project44 and SAP herald new capabilities in their strategic Logistics Business Network partnership

Chicago-based project44, a technology services provider offering standardized, secure Web service API (application programming interfaces) integrations enabling 3PLs and shippers to connect with carriers in real time, rolled out new capabilities in a strategic partnership with SAP, the global leader in enterprise application management software.

This partnership was initially established in December 2019, and is geared to help shippers better manage delivery processes through what they called a joint solution for key transportation processes. These processes, project44 said, at the time, include things like receiving and tracking to connect, automate, and provide visibility data from project44 within the SAP Logistics Business Network (LBN), helping shippers to deliver more end-to-end holistic and consistent customer experiences.

The new capabilities being introduced, for the SAP LBN, according to project44, include global ocean visibility and expanding B2B connectivity for truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) freight contracting, which it said represent the next step in their partnership, with a keen focus on delivering on the companies’ joint, multi-modal visibility strategy.

“With the uncertainty global companies are facing today, supply chains are at their breaking point, and logistics is what interconnects the entire process. Shippers need visibility data to steer their entire supply chain,” said Paige Cox, SVP and Head SAP Business Network, in a statement.​ “With their global network, project44 acts as the connective tissue by aggregating high-fidelity data. Combining this power with SAP Logistics Business Network, we plan to deliver global multi-modal visibility.”

Going back to the initial launch of this partnership, project44 said that SAP and itself have brought on some of the largest food manufacturers and global brands into their growing customer portfolios.

In a December 2019 interview with LM, project44 CEO and co-founder Jett McCandless, explained that this partnership is the result of shippers realizing that they need high-fidelity data and predictive business intelligence within their supply chains if they are going to make the smart, real-time decisions required to compete in today’s Delivery Economy. 

And he added as project44’s Delivery Economy reports illustrate, both consumer and business customers expect low cost, fast, and highly transparent delivery of goods. As an example, in one of the reports, project44 found that 73% of supply chain professionals said they’re experiencing pressure to improve and expand their delivery capabilities as a result of the Delivery Economy.

“Improving and expanding these delivery capabilities require visibility across every step of a shipment’s journey, from your suppliers to every truck, train, ship, airplane, warehouse, and distribution center the shipment is transported by or stored in,” said McCandless. “This requires a vast network of real-time data. Our partnership with SAP will help project44 provide more shippers with the Advanced Visibility they need – from the world’s leading network of carriers – to improve their real-time transportation and logistics decisions, and run more proactive, data-driven supply chains.”

McCandless added in today’s announcement that supply chains are moving into a new era of logistics, requiring more collaboration and optionality across regions and modes.

“In partnership with SAP, we are delivering a connected, intelligent, and resilient solution that will allow global organizations to make proactive decisions across their entire supply chain,” he said.