Frequently Asked Questions
1.
Who are the types of customers that will benefit from Data Trak’s
solutions?
The
types of customers that will benefit the most from our solution are
companies that need a multi-carrier shipping system integrated with
their companies main
computer system. Whether it’s a warehouse management system or
an accounting application, our solution communicates with their software
infrastructure producing efficient and seamless results.
We also help companies that realize they have inefficiencies in
their current shipping processes; they may be having problems with
corporate wide visibility of shipments that have already left the
warehouse, or problems with bill of lading or international
documentation, or problems with tracking packages to insure carrier
guarantees, or the enforcement of business rules and the automation of
business to business requirements such as EDI Advanced Shipment
Notifications (ASN) and UCC 128 labeling requirements.
Top
of Page
2.
How long does an implementation take?
Implementation
varies based on the overall goals and the type of solution required by
each individual company.
We work with Fortune 500 companies such as Best Buy.com, 3M, and
Medtronic so you can imagine the complexity of the various solutions we
have had to implement. We also work with many small businesses where the
solution is not as complex. On average a solution can be implemented in
about 4 to 8 weeks.
Top
of Page
3.
What is the typical cost of a Data Trak solution?
The
solutions we provide vary in cost according to the complexity of the
project.
What we like to focus on is the return on investment, or our
ability
to show true savings over a short period of time.
We have implemented solutions for as little as 15k to well over
500k, so the complexity of the solution does matter in terms of price. However
the return on investment is what makes our solution very attractive from
a dollars and cents perspective.
Top
of Page
4.
Does a company need to implement a new ERP or WMS system before
implementing a Data Trak solution?
No,
a company does not need to implement a new ERP or WMS system before
implementing our solution.
Our solution is so flexible and dynamic when connecting to a
company’s host software application that if the software
infrastructure changes, our solution can adapt to those changes with
minimal implementation time.
Top
of Page
5.
Can Data Trak automate processes with a legacy system and an
Enterprise
system concurrently?
Yes,
often times while a company is waiting for their Enterprise system to be
implemented we have installed our solution using their legacy system.
Even though our solution is working with the legacy system, we
fully design and scale our solution to easily work with their new
enterprise system.
Top
of Page
6.
How does your product work in an enterprise environment?
Our
system is designed and developed with scalability in mind.
When we say enterprise we are really talking about the ability to
have many users accessing the system concurrently. Though often times
you don’t have an overwhelming amount of users shipping packages
concurrently, with today’s business climate there’s a need for
real-time information about the status of an order.
We’re also finding more corporations wanting the ability to
ship overnight letters from their desktop. So today you have more and
more people needing access to shipping information.
Top
of Page
7.
Can your solution replace a WMS or ERP system?
No,
our software is designed as a backend process to a WMS or ERP system.
Often we get into gray areas when our software is being
implemented such as developing pick & pack applications for package
level detail requirements. We have even adjusted inventory counts based
on what was being shipped through our systems.
Even though the software allows us the flexibility to create
these processes, our solution is primarily based on shipping automation
processes.
Top
of Page
8.
Why should a company purchase a Data Trak solution when carrier
provided
software is free?
We
think
the carriers do a good job of providing a solution when a company uses a
single carrier and shipping volumes are relatively low.
When your system is provided by the carrier you ship your
packages through that carrier, you process your shipments their way and
you follow their rules.
As long as your business requirements are simple, then this type
of solution may work for some companies. A free system comes at a high
price for companies shipping with multiple carriers and who have a need
to exchange data with their WMS or ERP system.
What attracts companies to our solution is Multi-Carrier
flexibility. One system manages and processes all of your different
carrier requirements, implements and follows your business rules, shops
for the best rate between all carriers, allows a single method for users
to input data, and gives your company corporate wide visibility on the
status of shipments.
Carriers are limited in their ability to implement sophisticated
enterprise solutions.
Top
of Page
9.
What are the main benefits of an integrated Transportation Management
System?
Operational Benefits:
- Faster Operations
- Standardized Shipping
UI
- Better Accuracy
- Lower Operational Cost
- Better Logistics
Management
- Ability to Grow
- Better Customer
Service
Integration Benefits:
- Reduce Manual Key
Entry
- Reduce Data Errors
- Faster Billing Cycle
- Automate Shipment
document generation
- Improve quality with
data verification
- Drive cost out of the
Supply Chain by automating data from shipper to
carrier to consignee
Top
of Page
10.
Does Data Trak provide a intranet or internet based solution?
As
companies look to control their costs, the charges related to shipping
is one area where they can recognize savings.
To do that, they need a system that is centralized and easily
deployable throughout an enterprise.
Data Trak provides such a solution.
Because the solution is a Server based application it can be
installed and maintained by the companies IT staff without the need to
perform any local workstation installation or setup.
The system administrator can configure what carriers and services
users can utilize.
Large
numbers of users can access the solution through a browser, which allows
for an easy to use interface with little to no configuration required. These users can all be in one location and access the system
over the LAN or be remote and access the system through a WAN or the
Internet.
Top
of Page
Home
| About
Data Trak
| Products
| Carrier
Modules
| Contact
Us
© COPYRIGHT 2002-2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DATA TRAK TECHNOLOGIES |
