From outages to opportunities: embrace digitised logistics in 2024

By digitising your business with a cloud-based solution, you can ensure a cost-effective operation that eliminates the need for expensive internal infrastructure. The best digital solutions operate on a pay-as-you-go model – ensuring you only pay for what you use whilst offering remarkable flexibility. New features and updates are automatically integrated, keeping your systems current and allowing quick scaling as business needs change.

However, last month’s major overnight IT outage has instilled a degree of scepticism in many businesses previously considering a digital upgrade. A faulty software update from security leader CrowdStrike affected Windows computers globally and disrupted businesses, airports, train stations, banks, broadcasters and the healthcare sector.

Should such an outage deter the logistics sector from fully embracing digitisation? We don’t think so and this week’s blog, we’re exploring why software solutions will continue to transform business in the 2020s.

What exactly happened?

Late Thursday into Friday, reports emerged of IT problems where Windows computers were encountering the “blue screen of death” – a critical error screen that appears when Windows crashes or cannot load. The issue was first reported in Australia, with subsequent reports coming from Asia, Europe and the United States.

CrowdStrike confirmed that a software update for their Falcon product had malfunctioned, causing crashes on Windows computers with the software installed. Falcon allows CrowdStrike to remotely analyse and check for malicious threats and malware.

Around Friday noon, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella posted on X, stating the company was aware of the CrowdStrike issue and was “working closely with CrowdStrike and across the industry to provide customers technical guidance and support to safely bring their systems back online”.

The cloud-first approach

There’s no denying that technology can be complex and occasionally problematic. That’s why having technology specialists dedicated to keeping your systems operational is crucial. While problems may arise, it’s reassuring to know that experts are available to resolve issues, minimising downtime.

Consider the alternative of hosting a software solution on your own servers. How long would it take for your internal team to recover from a situation like last month’s? Hosting yourself means handling problems independently, whereas opting for a cloud-based solution like TrackTrans leaves the management and resolution of issues in the hands of experienced professionals.

TrackTrans

TrackTrans offers a modern, flexible transport management system (TMS), electronic proof of delivery (ePOD), and warehouse management system (WMS). Leveraging the latest technological advancements, TrackTrans takes care of everything – providing numerous benefits.

Always available, always secure

As a tech provider, TrackTrans ensures your critical information is always accessible and securely backed up, with a comprehensive disaster recovery plan for 24/7 availability. TrackTrans has received ISO27001 and ISO9001 certifications from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), guaranteeing high security and reliability for your data.

Fully GDPR compliant

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is essential for data protection in Europe. TrackTrans’ cloud-first approach ensures full GDPR compliance. We partner with leading tech providers offering built-in data security, and our TrackTrans ePOD mobile app does not store personal data on devices, protecting client privacy.

Saving you money

TrackTrans’ digital solution offers significant savings on IT costs. There’s no need to purchase or maintain expensive servers and infrastructure. Our software is priced on usage, with low upfront costs and a monthly subscription that is typically paid from your operational budget. This improves cash flow and provides a rapid return on investment (ROI).

Meeting your business needs

TrackTrans’ cloud-based TMS provides ultimate flexibility, with the latest features always at your fingertips. The system seamlessly integrates with other applications, enhancing operational efficiency. TrackTrans also offers flexibility for remote access and scalability to match business growth or fluctuating needs.

Get up and running fast

TrackTrans’ TMS is easy to implement and deploy – often within days. It offers simple mobile applications and minimal configuration, enabling rapid digitisation of your business processes. With lower upfront costs, rapid implementation and faster access to business insights, TrackTrans delivers a swift return on investment, typically measured in weeks rather than years.

Why embrace technology?

The recent CrowdStrike incident underscores that even the best technology can encounter challenges. However, it also highlights the strength of a robust tech infrastructure – CrowdStrike’s swift identification and resolution of the issue, along with continuous support from industry leaders like Microsoft, demonstrate the resilience and reliability of modern digital solutions.

TrackTrans’ provides enterprise-strength solutions to logistics, transportation and distribution companies of all sizes. The security, flexibility, business control and operational visibility offered by TrackTrans will help you grow your business and prepare for future challenges. Embracing technology and digitisation ensures that you remain competitive and can adapt quickly to any disruptions, maintaining a high level of service for your customers.

Try our free demo and test-drive TrackTrans today!