In response to the challenges of dock congestion, smoother vehicle flows and workload anticipation, ACSEP announces the availability of “Capacity & Appointments” as a standalone module, initially integrated into its OneWorld TMS. Deployable independently of OneWorld, it can interface with companies’ existing information systems. By bringing together transport planning, available resources and the execution of on-site operations, “Capacity & Appointments” turns appointment scheduling into a true tool for managing and controlling flows.
“Capacity & Appointments”: moving from reactive management to proactive, shared planning
Transport appointment scheduling is still too often reduced to booking time slots that are disconnected from the actual constraints on the ground.
The challenges are all too familiar to logistics managers and site directors: saturated docks and logistics areas, truck queues, insufficiently anticipated workload peaks, reliance on Excel spreadsheets and an ever-increasing number of email exchanges.
The Capacity & Appointments module fundamentally transforms the management of carrier appointments. It does not simply help streamline arrivals on the day. It enables each site’s capacity to be modelled according to its specific constraints, resources and level of activity. The objective is clear: to move from reactive, high-pressure management to a more structured, shared and seamless organisation.
Marlène DELAGE, Product Manager.
Three dimensions brought together to improve operational performance
To improve control over vehicle arrivals and departures, “Capacity & Appointments” brings together three essential dimensions:
- Resources available on site: precise management of docks, doors, loading and unloading points, as well as the various receiving and shipping areas.
- Transport planning: integration of orders, trips, time slots and carrier-specific constraints, including the management of fixed, recurring or automatically scheduled appointments.
- Execution of operations: real-time monitoring of the key stages, from vehicle arrival to departure, including loading, unloading and the management of unexpected events.
An appointment is no longer simply a reserved time slot. It involves resources that need to be planned according to their availability and the site’s level of activity.
Marlène DELAGE
A consolidated view and agile management of unexpected events
The module is built around a centralised visual planning interface that brings together all the information required for day-to-day management: available time slots, workload levels, congestion alerts and the progress of operations, from vehicle arrival through to departure.
By reducing manual processes, it makes interactions between carriers, dock teams, warehouse teams, administrative departments and security more reliable and efficient.
It also enables the automation of predictable or recurring flows, while retaining the flexibility required to handle exceptional situations: carrier delays, dock unavailability, schedule changes or temporary capacity reductions.
With Capacity & Appointments, we are not offering a simple shared calendar, but a genuine tool for managing site performance. Available both to companies using OneWorld and to those running other solutions, the module enables them to better organise their operations, secure day-to-day activities and reduce the costs associated with congestion, waiting times and vehicle downtime.
Marlène DELAGE
