SMC³ to Release New, Online Transportation RFP Service
Breakthrough offering will unite carriers and shippers in a shared bid process
Peachtree City, GA - May 18, 2004—SMC³, a leading nationwide provider of Technology Tools for Transportation, today announced the upcoming release of an Internet-based bid package solution that facilitates and manages a collaborative bid process between shippers and carriers.
SMC³’s Bid$ense for CzarLite optimizes the decision-making process so that shippers can make the best choice in awarding their carrier contracts. As the leading provider of LTL base rates, tools and technology solutions and services, SMC³ is uniquely qualified to provide this solution to the transportation marketplace.
“Bid$ense is different from the other transportation RFPs on the market today,” said Jack E. Middleton, president and CEO of SMC³. “The difference is that it’s designed to support the entire, end-to-end RFP process utilizing SMC³’s characteristic understanding of LTL pricing and processes.”
Bid$ense includes an exclusive set of LTL information and reusability tools to improve accuracy and reduce the time and cost of RFP preparation, administration, evaluation and award. The service was designed with both carrier and shipper input, ensuring the delivery of key shipment information to the carrier and sensible bid responses to the shipper.
Bid$ense acts as a facilitator; the shipper submits their electronic RFP to their selected carrier group, each carrier provides complete pricing and service information to the shipper, and the shipper compares and evaluates the standardized responses received. When a decision is reached on the shipper’s part, Bid$ense is again used to notify the carrier and manage the contractual process. All exchanged information is secured by SMC³’s system of servers and stored at the shipper’s discretion for historical re-use.
“Many online RFPs out there today are set up according to a ‘blind’ bid process,” commented Warren Patterson, project lead for SMC³’s Bid$ense offering. “With Bid$ense, the carrier who offers the lowest price doesn’t necessarily win the bid—the process is all about weighing several factors so that the shipper can make the best business decision.”
Other key features of Bid$ense include powerful tools for pricing analysis, shipper-defined “weighting” mechanisms, and standard data formats for easy integration of in-house or online tools. Bid$ense seamlessly incorporates SMC³’s CzarLite base rates and also integrates with SMC³’s RateWare, CarrierConnect and FastClass technology products.
“There’s no doubt that Bid$ense will revolutionize the way carriers and shippers do business,” said Middleton. “Shippers will be amazed at how they can leverage their control over the bid process, and carriers will benefit from business that fits their unique service levels.”
SMC³’s Bid$ense for CzarLite is scheduled for an August 2004 release. Specialized demonstrations and introductory pricing are available now. For more information, visit www.smc3bidsense.com, call 800-845-8090 or email sales@smc3.com.
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About SMC³
SMC³ is a leading nationwide provider of technology tools for transportation. SMC³ enables its customers to achieve greater success in the marketplace by supplying advanced technology tools, superior data management services and smart processes that ensure the accurate and timely availability of pricing information throughout the transportation community.
SMC³ presently serves more than 5,000 customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, and is committed to remaining at the forefront of technology and pricing intelligence through a dedicated staff and partnerships in the industry. The company is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga., and has a satellite office in Louisville, Ky.
Company keywords: Technology, Transportation, LTL, Pricing.