Transport planning in Excel: Obstacle or opportunity?

According to a recent article in the German media, as many as 89% of German organisations struggle to respond to supply chain disruptions within 24 hours. Here, the fact that a large proportion of these organisations use spreadsheet programmes such as Excel for their supply chain planning is seen as the cause.

But let's consider the possibilities that Excel can offer. Especially as a starting point for logistics processes. Spreadsheet files are, in our view, a powerful tool that already contains much of your business information in digital form. As far as we are concerned, there’s no problem to start with transport planning in a CSV file. However, to take business operations to the next level, it is essential to enrich this spreadsheet data. After all, as a logistics provider, you face the challenge of aligning your planning and executions with reality.

Spreadsheet files as a starting point

But how do you get that done? Quite easily! With your transport planning in a CSV file, you can start using a logistics Control Tower with fairly little effort. This allows you to start reacting quickly and adequately to disruptions in your transport processes. This provides you with the ability to intervene during transport execution (on-trip), draw conclusions afterwards (post-trip) and use these lessons to optimise and improve future operations (pre-trip). In short, a logistics Control Tower offers not only real-time transport visibility and execution capabilities, but also interpretation, analysis and a feedback loop of interpreted transport data and the ability to collaborate with your supply chain partners.

Transport planning in a CSV; no problem!

In short, as far as we are concerned, Excel does not need to be banned. But it is important not to base your logistics processes entirely on a spreadsheet programme. Use the information from this type of application as a starting point for your logistics operations. Bring your spreadsheet together with other data from other sources and/or platforms in a central hub, such as a logistics Control Tower. This allows you to react immediately to disruptions in your supply chain and optimise your transport operations, leading to efficiency, cost savings and CO2 reduction.