SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT LOGISTICS PLANNER f the “new normal” has taught industry anything, it’s that flexibility is compul- sory in today’s environment. Everywhere you look, forces at play threaten to tip the scales and derail even the most resilient supply chains. Whether it’s accounting for potential labor strife, insulating against natural disasters, confronting regulatory barriers, accessing capacity, or managing inven- tory against uncertain demand, shippers are challenged with finding balance within their organization as they optimize their cost-to-serve. Partnering with the right carrier, technology or logistics provider is one important way you can marshal your supply chain to act as a force equalizer – multiplier even – and tackle these challenges head-on while enhancing velocity and service to your customers. Logistics practitioners turn to transportation and logistics intermediaries for countless rea- sons: to variabilize cost structures, divest non-core business functions, execute supply chain strategies, avert risk, tap new technologies, and manage growth without capital investment. In different ways, supply chain partners can help you replace inventory with information, increase visibility, and more effectively match demand signals to supply. January 2013 • Inbound Logistics 335 This year’s Logistics Planner features an exclusive group of com- segment, type of solutions provided, and more. A number of com- panies across all areas of the supply chain. These “force multipliers” panies have included corporate videos so be sure to check out their have the requisite tools and expertise to aggregate and align your sup- multimedia profiles. ply chain management efforts with go-to-market strategies. They can If you want to download the entire Logistics Planner, point and help create synergies within your transportation and logistics func- click your way to inboundlogistics.com/digital. You can save it directly tions – and among external partners – then leverage the supply chain to your desktop and distribute it to your entire team. as a common denominator from which you can execute strategic Read the Logistics Planner on your tablet, or on our special iPad business process change. edition. You’ll find the app at http://bit.ly/ILipad in the iTunes market. The Logistics Planner brings all these different players into focus Want decision support to help you meet your logistics and sup- in one place. From third-party logistics providers and technology ply chain challenges? IL offers a free RFP service, available anytime at vendors to carriers across all modes, materials handling equipment inboundlogistics.com/planner/rfp. companies, logistics associations, port and airport authorities, real Print, web, digital, smartphone, tablet, iPad – we’ve crafted the estate developers, economic development agencies, and universi- most complete resource we can think of to help you bring the great- ties, the Planner is an equal-opportunity resource that provides a est supply chain force to bear on your logistics challenges in 2013 complete mosaic of the supply chain and its many different parts. As and beyond. such, this compendium provides a platform for you to evaluate differ- ent aspects of your business – to reinforce existing partnerships, or prompt new conversations. Getting the Most Out of How to Use the Planner The Logistics Planner is also designed to present new informa- Your Logistics Planner tion on suppliers of all shapes and sizes, with the broadest possible The Planner Profiles on the following pages include range of solutions, in a way that you find most useful. You’ll find full contact information for each company. Please mention them alphabetically arranged, so you can read from page to page, and you saw their Planner Profile in Inbound Logistics magazine. build your knowledge base on services and solutions available from these market leaders. The issue index on page 509 offers a thumb- View all the Planner Profiles online at inboundlogistics. nail resource to find information you need about partners as quickly com/planner. Click through to find information on the as possible. profile participants, with links. Each online planner is Many readers work through the Logistics Planner choosing to RFP-enabled to help you execute quickly. get an overall industry update. Others bookmark it as a reference when they need to quickly source information about transportation A digital and tablet version of the Logistics Planner and logistics partners. (You should call companies profiled, too, not is available at inboundlogistics.com/digital. You can just because their support of Inbound Logistics’ mission means they download the entire January issue or just the Logistics “get” your approach to logistics, but because these companies lever- Planner section. age change rather than resist it. They are making investments even in tight times to remain leaders in their segments.) A special iPad edition of the Logistics Planner is Because of its shelf life, more pragmatic readers prefer to use the available at http://bit.ly/ILipad. Planner as a doorstop or paperweight (just kidding, we hope) or as An exclusive online RFP service at inboundlogistics. a direct-response tool to get information on one type of service, or com/planner/rfp lets you get information specific to your about a specific company, or even to send an RFP to help meet a logis- transport or logistics challenge. Simply describe your tics challenge. challenge or pose a question, and select the solutions In keeping with IL’s “any way you want it, we’ll deliver” approach, providers you want to query. Your request is immediately the Planner is a fully integrated dashboard available in print, on the sent to the market leaders who have agreed to respond to Web, in a digital edition, and on tablets, iPads, and smartphones. you quickly. At inboundlogistics.com/planner you can view the same profiles you see on the following pages. Select profiles by company, market 336 Logistics Planner © 2013 Inbound Logistics 3PD, Inc. and used merchandise removal at the delivery site ■■White-glove, furniture deluxing, appliance installation and other value- adding activities ■■Customer and retail call center support ■■Automatic post-delivery Karl Meyer surveys and exceptions Chairman & CEO management ■■Same-day incident resolution Mission Statement: ■■Robust back office report World-Class Customer Service generation and order tracking With Honesty And Integrity And all come complete with the 3PD emphasis on last- mile speed, reliability and nationwide consistency: “Our list of services is diverse. But Your Last Mile Always services from any domestic it’s also extremely focused,” Comes First With Us factory, supplier or says 3PD CEO Karl Meyer. 3PD is one of North America’s distribution center) “Everything we do is first and largest and most focused ■■3PDedicated: Home, foremost about last-mile providers of last-mile heavy business or job site delivery logistics – and ultimately goods delivery and logistics. throughout the continental about last-mile efficiency and Now serving every zip code United States excellence.” in the continental United States, ■■3PDesktop: Robust, it makes millions of deliveries customer experience and Award-Winning Last- per year and offers various delivery management Mile Success options for shipping, delivering, technology Since opening its doors assembling and installing in 2001, 3PD has quickly heavy goods. All of these offerings feature become one of the largest options such as: North American players in 3PD’s Paths To Last-Mile ■■Simple, secure and the last-mile logistics sector. Excellence convenient web portal or EDI It currently makes nearly 5 3PD was one of the first order entry million deliveries annually, companies to create a ■■Advanced or point-of- including many deliveries that nationwide last-mile delivery sale delivery appointment require specialized services solution for products such as scheduling such as installation or assembly. furniture, appliances, large- ■■Cross-docking and value- And it has continually earned scale electronics, building adding warehousing services honors and accolades from materials, medical equipment ■■Automated en-route clients, industry organizations 3PD, Inc. and office equipment. Today, notification via convenience such as CSCMP, and national 1851 West Oak Parkway that solution includes: calls, texts and e-mails to publications such as Inbound Suite 100 ■■3PDirect: A transactional, the customer on or before Logistics, which named it a Marietta, GA 30062 non-agent-based network the day of delivery Top 100 Provider in 2007, 2008, 866-373-7874 national delivery solution ■■Item-level, real-time tracking 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [email protected] Web within the lower 48 U.S. ■■Unpacking, set-up, www.3PD.com states (including pick-up installation, debris removal © 2013 Inbound Logistics Logistics Planner 337 3PL Central 3PL Central 3PL Central provides on-demand warehouse management software for third-party logistics companies, helping them to increase their efficiency, grow their business and satisfy their customers. Come join the thousands of members of our 3PL community at 3PL Central, the company for 3PLs – and their customers – on the Grow.™ 3PL Warehouse Manager: less than $500 per month per feature updates – at no cost The On-Demand WMS warehouse. to our customers – with Built By 3PLs – For 3PLs 3PL Central has been the more rolling out monthly. The fastest growing pioneer of SaaS WMS in the ■■24-7 access for both 3PLs and provider