How many of you have heard the phrase …“Embrace digital transformation or die”? What does this mean? Well, I do know that in today’s world those that are agile, open to change and willing to challenge the status quo are most likely to succeed. At MatchBox Exchange, we believe digital transformation has a number of dimensions. People often think that simply digitising an existing manual process is ‘transformation’. Although we agree there is a lot of value in automating current manual processes, we feel true transformation comes from improving the underlying process by rethinking the operating model altogether. Let me give you an example. In our industry, we see companies investing in ways to make existing assets (trucks/depots/terminals) as efficient as they can be. Trucking companies invest in high productivity vehicles so they can move more containers in the same trip, depots invest in scheduling and appointment systems in an attempt to improve the flow of trucks through their facilities. Don’t get me wrong, these are important initiatives that help contribute to an improved transport network but… Our view is that rather than focus so much energy on maximising the efficiency of the current process why not consider a new…
What’s More Important: a Quality Product or an Excellent Team? Can one do without the other?
While some might choose one over the other, both the product and team are equally important to achieve the best results. They work hand-in-hand because adopting any new product always requires a different approach. At MatchBox Exchange (MB), we are driven by a similar sense of innovation and encourage independent thinking to radically change conventional ways of empty container management. Led by experts in the fields of transportation and technology, the team can identify gaps in the container supply chain and find lasting solutions to complex challenges. The MatchBox Exchange mindset is well reflected in the digital platform itself through its simple to use user interface which makes the reuse and exchange of empty containers possible in just a few clicks. Available 24×7, its instant approval feature gives transport companies the ability to make quick decisions. Truckers and their customers benefit from reuse and exchange opportunities by saving time and increasing fleet utilisation. The platform also brings different parties together, helping transport companies work collaboratively through a central neutral open market platform that offers all members of the MatchBox Exchange network opportunities to exchange containers in a very safe and efficient way. It’s the engine that empowers collaboration between competitors in a way that creates…
Steer clear of depot congestion this holiday season with MatchBox Exchange
Industry experts anticipate heavy congestion at depots pre-holiday season, continuing through Christmas and into early 2022. The build-up of empty container stock is expected to reach critical levels making it difficult for supply chains to run efficiently during peak periods. In addition to transport costs, tolls, penalties, and waiting time, a sudden hike in demand-surge, and booking fees could overwhelm shippers and logistic interfaces on the land-side. With empty container parks running at full capacity, a spillover is certain. This would make needless truck trips to distant depots necessary, raising operational costs and hampering productivity. Transport operators are charged a notification fee each time they return or collect an empty container. Despite drivers stuck in traffic jams for long hours, missing time slots, this fee has seen a constant increase. Quarantine combined with peak seasons leaves logistics service providers with few alternatives as they can hit targeted departure dates only when they book well in advance — roughly 4 to 6 weeks prior. They are charged a fee on demand-surge, even as carriers limit intermodal bookings. The burden of these mounting costs often falls on them as forwarders and importers believe it is their job to avoid detentions while completing…
How to avoid depots and detentions in peak seasons
A strain on shipping capacity is adversely affecting the availability of containers, leading to longer delays, and an unprecedented rise in ocean freight rates. One of the most detrimental consequences of this squeeze is a potential surge in container detention costs each time containers aren’t returned empty in time under shipping lines’ terms and conditions. Industry analysts expect these challenges to grow in peak seasons and continue through 2021 and 2022. As we approach the peak season, booking needs to return empties are exceeding capacity. Suitable appointments become difficult because depots can only process a certain number of trucks per hour. Despite an increase in demand, transport operators cannot meet the required supply. Congestion and long queues at Empty Container Parks (ECP) force them to hold containers until they are scheduled for another appointment, often resulting in added handling and increased exposure to detention. Most shipping lines include weekends in detention free-days’ calculations, so the pressure on transport companies increases towards the end of theweek as they struggle to return containers by COB Friday knowing if they do not, detention charges will be incurred. Many trucking companies seek two days’ notice from importers to ensure the timely availability of empty containers…
A Strategic Review of Empty Container Management at Melbourne’s Port with our Founder as Guest Panellist
Managing empties has become a complicated and increasingly expensive business in Australia. Like most tasks in the supply chain cycle, it involves physical movement, commercial agreements and a series of transactions between different players, including shipping lines, freight forwarders, cargo owners, transport operators, and storage facilities. With this in mind, CTAA, in collaboration with the Victorian Government, hosted a webinar earlier this week where leading industry experts expressed their opinion and suggested new approaches for lasting solutions. As Australian ports handle over 8 million containers every year and support trade worth millions of dollars, empty container management is a vital function of an efficient and effective port. Issues with empty containers have broader supply chain impacts. Vulnerabilities including a mismatch in operating hours across the empty container supply chain mean squeezing larger numbers of container movement in shorter windows of time, inhibiting the existing storage capacity. Insufficient and inconsistent provisions of electronic data in the Empty Container Parks’ booking system and last-minute redirections also create additional administrative and operational costs to transport operators. But, behavioural practices on their part such as, arriving or scheduling appointments immediately before use, exhaust the ECPs causing delays and congestion. The Strategic Review Report launched…