Supply chain software provider HighJump Software Inc. said today it released the latest version of its warehouse management system (WMS) application, which the company said contains enhanced mobility and revenue tracking to target users in the third party logistics (3PL) market.
Known as version 4.2 of AccellosOne Enterprise 3PL, the new software application is integrated with Minneapolis-based HighJump's "Profit Work Bench," an application for tracking revenue in 3PL facilities that hold inventory from multiple customers.
The new release allows users to perform costing, charging, and billing operations based not only on the space used by each customer, but the operations performed for them, said Melroy Coelho, product marketing manager for HighJump.
"It is built to manage complexity in inventory and warehousing environments," Coelho said in a phone interview. "Rather than just focusing on inventory-in, inventory-out operations and cross-docking, we can track kitting, assembling, and other kinds of more complex operations than a single-client DC would need."
In another nod to the demands of 3PL operations, the new version allows users to run the software on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Based on the HTML5 standard—the latest release of the programming language for web-based applications—the platform allows warehouse managers to practice BYOD, an industry acronym for "bring your own device," Coelho said.
That mobility offering is expected on most new releases, allowing supply chain managers to access information and analytics on their phones and tablets, but the profit-tracking feature is the key capability for the new AccellosOne Enterprise 3PL, said James A. Cooke, a supply chain management journalist, consultant, and author.
"If you're a 3PL, you've got to be able to apportion your charges into activity-based costing principles so you can allocate the appropriate charges and make money," Cooke said.
HighJump is targeting the new version at large to mid-sized logistics service providers (LSPs) focused on warehousing services in the areas of ambient and cold storage, automotive and manufacturing, apparel, chemicals, furniture, high technology, and retail, the company said.
