SMC³ hosts its Connections and Jump Start educational conferences in order to bring together supply chain stakeholders for three days of informative panels and targeted, meaningful networking. But on the first two days of Connections 2018, there was plenty of talk of the NBA and of one star player in particular.

Day one of the SMC³ Connections 2018 supply chain education conference, an event focused on the trends and issues in the transportation arena, took a bit of a monetary digression. During “The Practical Guide to Blockchain” panel, a parenthetical discussion of cryptocurrency featured some visionary claims regarding the use of Bitcoin and digital money.

A truckload carrier recently ran into difficultly when it tried to establish the profitability of each client. By using SMC³’s activity-based freight costing model, the carrier was able to establish an operating ratio for each customer. Today, the carrier is using the shipment costing solution for transportation pricing and to quote new supply chain business.

LTL shipping is the single most complicated transportation option out there today, but it plays a pivotal role in the smooth operation of the supply chain. Companies that play the game well by aligning with the right carrier and technology partners know that LTL shipping is an extremely valuable transportation option. SMC³ has demonstrated time and again its ability to helps members of the supply chain optimize their LTL decisions.

Solutions that simplify the LTL RFP process by automating, facilitating and managing bidding between carriers and shippers are invaluable in this complex environment. SMC³’s Bid$ense® can simplify and expedite the time consuming bid process by automating the entire event.

FedEx Supply Chain’s Ryan Kelly recently spoke with SMC³ about the reverse logistics supply chain and how less-than-truckload carriers are trying to capitalize on the growing trend. Industry expert, Brad Parrish of FedEx Supply Chain, will discuss the topic in more detail during Connections 2018 in June.