NFI Industries, a leading logistics provider, faced significant challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve Browne, Director of Operations, recognized the need for enhanced visibility and data accuracy to navigate through both a complex freight market and new reliability challenges in logistics. In response, NFI adopted OpenTrack, the leading logistics visibility solution that transformed their operations and empowered them to deliver a top-rated service to their customers.

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Visibility challenge

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The onset of the pandemic exposed critical flaws in traditional data tracking systems. NFI, using carrier data feeds via EDI, encountered discrepancies in container tracking, leading to inefficiencies and frustrations. Delays in port operations underscored the need for an independent solution that aggregated data across all sources, standardized it, and delivered the “right” answer. Without timely and accurate information, NFI struggled to mitigate demurrage charges and maintain efficient container flows.

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“OpenTrack helped us cut down on labor time, gave us better data, and gave us the ability to have educated discussions with our customers about their containers.”

Steve Browne
Director of Operations, NFI Industries

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Getting the right answer

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By consolidating data from ocean carriers, terminals, rail carriers, vessel schedules, land-based and satellite AIS, and proprietary data sources into a centralized platform, OpenTrack provided clear, near real-time visibility into shipments. This not only reduced labor time, but also facilitated informed discussions with customers regarding their shipping containers.

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With proactive capabilities to anticipate demurrage charges and optimize container returns, OpenTrack empowered NFI to take control of their supply chain operations.

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Becoming proactive

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The implementation of OpenTrack yielded several benefits for NFI and its customers. By leveraging accurate data, NFI could proactively address issues or discrepancies weeks before they occurred. OpenTrack’s enhanced rail tracking improved NFI’s operational capabilities, enabling them to handle diverse transportation modes seamlessly. OpenTrack’s analytical tools offered in-depth insights into dwell times and shipment delays, allowing NFI to offer value-added services to their customers.

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“Now we have the proactive capability to get ahead of the curve on Last Free Day to know if demurrage will occur and what it will cost — and for empty containers returned, OpenTrack has also given us the ability to get those containers in before we hit LFD.”

Steve Browne
Director of Operations, NFI Industries

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Customer feedback and partnership

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NFI’s customers welcomed the transparency and reliability offered by OpenTrack. The seamless partnership between NFI and OpenTrack produced continuous improvement, with both parties actively seeking feedback and implementing suggestions. The trust and collaboration fostered between NFI and OpenTrack transformed the relationship into a true partnership.

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“The OpenTrack team has been absolutely open to any suggestions we’ve had,” Browne says. “It’s been a very good conversation back and forth. And vice versa. Many times they’ll come back to me and ask that I check something out that they’re working on. The relationship has grown to a true partnership.

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“I’m not the easiest to impress,” he adds. “It’s been nothing but a great partnership.”

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The power of accurate data

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OpenTrack’s data accuracy and flexibility set it apart from traditional systems. Unlike other solutions that rely on fragmented data sources, OpenTrack provides the “right” answer — the same answer that a veteran operations team would conclude after checking all available data sources, recognizing patterns and taking into account the current market conditions.

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“Through OpenTrack’s dashboard, having access to the reports and analytics gives us a little bit of an edge and can help with those CIP conversations with our customers,” Browne says.

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Today NFI considers OpenTrack as the primary source for their Transportation Management System, solidifying its position as an indispensable tool in their operations.

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Conclusion

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The adoption of OpenTrack delivered a big win for NFI Industries’ supply chain operations, providing unparalleled visibility, reliability, and flexibility. By leveraging accurate data and proactive capabilities, NFI transformed challenges into opportunities, setting new standards for service excellence in the logistics industry.

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