benefits of a TMS is that it assists in the planning of all loads so that each trip is worthwhile and no more money is wasted than could be saved. In addition, if we optimize our routes for those loads, we will be able to reduce further costs.

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What software is used in logistics?

What software is used in logistics?

Logistics software are all those digital solutions that allow you to manage, control and optimize the different logistics processes from both a strategic and daily operational point of view. In order to be prepared for today's needs, it is important to know what software is used in logistics nowadays.

Logistics is complex as it integrates a multitude of activities with many actors involved. Likewise, logistics has a great connection with the rest of the company's activities and, therefore, is affected to a great extent by decisions and situations derived from other factors that are not properly logistical, such as sudden changes in demand, new products launch or expansion to new territories, among many other examples.

The digitization is currently a key aspect for the future of companies of all sizes. However, the complexity of logistics mentioned above is also visible in the variety of types of software for logistics, or that have a direct relationship with it, for example systems for supply chain management or company management (ERP).

Logistics software

In addition, each type of software also has notable differences from others that are in exactly the same category. Therefore, it is necessary to go beyond the category and see the functionalities that each system offers to know exactly whether or not it adjusts to the needs of each company.

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