CEVA opens up Center of Logistics Excellence

Global third-party logistics (3PL) services provider CEVA Logistics announced today it has opened the doors to its Jacksonville, Fla.-based Center of Logistics Excellence.

CEVA said that the Center demonstrates to shippers real world logistics innovation through things like supply chain optimization and enhanced visibility, integrated services, and technology to drive supply chain efficiency and see “impeccably executed supply chains in action.” It added that the services offered by the Center include: solutions design and engineering, managed transportation services, global supply chain solutions, transportation procurement, rail fueling services, and various supporting services such as quality, safety and logistics operations excellence.

CEVA Chief Commercial Officer Inna Kuznetsova said in an interview that in conversations with customers a common theme has been how to take costs out of increasingly complex supply chains and well as simply supply chain operations altogether.

“That requires more than a negotiation regarding costs,” she said. “It requires optimization of your supply chain network, a better layout of warehouses and getting a deeper understanding of how to bring forth plans. It also requires a much deeper expertise in logistics engineering. Another aspect is figuring out to best optimize end-to-end supply chain operations, which requires very good access to information and very good people.”

A key component of executing on these things through the Center for Logistics Excellence and helping customers meet their goals, said Kuznetsova is by leveraging what CEVA offers through logistics engineering and IT. This is done in large part through the company’s roughly 100 logistics system designers, focusing on things ranging from warehouse management and automation to network optimization to carbon footprints to quality and fulfillment.

Some of the solutions highlighted at CEVA’s Center for Logistics Excellence include:
-CEVA e-fulfilment Solution – a standardized e-commerce solution designed to increase end-consumer satisfaction and provide a highly positive online shopping experience, available for companies ranging from e-commerce start-ups to experienced online global players;
-CarbonView – Bespoke carbon emissions reporting system, a unique approach based on actual shipping data, not averages; and
-Control Towers – Accurate, punctual and reliable centralized systems managing and controlling transport and security logistics activities for greater visibility and real-time information, worldwide, 24/7

CEVA customers, said Kuznetsova, can get a tour of the Center in Jacksonville to see its operations and the product flow processes the company uses, including how to best leverage available warehouse space.

“These things can be specifically geared to whatever a customer is looking for, whether it is e-commerce or network optimization or transportation management or something else,” she said.  “It also provides detailed access to information on what shippers can do to take costs out of the supply chain.”

Along with the Center, CEVA’s 250 employee Jacksonville facility provides services to both local and out of market customers, and it offers one of the largest spare parts locations in the country and it also has a control tower that provides coverage for customers inside and outside of the U.S that provide full shipment visibility and inventory management capabilities.

This location is also in close proximity to the University of North Florida, which Kuznetsova said has one of the top supply chain management curriculum programs in the country.

“We partner with the university on related projects, including internships for students,” she said. “This brings in fresh energy and new thinking in.”