BGI International Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

SmartDock .NET™ Web Scheduling
The web-scheduling module allows carriers to log-in to a secure portal hosted by BGI Web-Services, enter their load information and desired date of delivery, and submit that information directly to the SmartDock .NET user as a pending web request. Without phone disruptions or back-and-forth voice mail messages, dock scheduling users can view the request, make the appointment and confirm the time with the carrier... with click-of-the-mouse speed, efficiency and control.

For more info, including a video tour, visit SmartDock .NET on our Website.

Why a Smart Client and not a browser?
SmartDock .NET is a Microsoft .NET application and it is, as a sub-set of that technology, a 'Smart Client' application. Smart Client means many things. Go here to learn more.

More about .NET Technology
In technical terms, Microsoft's .NET technology offers many advantages to developers and users alike. From memory leak management to lowering cost of ownership, .NET is the way to go with modern versatile Web applications. Go here to learn more.

SmartDock .NET in the News
SmartDock .NET was released in April and is now in use at five companies. Users favor the .NET product because of the enhanced door closing feature, the Visual Dashboard Display, saved report feature, flyover data display, enhanced door grouping, ease of use, versatility of installation options, and more. Here's what the industry has to say:

  • Supply Chain Digest "Best of Show," new product, Material Handling Industry of America North American NA06 show in Cleveland, by Dan Gilmore.
  • News Release and Editor's Choice, New Products of the Week, Material Handling Management.
  • ID Magazine Online article.

In This Issue

Quick Links

Contact Info

Sales
Peter Rappe or Tom Walton
sales@bgiweb.com
913-829-7900

Support
Dale King, David Rahija or Dave Blair
support@bgiweb.com
913-829-7900

See Us At The Show

» 

Retalix Global Conference
September 10-13
Disneyland
Anaheim, CA

 

» 

UniPro Purchasing Conference
October 8-11
Dallas, TX

 

» 

IFDA Show
October 15-17
Georgia International Convention Center
Atlanta, GA.

 

» 

ProMat Conference
January 8-11, 2007
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL

 

» 

UniPro Logistics Cruise
January 2007

 

Software as a Service (SaaS) -- What is it and what can it do for me?
SmartDock .NET, being a web application, can be deployed in the SaaS business model as an option. This means that BGI can host the SmartDock .NET application on its servers. You don't have to buy hardware and we can maintain and upgrade the application much more easily. Best of all is the pricing model for SaaS. Since you are not purchasing the application, you simply rent it for a monthly fee. So, if your company is interested in SaaS, BGI is prepared with service agreements from secure data management centers to host your SmartDock .NET.

BGI Marketing
In case you ever wondered about BGI's presence in the software marketplace, here is some data on our footprint in the industry. At the end of 2005, BGI had 148 customers and a total of 1,103 users.

Recent Awards for BGI

  • BGI has been awarded the 2006 Logistics IT award from Inbound Logistics Magazine for the third consecutive year.
  • BGI has been awarded the Software Magazine's Top 500 award for the second consecutive year.

BGI Welcomes our Newest Customers

  • Cara Donna Provisions -- TMS-2000
  • EG Forrest -- SmartDock .NET
  • Florida Foodservice -- SmartDock
  • Associated Grocers of the South -- SmartDock
  • Ace Endico -- SmartDock
  • Mattingly Foods -- SmartDock
  • Glazier Foods -- SmartDock .NET
  • Golub Price Chopper -- SmartDock .NET
  • Clark Foodservice -- SmartDock .NET
  • Perry Ellis -- SmartDock .NET
  • J. Kings Foodservice -- SmartDock .NET

TMS-2000 Tips from Dale

  • TMS Tip #1. If you have ever suffered when a carrier fails to pickup a load because the carrier says they never received the dispatch, there is help in TMS-2000. TMS offers the user a way to automatically send you an email if the carrier has not confirmed the load. Using the Alert system, you can set it up to where TMS-2000 sends you a reminder email, so many hours prior to the scheduled pickup date if the load has not confirmed by the carrier. When properly utilized this feature puts an end to dropped loads and carrier excuses.
  • TMS Tip #2. We have helped clients adjust their carrier rates via imports in batch. For example, a carrier recently announced a 4.7% increase across the board to one of our clients. The rate increase was to be effective on October 3rd. Our client had over 100 rates in TMS-2000 for this carrier. They asked if there was an easy way to update the records. Yes, by running the Carrier Rates Linear List report for that carrier, then saving the results to a .csv file we helped them adjust all the rates in the file using Excel and tested the import of that file. When October 3rd rolled around they were ready and all they had to do was import the file. It took less than a minute and a half. A similar approach has been used to import new carrier rates.

Web Services Load Tendering
Life to date, Web Services Load Tendering volume was at 73,290 loads as of 04/30/06. The Web Services Load Tendering Module is available for a small subscription fee to all TMS-2000 users on version 5.0 or higher. The feature allows Progressive Dispatch via the Web. This means that you can assign multiple carriers to a load and set a time limit for each to accept/reject the tender before the load is offered to the next carrier. Communications services built into the system alert you when the carrier confirms an appointment for pick up at the vendor, reducing follow up time and calls to carriers.

Internet Facts and Figures

  • 300,000 people are joining the Internet every day
  • Internet usage now doubles every two months
  • Over 760 million people will go online in the next five years
  • Four new Web sites are being launched every second
  • eBusiness is estimated to be a 350 billion dollar industry

© 2006 BGI International. All rights reserved. SmartDock .NET is a registered trademark owned by BGI International.

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United States
913-829-7900
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