Trust But Verify: Wisdom on 3PL Relations

During arms-control summit meetings with Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s, President Reagan often used a favorite Russian “doveryai, no proveryai,” that is “trust, but verify.” Reagan had come to realize that the evil empire might be a negotiating partner. The path was rocky, but the two managed to reduce the nuclear arsenals that were both the threat and the stabilizing factor of the Cold War.

Reagan and Gorbachev Source: The Reagan Vision

“Doveryai, no proveryai,” became Reagan’s watchwords for the relationship with the Soviet leader. Trust, but verify. Possibly the only Russian words Reagan had rehearsed. “You say that at every meeting,” Gorbachev noted laughingly at the White House arms treaty signing in 1987.

“I like it,” Reagan replied. As an industry, it’s important that we take a similar stance with our partners, especially third-party logistics partners.

One visible phenomenon that no one can deny is that technological evolution has accelerated, creating many innovators and entrepreneurs who create new products and services with relatively meagre resources. No longer is innovation only the bailiwick of only billion dollar companies with budgets of $20 million or higher. Now, with a solid understanding of the industry, even small entrepreneurs can come up with innovative products that we all use in our daily lives. This has resulted in numerous companies with unique products.  Often, these companies sometimes don’t have distribution infrastructure or logistics capability to distribute their products to retailers or end users. That’s when third party logistics service providers become important.

Often these 3PL service providers run into issues where their customers are asking for unique services, as well as better system of records. For example, if a shipment or product is damaged, then the 3PL would benefit if they could provide picture based documentation for every single shipment or load that is received or shipped from their facilities. Today’s legacy system, though, preclude quick integration of these capabilities, without outside help.

I still remember a client, a food manufacturing and distribution business, that implemented a warehouse management system (WMS) back in 2008. They had stringent quality requirements, because they distributed a lot of potato salad that they manufactured in their plants to retailers like Costco. We spent hours discussing the quality control requirements needed in their receiving and shipping processes. They wanted the ability to write detailed comments to ensure that the personnel thoroughly cleaned the trucks. (Even a slight lapse in the cleaning process could spoil the date sensitive, temperature controlled, and highly perishable food.) The picture capture capability in this instance would have been a perfect tool to ensure that the trucks/trailers are cleaned thoroughly by not only documenting before and after cleaning pictures. It would also allow for users to document the seal that was put on the truck/trailer at the end of the loading process.

3PLs dealing with a product companies that want to make sure their products are delivered in a pristine manner could benefit by providing this capability to show pictures for any important scenarios. For example, think of the benefit of being able to send a picture of loads sent to important customers like major retailers, or images of any exceptions that happened or damaged shipments during transportation or anything along those lines. Suddenly, both 3PL and customer has a trust but verify scenario to ensure good results.

Share your thoughts on how a tool like this might make life better within your supply chain in the comments section below.

Originally published at Smartgladiator.com on Aug 8, 2016.

09
Aug 2016
By Puga Sankara246 Comments
Author:
Puga Sankara
About:
Puga Sankara is the Founder, CEO of Smart Gladiator LLC. Smart Gladiator designs, builds, and delivers market-leading mobile technology for retailers, distributors, and 3PL service providers. So far, Smart Gladiator LoadProof has been used to ship, receive, and scan more than 100 million boxes. SG LoadProof is a patent pending Centralized Enterprise Photo/Video Document System on Cloud for Supply Chain. SG LP is built on the fact that photos & videos are vital docs as important as POs/SOs/Legal Contracts/Fulfillment Orders that reside in ERP/WMS/TMS systems, that serve as compelling, conclusive, unequivocal proof of crucial, critical, vital operations executed in Supply Chain within/across orgs when fulfilling customer orders as well as meeting contractual obligations between orgs as merchandise is transferred between different parties that partake in Supply Chain functions & operations. And these photos/videos data should not be stored in someone’s Smartphone or Email Inbox or in their personal/work Computer, but should be stored in a Centralized Enterprise system, where such data can be pushed into super-fast, stored securely, accessible to all stake holders (CFO/Sales Reps/Customer Support/AR/AP) in an org, as well as facilitates super-fast retrieval/sharing. LP is an Enterprise System of record for Photo/Video docs & is as important as an ERP which is an enterprise system of record for POs, SOs, Legal Contracts between parties etc. that have huge legal ramifications, also as important as a WMS (Warehouse Management System) that hold indispensable shipment & fulfillment data on orders. Like how Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat etc. have evolved into social media platforms/systems that enable individuals to showcase their beauty/pretty clothes/lovely cosmetics/hep coolness etc., LoadProof is an Enterprise system that holds similar photos/videos, but for a different reason, not for show off, but to serve as compelling, conclusive, unequivocal & indisputable system of record and proof that can be presented even in the court of law, when there is a dispute between parties while they execute many facets of the Supply Chain functions & operations. SG LoadProof is also an Enterprise System of Record for Photos, videos and any other digital documents for your Supply Chain Network. A system of record (SOR) or source system of record (SSoR) is a data management term for an information storage system (commonly implemented on a computer system running a database management system) that is the authoritative data source for a given data element or piece of information. The need to identify systems of record can become acute in organizations where management information systems have been built by taking output data from multiple source systems, re-processing this data, and then re-presenting the result for new business use. In these cases, multiple information systems may disagree about the same piece of information. These disagreements may stem from semantic differences, differences in opinion, use of different sources, and differences in the timing of the extract, transform, and load processes that create the data they report against, or may simply be the result of bugs. The integrity and validity of any data set is open to question when there is no traceable connection to a good source, such as a known System of Record. Where the integrity of the data is vital, if there is an agreed system of record, the data element must either be linked to, or extracted directly from it. In other cases, the provenance and estimated data quality should be documented. The “system of record” approach is a good fit for environments where both: 1. there is a single authority over all data consumers, and 2. all consumers have similar needs Here, LoadProof is the System of Record for pictures and videos for all the entities in Supply chain who uses pictures and videos to track using any Supply Chain System infrastructure. 1. LoadProof provides accurate, thorough, complete, and latest information in pictures and videos related to any entity in the Supply chain that is tracked. 2. LoadProof is the single authority on pictures and videos related to any entity in the Supply Chain that is tracked 3. LoadProof doesn’t let any external system to copy the records being stored in it, which eliminates the data being duplicated in multiple places to preserve the data integrity and credibility. 4. LoadProof has a secured login procedure which lets only users with select level access to view the data and modify the records which helps in maintaining LoadProof is becoming the Industry Standard System for Photo & Video Docs for Supply Chain Smart Gladiator is located in ATDC - Advanced Tech Dev Center (tech Incubator) in Georgia Institute of Tech. Click for a demo - https://loadproof.com/apply Puga is a supply chain technology professional with more than 25 years of experience in deploying capabilities in the logistics and supply chain domain. His prior roles involved managing complicated mission-critical programs driving revenue numbers, rolling out a multitude of capabilities involving more than a dozen systems, and managing a team of 30 to 50 personnel across multiple disciplines and departments in large corporations such as Hewlett Packard. He has deployed WMS for more than 30 distribution centers in his role as a senior manager with Manhattan Associates. He has also performed process analysis walk-throughs for more than 50 distribution centers for WMS process design and performance analysis review, optimizing processes for better productivity and visibility through the supply chain. Size of these DCs varied from 150,000 to 1.2 million SQFT. Puga Sankara has an MBA from Georgia Tech. He can be reached at puga@smartgladiator.com or visit the company at www.smartgladiator.com. Also follow him at www.pugasankara.com. [Read More]
More articles by: Puga Sankara

246 Comments

  1. May I simply just say what a comfort too find someone that
    truly knnows what they are discussing on the net.
    You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make iit important.
    More and more people need to check this out and understand this side of the story.
    I was surprised yyou are not more popular because you surely
    possess the gift. http://Boyarka-inform.com

    Reply

  2. Во времена технологической портативности power bank стал в критически важный элемент снаряжения современного человека. Этот компактный аккумулятор действует как портативная зарядная станция, гарантирующая энергией гаджеты в любой ситуации. Производители предлагают многочисленные модели, среди которых [url=https://powerbanki.top/ ]Power bank это на powerbanki.top [/url], позволяющий поддерживать заряд устройств даже вдали от розетки. Основными параметрами выбора выступают емкость батареи, количество разъемов, мощность зарядки и поддержка с технологиями быстрой зарядки.

    При разговоре о выборе power bank для устройств Apple, требуется принимать во внимание специфические требования. Инновационные беспроводные power bank с поддержкой MagSafe предоставляют оптимальное взаимодействие с iPhone последних серий. Поддержка сертификации MFi выступает подтверждением безопасного функционирования с продукцией Apple. Производительные модели на 50000 mAh в состоянии гарантировать более десятка полных циклов зарядки iPhone, а наличие USB Power Delivery обеспечивает зарядку MacBook и других лэптопов.

    Источник: [url=https://powerbanki.top/ ]https://powerbanki.top/ [/url]

    по вопросам чехол повербанк на айфон – пишите в Telegram lft99

    Reply

  20. Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable [url=https://pharmafst.shop/#]pharmacie en ligne sans ordonnance[/url] pharmacie en ligne france fiable pharmafst.shop

    Reply

  24. Tadalafil 20 mg prix en pharmacie [url=https://tadalmed.shop/#]Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher[/url] Cialis generique prix tadalmed.com

    Reply

  33. kamagra livraison 24h [url=https://kamagraprix.com/#]kamagra livraison 24h[/url] Kamagra pharmacie en ligne

    Reply

  43. pharmacie en ligne france livraison belgique [url=https://pharmafst.com/#]Livraison rapide[/url] pharmacie en ligne france fiable pharmafst.shop

    Reply

  51. purple pharmacy mexico price list [url=https://rxexpressmexico.com/#]mexico pharmacies prescription drugs[/url] mexican online pharmacy

    Reply

  56. canadianpharmacymeds [url=https://expressrxcanada.com/#]Express Rx Canada[/url] canadian pharmacy phone number

    Reply

  60. Rx Express Mexico [url=https://rxexpressmexico.shop/#]п»їbest mexican online pharmacies[/url] mexican online pharmacy

    Reply

  64. pharmacy in canada [url=https://expressrxcanada.com/#]Buy medicine from Canada[/url] canada online pharmacy

    Reply

  68. canadian king pharmacy [url=https://expressrxcanada.com/#]Buy medicine from Canada[/url] canadapharmacyonline

    Reply

  72. п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india [url=https://medicinefromindia.shop/#]medicine courier from India to USA[/url] MedicineFromIndia

    Reply

  79. vavada [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]вавада официальный сайт[/url] вавада зеркало

    Reply

  91. vavada вход [url=https://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada casino[/url] вавада зеркало

    Reply

  94. вавада казино [url=https://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada casino[/url] вавада казино

    Reply

  98. пинап казино [url=https://pinuprus.pro/#]пин ап вход[/url] пин ап казино

    Reply

  106. pin up вход [url=https://pinuprus.pro/#]пинап казино[/url] пин ап вход

    Reply

  112. пин ап зеркало [url=http://pinuprus.pro/#]пин ап казино[/url] пинап казино

    Reply

  117. вавада казино [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]вавада казино[/url] vavada casino

    Reply

  120. vavada casino [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada casino[/url] вавада официальный сайт

    Reply

  122. вавада официальный сайт [url=https://vavadavhod.tech/#]вавада зеркало[/url] vavada casino

    Reply

  125. pin up вход [url=https://pinuprus.pro/#]пин ап казино[/url] пин ап казино официальный сайт

    Reply

  127. вавада официальный сайт [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada вход[/url] vavada вход

    Reply

  130. вавада официальный сайт [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada[/url] vavada

    Reply

  132. pin up вход [url=http://pinuprus.pro/#]пин ап казино официальный сайт[/url] пин ап вход

    Reply

  148. вавада зеркало [url=https://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada[/url] вавада зеркало

    Reply

  158. вавада казино [url=https://vavadavhod.tech/#]вавада казино[/url] вавада зеркало

    Reply

  168. vavada casino [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada вход[/url] вавада зеркало

    Reply

  171. пинап казино [url=https://pinuprus.pro/#]пин ап казино[/url] пин ап казино официальный сайт

    Reply

  174. пин ап зеркало [url=http://pinuprus.pro/#]пинап казино[/url] пин ап казино официальный сайт

    Reply

  177. пин ап казино [url=https://pinuprus.pro/#]pin up вход[/url] пин ап вход

    Reply

  184. FDA approved generic Cialis [url=http://zipgenericmd.com/#]best price Cialis tablets[/url] FDA approved generic Cialis

    Reply

  189. purchase Modafinil without prescription [url=http://modafinilmd.store/#]modafinil pharmacy[/url] Modafinil for sale

    Reply

  194. secure checkout Viagra [url=https://maxviagramd.com/#]best price for Viagra[/url] cheap Viagra online

    Reply

  200. modafinil legality [url=https://modafinilmd.store/#]verified Modafinil vendors[/url] buy modafinil online

    Reply

  204. secure checkout ED drugs [url=https://zipgenericmd.com/#]secure checkout ED drugs[/url] FDA approved generic Cialis

    Reply

  214. Viagra without prescription [url=https://maxviagramd.com/#]best price for Viagra[/url] best price for Viagra

    Reply

  220. cheap Viagra online [url=http://maxviagramd.com/#]trusted Viagra suppliers[/url] cheap Viagra online

    Reply

  223. reliable online pharmacy Cialis [url=https://zipgenericmd.shop/#]generic tadalafil[/url] affordable ED medication

    Reply

  227. legal Modafinil purchase [url=http://modafinilmd.store/#]purchase Modafinil without prescription[/url] modafinil pharmacy

    Reply

  231. doctor-reviewed advice [url=http://modafinilmd.store/#]verified Modafinil vendors[/url] safe modafinil purchase

    Reply

  235. modafinil 2025 [url=https://modafinilmd.store/#]modafinil 2025[/url] safe modafinil purchase

    Reply

  238. PredniHealth [url=https://prednihealth.shop/#]buy prednisone tablets online[/url] PredniHealth

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*