Automated carrier selection based on cost and reliability metrics

Purpose

1.1. Automate carrier selection in aluminum wholesale logistics by evaluating multiple shipping carriers via integration, optimizing for cost, reliability, delivery time, and service guarantees.
1.2. Reduce manual logistics management, minimize shipping costs, automatically select best-fit carriers per shipment, and maintain service standards for large, recurrent aluminum orders.
1.3. Ensure dynamic re-evaluation with updated rates, historical delivery outcomes, and real-time carrier performance to support continuous operational improvement.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. New sales order entered in ERP or order management system.
2.2. Receipt of automated inventory allocation or pick-list generation event.
2.3. Periodic reevaluation on updated cost or carrier availability data.
2.4. Exception triggers if carrier reliability falls below threshold or delivery windows change.

Platform Variants

3.1. SAP S/4HANA
• API: SAP Transportation Management API; use ComputeShippingOptions function to fetch carrier options per order payload.

3.2. Oracle SCM Cloud
• Function: Transportation Sourcing REST endpoint; configure cost/reliability ranking logic in orchestration rules.

3.3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain
• API: Freight Shipping Rate Engine; enable webhook for real-time carrier quotes and status checks.

3.4. FedEx Web Services
• Endpoint: RateService_v26; call GetRates with shipper/receiver info to fetch cost and expected delivery for available services.

3.5. UPS Developer Kit API
• API: Rate API and Time in Transit API; configure CompareRatesRequest and service reliability filters.

3.6. DHL XML Services
• Service: GetQuote; define ServiceType, receiver, and package data for bids from DHL network.

3.7. XPO Logistics API
• API: Tender Shipment API; submit load parameters, receive cost/reliability metrics per XPO lane.

3.8. C.H. Robinson Navisphere
• API: QuoteEndpoint; automate tender requests and historical reliability scoring.

3.9. Convoy API
• Endpoint: GET /shipment-quotes; fetch real-time and historical cost/reliability metrics per route.

3.10. Project44
• API: Carrier Selection Trigger; configure with shipment event and delivery SLA parameters.

3.11. FourKites
• API: Load Matching; query available carriers with cost-per-mile and delivery consistency fields.

3.12. Transporeon
• Module: Best Carrier Assignment service; enable automated scoring with lane-based carrier performance data.

3.13. Shipwell
• API: BookShipment; system selects carrier on price/reliability and confirms booking.

3.14. Freightos WebCargo
• Endpoint: GetQuotes; set filters for aluminum category, delivery urgency, and reliability threshold.

3.15. Descartes MacroPoint
• Service: Automated carrier scorecarding via MacroPoint API metrics and scoring event.

3.16. KeepTruckin FleetOps
• Feature: Carrier Matching API; request quotes with on-time performance and bid sorting enabled.

3.17. Kuebix TMS
• Integration Point: Rate Comparison engine; trigger on order creation for auto-matching.

3.18. Transplace
• Feature: Procurement API; automate candidate selection with real-time rate/score grid.

3.19. Manhattan Associates TMS
• Component: Carrier Scorecard; feed scorecard data to order assignment via automated workflow rule.

3.20. Oracle Integration Cloud
• Feature: Integration flow using prebuilt connectors to logistics rate APIs and evaluation logic for result callback.

Benefits

4.1. Eliminates manual carrier selection, reducing errors and decision time.
4.2. Continuously optimizes transportation spend and reliability in bulk metals shipments.
4.3. Boosts customer trust via improved OTIF (On-Time-In-Full) metrics.
4.4. Reacts dynamically to market changes, failures, and carrier disruptions.
4.5. Unifies operations, improving auditability and compliance in supply chain reporting.