3PL Vertical Solution

Fisherman

Can anyone recommend a good Vertical for 3PL companies? We're having to work around a lot of navision because we operate in a 3PL environment. We've seen what looks to be a horizontal called Radio Beacon that would do a lot of what we want, but I'd be happier if it were integrated into Navision, rather than integrating with it.

Thanks.

Fisherman

anyone?

NavStudent

Could you explain what 3PL companies do?

I wikied it and it looks like other people do your warehouse management.
Is that all?

Standard 3PL provider: this is the most basic form of a 3PL provider. They would perform activities such as, pick and pack, warehousing, and distribution (business) – the most basic functions of logistics. For a majority of these firms, the 3PL function is not their main activity.

nunomaia

3PL

A third-party logistics provider (abbreviated 3PL) is a firm that provides outsourced or "third party" logistics services to companies for part or sometimes all of their supply chain management function. Third party logistics providers typically specialize in integrated warehousing and transportation services that can be scaled and customized to customer’s needs based on market conditions and the demands and delivery service requirements for their products and materials.

NavStudent

that is also from Wiki.

I was looking for what kind of work do they do and isn't warehouse management enough for this?

nunomaia

Navision WMS has basic features. A 3PL normally needs more features than supplied by Navision

NavStudent

Such as?

Lanham has E-ship that complements WMS.

Fisherman

Lanham doesn't cut the mustard for some of what we need, neither does Navision. For the basic materials-in, materials-out, and recording transactions, it does fine, but it's lacking some "oomph" that 3PL's require.

3PL's often take on Specialized warehousing, point-to-point logistics and distribution, and high-turn, high-pick materials handling. We also partner with companies that need someone to coordinate drop shipments, and with companies that need someone to operate consolidation points for foreign suppliers to enable them to maintain a JIT environment.

example - 3PL's don't need to purchase goods - they don't own them, so a purchase order is an invalid document. However, we do have to receive them, and show the receipt with all appropriate shipping documents, so warehouse adjustments are not adequate for bringing in materials.

Also, we perform repackaging operations - taking materials from a shipping container and putting them in controlled, reusable bins or kanban containers to deliver to a customer's facility. The materials aren't ours, but we want to record labor. We currently have to carry 2 parts in inventory, one raw (the item to be repackaged), one finished (the kanban container with materials in it) in order to track the cost and labor against the work unit. 3PL WMS systems typically have special subsystems for repackaging.

Basically, 3PLs are flexible outsourcing firms. Since we have to be flexible, then our software has to be as well.

Marije_Brummel

I know that we did some investigation of 4PL with an add-on a couple of years ago here in holland. Don't know what happend to it after I left that company.

Try contacting the guys at www.qurius.nl and ask for the Q-logistics solution.

Good luck

nunomaia

Implement all that features in Navision that a 3PL needs it’s a huge task. Normally is accomplish using to different 2 DB’s


I have been using an add-on that I can consider that has all the features that a 3PL need.
The add-on is from http://www.youngpartners.com NaviTrans and NaviWMS.

They have already some references in U.S. I have worked in 2 projects using this add-on and I can confirm that has great features.

I never used Q-logistics add-on, but I know that they are direct competitors.

Fisherman

Thanks to everyone for the answers. If anyone has any more information, please let me know.

Also, if anyone has any experience with the non-vertical's (like Radio Beacon WMS), then I'd be interested to know what you think of those.

Thanks.

Alex_Chow

Check this company out:
http://www.3plsoftware.com/

Met Randy back in 2002 then again at Directions. This guy has been developing a 3PL solution for Navision for awhile. Check them out!

nunomaia

Fisherman wrote:

Thanks to everyone for the answers. If anyone has any more information, please let me know.

Also, if anyone has any experience with the non-vertical's (like Radio Beacon WMS), then I'd be interested to know what you think of those.

Thanks.

I never used that software. I have used only 3PL add-ons. But using third-parthy software isn't a strange concept. Some implementation use Navision only for financials management and else it's done in another software. This happens a lot in manufacturing shops.

Fisherman

Awesome.

Thanks so much, guys.

Dead - made contact, we'll see where it goes.

Nuno - thanks for the information. The product looks pretty impressive - integrates with most of the Dynamics software, as well as SAP, so we'll see where the demo takes us.

Thanks.

gulamdastagir

hey fisherman,

if You are a registered Partner Channel Builder user then this link is for u

https://channelbuilder.partners.extrane ... fault.aspx

i have a question of my own

how can we identify that a particular Add-On Solution is Vertical or Horizontal?

Fisherman

unfortunately, we're not.

My understanding is that Verticals are integrated INTO Navision, so they only add the specific functionality that is desired, while Horizontals integrate WITH Navision.

So, conceivably, verticals would be hosted inside of the Navision client, while horizontals could be externally hosted, and just communicate with the Navision database.

gurus - am I off here?

gulamdastagir

I read somewhere LS-Retail is a Horizontal and PRINTEXCEL you find in the download section is a vertical

Ok here is a list of Verticals that are into Transportation and Logisitics

1.BIZ4LOGISTIC-Comprehensive Logistics and transportation Solution
2.QURIUS Warehouse Management
3.SNC/Logisitics and Warehouse Management System
4.NAVICHAIN
5.MERCURIO


There are no horizontals for Logistics int he list.

Hope this helps

DenSter

The difference between a horizontal and a vertical is that a vertical is for one branch or type of business, and a horizontal can be used by all branches.

So Process Manufacturing is a vertical, because only a certain type of business would use Process Manufacturing. Another example would be a Rental solution, or Life Science. Examples of Horizontals could be a workflow solution, Commission, ABC Analysis, email solution, EDI, things like that, functionality that can be used across different types of businesses.

Both horizontals as well as verticals can be completely NAV internal as well as have external aspects, it completely depends on what the functionality is.

Fisherman

ahh - see. Learn something new every day.

johnnydougherty

A 3PL provider is a specialist company that provides a range of distribution, storage, transport and fulfillment services to customers. The BRI 3rd party of logistics experts will consult with you to identify your requirements and provide the most effective solutions to your requirements.