As the sector is acutely aware IT is fast becoming the cornerstone of a successful logistics business. Great IT is essential for customer service, with visibility and communication being as important as delivery across the supply chain.
This year alongside the Covid-19 pandemic Brexit continues to be a major headache for many, with the new customs clearance and inspection requirements it has been reported that as many as one in five consignments is delayed due to lack the proper declarations and paperwork. Tariffs and customs clearance processes are still being wrestled with.
So, with IT being relied upon more than ever before Forward Computers newly appointed managing director brings unique insight and understanding of the day-to-day challenges which logistics providers face.
Forward Computers is one of the leading independent suppliers of freight forwarding software to the logistics sector and is now headed up by Richard Litchfield – who joined the team in January.
With 20 years’ in-house experience in the transport and logistics sector, Richard was previously internal Group IT Director at innovative logistics provider Europa Worldwide Group and before that Vice President / Global Head of IS Road Logistics at Kuehne & Nagel in Switzerland.
Having spent his whole career inside the transport and logistics sector, building vast experience in co-ordinating and managing the many disciplines across the industry and covering all levels of national, international and domestic forwarding Richard has an exceptional viewpoint.
This rare insight is now being applied to a wider audience, looking at the distinctly different offers of an inhouse IT development team versus an external resource.
Whilst at Europa he was responsible for designing and implementing Europa’s Leonardo bespoke IT system providing solutions across its multimodal operation from roadfreight to air and seafreight. Utilising the latest technologies, Richard headed a team who created their own systems to improve responsiveness, efficiency and productivity.
“I worked closely with all of the other internal teams and Directors to understand their challenges we then created our bespoke system to address them. It was hugely rewarding to see how our software brought tangible benefits to the business wherever it is implemented. A dedication to continuous software developments helped drive improvements across operations, processes and communications. I’m bringing this unique insight to Forward Computers.”
At K+N, Richard had global responsibility for Road / Rail IT Demand and all associated transportation management system (TMS) solutions, identifying best practices for each country and region.
Richard comments: “The freight and logistics sector is hugely dynamic with increasing expectations and a requirement to deliver goods quickly, reliably, and cost-effectively. With this, the added complexity of Brexit means operators need processes and systems that deliver.
“I have an exceptional appreciation of the many challenges operators face every day and am using this understanding to bring a different perspective to us as a supplier to the sector.”
The Forward Computers team of 23 is one of the longest established freight software development companies, providing an end-to-end solution for a wide range of operators in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US. Forward Computers is part of the Freight Software Group and sister company of BoxTop Technologies.
https://www.forwardcomputers.co.uk
