Pre-arrival notification workflows for logistics providers

**1. Purpose**

1 Automate pre-arrival notification flows to alert port operators, warehouse staff, customs, and trucking companies of inbound shipments.

2 Automates data collection from carriers, shipment tracking sources, vessel AIS, and ERP systems for real-time notification.

3 Automatedly informs all stakeholders of expected arrival, berth assignment, yard planning, documentation requirements, and compliance checks.

4 Enables automatable coordination to reduce bottlenecks, streamline cargo unloading, and enhance logistics visibility.

5 Automates timely reminders for dock preparation, required labor, inspection scheduling, and customer communications.

**2. Trigger Conditions**

1 New shipment record created in TOS, ERP, or manifest management system.

2 Automated vessel ETA update from AIS/API.

3 Customs clearance completion triggers.

4 Arrival of truck/rail at the port yard via GPS or geofence.

5 Scheduled berth allocation or change in vessel status automating an alert.

**3. Platform Variants**

1 Twilio SMS API

- Feature/Setting: Configure SMS message template with shipment details, set trigger on new ETA.
- Example: Use `/Messages` endpoint with dynamic arrival/berth data.

2 SendGrid

- Feature/Setting: Automate template emails for pre-arrival notification using dynamic fields for vessel, cargo, and ETA.
- Example: Trigger transactional template via `/mail/send` API.

3 Slack

- Feature/Setting: Automator posts to logistics or port operation channels on vessel ETA update trigger.
- Example: Use `chat.postMessage` with webhook set to berth allocation updates.

4 Microsoft Teams

- Feature/Setting: Teams connector automates channel messages when customs clearance completes.
- Example: Use `Incoming Webhook` to automate pre-arrival checklists.

5 AWS Lambda

- Feature/Setting: Lambda function automates data transformation and pushes notification via SNS.
- Example: Lambda triggers from S3 manifest upload, calls SNS `Publish`.

6 Google Cloud Pub/Sub

- Feature/Setting: Automate publish event on new shipment record, subscribe warehouse process.
- Example: Use `publishMessage` for vessel arrival topic.

7 SAP S/4HANA

- Feature/Setting: Configure Business Event `Goods Movement` to automate notification to port agents.
- Example: Use `Outbound Service` integration.

8 Oracle ERP Cloud

- Feature/Setting: Automate workflow on shipping document change to notify logistics providers.
- Example: Use `REST API` for shipping events (`/fscmRestApi/resources/11.13.18.05/shippingDocuments`).

9 PagerDuty

- Feature/Setting: Automatedly escalate unexpected arrival changes to operational staff.
- Example: Use `Events API v2` for real-time alerting.

10 Zendesk

- Feature/Setting: Automate ticket generation and customer updates for shipment arrival.
- Example: Use `Create Ticket` API on pre-arrival trigger.

11 WhatsApp Business API

- Feature/Setting: Automate reminder broadcast to truckers/customers about port entry timing.
- Example: Use `/messages` endpoint for schedule.

12 Telegram Bots

- Feature/Setting: Bots automate chat-based alerts for customs, dock staff.
- Example: Send automated message via `sendMessage` API.

13 Salesforce

- Feature/Setting: Trigger workflow rule on new shipment object to notify account stakeholders.
- Example: Salesforce Flow with `Send Email` or `Invoke Apex`.

14 ServiceNow

- Feature/Setting: Automated incident creation and staff notification for port operations.
- Example: Use `Table API` to create new incident on arrival update.

15 IBM MQ

- Feature/Setting: Automate message queue based on manifest upload, integrating terminal and yard systems.
- Example: Use `PutMessage` over queue for arrival topic.

16 Honeywell Movilizer

- Feature/Setting: Automate task dispatch to mobile workforce for pre-arrival preparation.
- Example: Trigger workflow task with `MovilizerCloud` API.

17 Google Calendar API

- Feature/Setting: Automate calendar invites for dock prep meetings on vessel ETA.
- Example: Create event using `Events: insert` endpoint.

18 HubSpot

- Feature/Setting: CRM automation sends stakeholders scheduled notifications for shipments.
- Example: Use `Workflows` and `Send Email` action.

19 Azure Logic Apps

- Feature/Setting: Automate multi-system flows; send pre-arrival to SAP, email, SMS, and Teams.
- Example: Build `When an HTTP request is received` logic.

20 Zoho CRM

- Feature/Setting: Automatic notification and workflow tasks to customer/depot contacts.
- Example: Configure workflow rule on ETA date update.

**4. Benefits**

1 Automates all key touchpoints, minimizing manual communication.

2 Automatedly improves planning, reducing delays and yard congestion.

3 Automation enables real-time visibility across logistics, operations, and customers.

4 Mitigates risks by automating escalation on unexpected changes.

5 Drives higher throughput by automating port readiness and resource allocation.

6 Automates compliance reporting and documentation flow for all arrivals.

7 Automatable process ensures all parties are informed for seamless logistics operations.