Acacia and AR Traffic Consultants:
A Developing Relationship

Each issue we will try to present how synergies are attained by using ARTC software solutions in conjunction with one of our partners software/hardware solutions.

Acacia Technologies, a division of Computer Associates offers AS/400 Enterprise Resource Planning software solutions to its many manufacturing and distribution customers. Acacia serves over 2000 customers from offices in most major cities worldwide. Its primary offerings are: PRMS, a complete order/entry, distribution and accounting package, KBM which supplies manufacturing companies with a complete business system and Warehouse BOSS, a comprehensive warehouse management tool.

The partnership between Acacia Technologies and AR Traffic Consultants, which began in 1994, continues to flourish, and now includes new product interfaces to both PRMS and Warehouse BOSS. The goal is to give Acacia users instant access to rating, routing, auditing, and reporting functions through easy "plug and play" applications.

CalcRate, ARTC's flagship program, is comprised of two modules, a carrier rate database and freight payment system. It is designed to allow traffic departments to know in advance the expected freight charges for a particular shipment. By giving companies the tools to "rate shop", users can quickly evaluate potential areas for savings. Gordon Bard from EKCO Housewares states, "We dropped our freight costs as a percentage of sales from 3.25% to 2.74%."

PRMS and BOSS customers will soon be able to take advantage of CalcRate's new release (see page one). Corresponding enhancements to the PRMS interface will include the entry of accessorial types, i.e. inside delivery, lift gate, etc., directly into the customer/ship-to master files and the passing of check number, paid amount, and date to CalcRate for storage in freight history.

CalcBOL currently offers its users with complete carrier documentation capability. A consolidation routine combines all orders travelling to the same customer and address onto the same bill of lading automatically. Master bills of lading are created for multi-stop truckloads and pool shipments, while "Subs" are generated for individual customer stops. Also, accessorial fees can be added to the freight charges at the time of shipment and eventually passed to CalcRate. Recent enhancements include one-step BOL print and automatic Pro number assignment. Current PRMS users will be pleased to know that CalcBOL expands on the functionality that the original CalcRate interface did not address. This module accessed from Shipment Confirmation, allows the user to consolidate customer orders and/or replenishment orders together. Also, freight expenses are allocated down to the line item level instead of commodity code level only.

Acacia has recently made the commitment to integrate ARTC's CalcBOL module (Consolidated Bill of Lading) with Warehouse BOSS, as well.

CalcPak allows BOSS (and soon PRMS) users to weigh and rate parcel shipments via an electronic weighing device. Metering individual parcels automatically triggers BOSS Dock Spot Confirmation. Carrier compliant bar-coded tracking labels are automatically generated and carrier manifests are printed at the time of shipment. Carton level data is stored in history and is easily accessible by customer service personnel upon demand.

Warehouse BOSS users will soon be able to utilize the enhanced CalcPak system to process UPS, RPS, Federal Express and USPS cartons from the same scale station. The UPS "Host Access" program allows users can "transmit" shipping records automatically to UPS each day and "track" packages instantly on-line directly from the AS/400. James Waugh, Project Manager at Royal Doulton and a Warehouse BOSS user, pointed out the most visible and immediate advantages of converting to CalcPak from a PC based parcel processing system by confirming "We can automatically interface parcel information with freight billing and provide our customer service people with quick and easy online access to tracking numbers."

If you would like to know more about Acacia Technologies, call 630-505-6000.