Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/933296
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 JANUARY 2018 44 Events WHEN Express Trailers launched its managed pharma warehous- ing service in 2012, its obvious choice in terms of software was an already mature Warehouse Man- agement System for 3PL that was developed by Databyte, a lead- ing software development house, forming part of the KDM Group. That system consisted of an IT- based platform that efficiently manages administration and in- voicing of the receipt, storage and distribution of stocks. The original proprietary system was further developed by Data- Byte, and Express Trailers is now co-investing with DataByte to take this system to the next level and market it both locally and in- ternationally to other Third Party Logistics operators. "Managed Warehousing goes beyond having available space for storage but rather, it entails hav- ing the right IT platform support- ing the day-to-day management of receiving and holding third party inventory, issue holding bills, tak- ing orders, delivering these orders to customers and keeping track of replenishing stock," said Franco Azzopardi, Chairman and CEO of Express Trailers. "We have been collaborating with DataByte since our first pharma warehouses started op- erating in 2012. However, since different commodities require different handling, we had to modify the system to cater for such requirements and today, be- sides pharmaceuticals, this plat- form has been modified to cater for different types of commodi- ties including brown goods, white goods, manufacturing goods and more. Eventually, this IT system is now being applied to the man- agement of Express Trailers' new centralised managed warehousing facilities in Qormi." Express Trailers' Warehouse Management System for 3PL fea- tures a configurated plan of each warehouse facility identifying length of stay of goods stored in the warehouse, the accrued bill- ing value per night of storage and any vacant storage space that can be sold. When cargo is received, tallied and warehoused, all items are bar-coded on location. Clients supply electronic files with the in- coming cargo to enable us to pre- pare the related documentation for the warehouse coordinator to administer. Pick orders are also sent by the client in electronic format to in- clude the number of items re- quired, respective stock code, seg- regated according to each driver or vehicle. The newer improved system is planned to cater for on- line data interface and give clients more authorised accessibility. Currently, Express Trailers han- dles third party logistics for a number of companies including a major telecoms company and a Leading white goods. Frederick Micallef, DataByte's Managing Director said that the relationship between Express Trailers and DataByte started in 1986, when DataByte started to analyse, design and build the core Transport Management System for the company. During the same year, DataByte also started devel- oping a Warehouse Management System for third party logistics for another client who operated in a different sector. Convergence between the two distinct prod- uct paths took place some seven years ago when Express Trailers engaged DataByte in the compa- ny's own product development for third party logistics, specifically warehouse management. Express Trailers had taken a strategic deci- sion to invest in this area of busi- ness as part of their diversification strategy. "ICT was crucial, and the com- pany approached us to use our expertise in this field of business, and on the basis of our long-stand- ing relationship, tap in our tech- nological expertise to create the third party contracting, inventory holding and billing engine behind the warehousing operation." The product grew in such a way, that it now required a more robust and widely accessible application which can also integrate with the third party clients. "Express Trailers is the leading logistics partner in Malta with ex- pertise in the field and with a vi- sion and commitment towards in- ternationalisation. This is in sync with our vision and strategy and as such we decided to establish a a company to develop and market this product both locally as well as internationally. To achieve this, we will be also maximising our recently announced partnership with international consultants Gartner for the internationaliza- tion of the product, which product will be also using our robust and safe cloud-infrastructure," added Micallef. Azzopardi said that the pros- pects of more growth in this activ- ity led them to start consolidating their available space and led them to centralise the managed ware- housing service under one roof to be able to offer a better and more efficient service to an increased demand. "Our pharma warehouses will remain next to our main offices but our current managed ware- houses located opposite our main operating yard will be moved to our new 2,800sqm warehouse in Qormi, leaving us with more space that will be utilised better to gain more efficiency," he said. DataByte and Express Trailers to take unique proprietary IT system international