Provider of bulk materials transportation and logistics services, Trimac Corporation, has chosen business intelligence company, Cognos` data analysis and reporting solutions to improve process and offset industry cost increases.
By using Cognos Impromptu Web Reports and PowerPlay Web, Trimac has recognised a $1 million return on investment to date by integrating Cognos into its dispatch system.
Trimac is now able to compare actual trip data to engineered Trip Standards to look for process improvements that reduce costs and enhance customer service. Trip Standards examine factors like equipment utilisation, based on equipment or customer, by reviewing variables such as load/unload times, distance travelled, and gross vehicle weight.
"With Cognos, we can drill down and compare the actual trip information to what we have committed to our customers, which improves the value of the total logistics chain," says Ted Barnicoat, CIO of Trimac. "Cognos has allowed us to provide a complete `order to fulfilment` system to our customers and the Cognos-supported Trip Standards will yield an estimated $2 million in reduced costs this year."
Trimac`s 130 terminals across North America are also using Cognos. Branch managers use BI to measure key performance indicators (KPI`s), like determining whether Trimac is meeting revenue per mile estimate.
Using Cognos Impromptu Web Reports, managers can develop reports based on these KPI`s that can be shared throughout the company. "Cognos enables managers to measure and improve the performance and productivity of their terminals and regions," he says.
By the end of 2002, Trimac hopes to provide customers access to online reports via a secure extranet so that they can perform their own multidimensional analysis on their logistics data.
"Cognos business intelligence solutions have allowed Trimac to innovate the supply chain process, deliver value for the customer, and identify savings for the company," says Karen Williams, director of product marketing, Cognos.
"Cognos offers a personalised mix of business intelligence solutions that can be used across the organisation to help all employees, partners, and suppliers make better business decisions."
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Founded in 1945, Trimac Corporation is North America`s premier provider of services in highway transportation of bulk commodities through Trimac Transportation Services, and third-party logistics services through Trimac Logistics Inc. Trimac`s total revenues were almost $700 million (CDN) in 2000. In addition, Trimac holds interests in several associated corporations. The company employs more than 6 000 employees across North America.
Cognos
Cognos is the world`s largest and most successful vendor of enterprise business intelligence solutions that leverage Internet technology to make information easily accessible to everyone in your enterprise. Founded in 1969, Cognos does business in more than 120 countries and employs some 2 600 people worldwide. With more than 2 million BI licences in over 16 000 organisations worldwide, Cognos solutions are licensed for use by a wide range of customers, including Global 3000 corporations.
Our business intelligence solutions and services are sold directly and are also available from more than 3 000 worldwide partners and resellers and supported by an experienced field force of more than 1 400 customer-facing personnel. For more information visit: http://www.cognos.com/
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