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Providing real-time shipment locations to shippers, brokers, carriers, and logistics providers.

Supply Chains and Social Media: A Match Made in Heaven?

With over 600 million users, if Facebook were a county, it would be the 3rd most populated country in the world. On Twitter, over 200 million users send out 95 million tweets per day. And as for LinkedIn, one million new users per week join the ranks of its already 100 million members.

Yes, social media is wildly popular. But does it have a place in the world of supply chains?

The short answer is yes. While Twitter might not be the most intuitive place to address your capacity issues or freight costs, the myriad of resources active in this online community makes it a fantastic venue for new contacts. You may not come right out and tweet that your freight costs are over budget for the year, but armed with this information, you can seek out other warehousing options, investigate other trucking firms or get information on new technologies that can move your business forward...all from the comfort of your computer.

What's more, social media gives you the opportunity to get your own name out there. Most marketing gurus will readily agree that any publicity is good publicity, and social media, when utilized correctly, provides an enormous amount of publicity for little to no investment. Facebook does have paid advertising options, but to start,the time dedication of someone on your team is the only monetary investment you'll need.

With social media, you will be able to target and interact with potential customers and potential suppliers. You can network with industry experts and can extend your reach far beyond what any magazine ad or postcard mailer ever could. Social media makes our giant world very accessible.

If all this sounds fantastic and you can see how social media does, in fact, have a place within the supply chain industry, we implore you to remember one thing: The key to social networking, of course, is the "social" aspect of it. Many newcomers make the critical error of sharing only links and stuffy "sales" messages. Make certain that you are engaging in conversations, thanking 'Followers' (on Twitter) and 'Likers' (on Facebook), and that you're sharing information from your new friends as well. Ask your readers questions. Link to other industry news. Participate in social media initiatives - these little acts can go a long way toward securing recognition for your brand...and your business.

What is "The Cloud" and Why Do You Need It?

It's no secret that technology changes with nearly every breath we take. But, some new developments have a better chance of providing lasting benefits than others. Case in point: Cloud Computing.

What exactly is Cloud Computing? Wikipedia defines it as an "on-demand provision of computational resources (data, software) via a computer network, rather than from a local computer." Essentially, this means that anyone connected to a "cloud" can store their data, files, etc. in a network free from any software, hardware, or localized networks. The cloud can be accessed by a laptop or desktop computer, a smartphone, or by a tablet. Music, word processing documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos, calendars, email and more are all accessible - and easily shared - amongst the cloud network's users.

The benefits of cloud computing are many. No longer are cloud network users reliant upon costly software updates, intermittent outages, or local servers that may easily crash. Instead, users simply log onto the Internet via a Web browser to access the needed applications, while the software and data are all stored and maintained at a remote location. The term coined for this type of operation is Software as a Service (SaaS).

TransFUSION Network realizes the benefits of cloud computing and has embraced it fully to improve the functionality and visibility of your supply chain. Now, it is easier than ever for customers to find and contact you and for you to keep tabs on your business and your assets. By accessing the TransFUSION Network cloud, you will have all the data your need, at your fingertips, day or night, via any Internet source you have at your disposal. Improvements and updates are automatic and included with your service. We handle the "back end" of these data resources so you can focus on what you do best...running your business.

The future of computing is in the cloud. We've got our heads in the cloud. Will you?

How Eco-Friendly is Your Transportation Business?

Have you ever considered the size of the carbon footprint your trucking business leaves on our planet? In the transportation and logistics industry, we are especially subject to affecting our environment.

Each time a truck runs, we are sending dangerous emissions into the air. We're consuming the precious resource of fuel and adding to the wear and tear on our country's infrastructure. We don't always realize it, but we are constantly impacting the world we are leaving behnid for our children and our children's children.

With TransFUSION Network, we take social awareness and make it second nature. Because of our load-matching service, running trucks without a backhaul is no longer a challenge. And our cutting edge, real-time GPS tracking system helps monitor what's going on with your fleet or freight anytime, from anywhere. You can easily view your assets' positioning, direction and speed to eliminate waste...and eliminate worry.

Take your company's environmental protection contributions to the next level. Avoid empty miles. Cut emissions. Save fuel and save the Earth. With TransFUSION Network, being green is easier than you dreamed.

Service Your Customers Right: Communication is Vital

You've worked hard to earn your clientele, and you're not about to let them go. But in a crowded marketplace, how can you be sure your customers will remain loyal and not jump ship to a competitor? By providing them with extraordinary customer service via outstanding communications.

It's been said that a key to success is imagining every person with a sign around their neck that says, "Make me feel special." This is a fantastic practice to put into place when dealing with customers as well. From the top of an organization to the bottom, each person who works there is an integral component to that business' success. Therefore, each person you communicate with should get the best and most accurate story from you, enabling them to do their jobs most efficiently.

This, of course, is easier said than done. Pieces of critical information may be fuzzy, or altogether missing. In the transportation and logistics industry, anticipated load arrival times - quite possibly the very information your customer needs in order to run their business properly - may be anyone's guess. This lack of detail my unwittingly cause an entire negative trickle-down effect for your customer, causing their workflow to be disrupted. Naturally, this is not the kind of experience you want to deliver to your customers.

The fix is simple: Seek out and invest in systems or technologies that can make communicating important information to your customers as effortless as possible. By utilizing the finest in telematics, TransFUSION Network employs GPS technology and a highly detailed, real-time map to pinpoint each and every power unit and trailer in your fleet. Tracking a load, down to its exact location, can give you the information you need to best prepare your customers for either an on-time delivery or a deviated arrival time. This distinct and explicit information can save your customers frustration by helping them plan ahead.

Outstanding interactions with your customers could well be the factor that sets you apart from your competitors. Investing in TransFUSION Network to enhance your current telematics systems can aid in keeping your customers happy and loyal - which can certainly lead to repeat business and referrals down the road.

#Customer service #TransFUSION Network #telematics #customer communications #Transportation and Logistics

"The redesign of the TransFUSION Network website is a crucial step in the outreach of our product and business as a whole. Providing potential customers, partners and employees with the most technologically-driven and vividly informative website possible exemplifies our commitment to cultivating solutions within the transportation and logistics industry, while maintaining a relationship-centered focus."

TransIT Solutions Vice President, Bob Stemple

#TransFUSION Network #Website redesigns #Transportation and Logistics #SaaS

Empty Miles Equal Empty Pockets

High fuel costs. Capacity issues. Problems facing the bottom line of the transportation and logistics industry are many. Yet, there are a few that can easily be addressed – and TransFUSION Network can help.

Let’s focus on the ever-worrisome issue of logging empty miles. How often are drivers sent to deliver a load, yet return with nothing? Or, how often does a driver experience a lengthy layover, waiting for a new load to present itself? If the answer is “too often” or even “once in a while,” that’s simply too much.

TransFUSION Network works as a load board system that takes matching a step further. With TFN, you can see your asset’s exact location on a real-time map and will know your driver's exact ETA. With that information, you can then seek out a load that will be ready to ship when your driver is. No wasteful waiting.

Our world is full of developing telematics that have been created to better our communications capabilities. Why not use these enhancements to help your business run smoother? Investing in your future by partnering with TransFUSION Network will introduce your business to the ease and cost savings you deserve. After all, fewer empty miles equal fuller pockets…and that’s a win-win all around!

Snow in March, lovely weather here in Bay City, Michigan!

Fresh and new - new TransFUSION Network site design is here.

#TransFUSION Network site design

Bay City St. Patty's Day Parade 2011

TransIT Solutions, a software provider for the transportation and logistics industry, has partnered with Boatracs, a maritime communications solutions provider, to develop a web-based solution for the commercial maritime industry. The partnership will combine TransIT Solutions’ strength in developing Internet-based GPS applications with Boatracs’ unparalleled experience in providing service to the wireless maritime market.

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