FourKites Latest Addition to Scheduling Standards Consortium

Freight scheduling has long posed challenges for the supply chain, exacerbated by the significant growth and diversification in scheduling solutions seen over the past decade.

Today, shippers and carriers must manage numerous freight scheduling methods, each with its own interface and API, causing friction and various inefficiencies throughout the supply chain.

It’s why Convoy, JB Hunt and Uber Freight joined forces in 2022 to establish the Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC), creating the first universal appointment scheduling standard in the form of an API. 

Over the past two years a host of big-name organisations have joined the group, with the latest being FourKites, the leading supply chain visibility provider. FourKites becomes the first real-time visibility platform collaborating with the SSC. 

SSC focused on supply chain visibility

The SSC was founded with the ambition to create freight appointment scheduling standards that provide consistent visibility into the supply chain. 

Together with shippers, carriers and intermediaries, the consortium aims to foster greater efficiency within the wider supply chain technology landscape. 

In addition to the founders, organisations involved with the SSC include Arrive Logistics, Blue Yonder, Coyote Logistics, DHL, e2open, Echo, Lineage, Mastery, One Network Enterprises, Oracle, Ryder, TI NTG, Werner and Worldwide Express.

With these leading firms now driving the standard forward, the SSC’s goal is to simplify the integration of tech platforms across the fragmented ecosystem and generate increased efficiency within the freight industry. 

The group has endorsed a universal standard for the API, released in October last year, which eliminates the need for multiple interfaces and allows carriers to interact through a single platform. 

“Embracing a universal scheduling API unlocks seamless coordination across supply chains,” explains Viral Parekh, Head of Logistics Operations at The Kraft Heinz Company. 

“As more companies endorse this unified approach, we pave the way for unparalleled system efficiency, streamlining operations and driving transformative growth throughout the industry.”

FourKites: Optimising ecosystem performance

FourKites is collaborating with the SSC because of its proven commitment to optimising ecosystem performance, carrier success and building a more user-friendly operating environment. 

The company’s robust customer base and recognised industry leadership enables it to play a role in developing the API and accelerating adoption across its customer and partner network. 

With more than 100,000 appointments scheduled using the platform every month, Slot Manager is one of FourKites’ fastest-growing products as it significantly eliminates the friction associated with manual time slot booking.

“We’re thrilled to participate in this consortium of industry heavy-hitters,” comments Mathew Elenjickal, Founder and CEO at FourKites. 

“A single API between our Slot Manager solution and our shippers’ carrier networks will create a frictionless operating environment for everyone involved, and will make FourKites customers shippers of choice, with lower cost to serve and a reliable, reputable integration.”

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