ORTEC Transport & Distribution 2010: More focus on web and usability

ORTEC has launched a new release of ORTEC Transport & Distribution (ORTEC TD 2010), which delivers numerous improvements in performance and deployment options. But the most striking user enhancements are focused on improved usability and additional functionality.

Usability
ORTEC TD 2010 brings several improvements in usability and 'look and feel'. One of the enhancements includes a completely updated route proposal screen. This screen enables the user to clearly view the alternative scenarios for the optimal route (according to costs, distance, time) and it is also possible to display a preview of the 'proposed' route. The advantage of this new feature is that the planner can easily view changes to the original route sequence. Map controls, such as zooming, centreing and panning have also been improved. Further examples are the new 'Explode' map function that provides an overview of all activities per location, restyling wizards and the ability to highlight data for use with a clipboard function.

New Functionality
Several enhancements have been made in order to enrich the business functionality for inter-modal, container, bulk & liquid and palletised transport planning. For example, ORTEC TD can now be used to create pickup and delivery batch plans that assign the most logical trailer compartment while taking into account loading history, axle weight distribution and ullage rate. Intermodal trips can be split according to transport mode, which makes it much easier for the planner to assign orders to charters. ORTEC has also added a 'ferry/train' view so that it is easier to display trailer assignments to boat and rail departures. This new layout makes it easier for planners to make additional bookings and/or amendments to existing reservations in the event of delayed trains etc. In addition, the decision support capabilities for creating distribution and retail batch plans has been further extended to include for example, multiple routes per day, backhaul orders, improved Working Time Directive/Driving Time legislation support and flexible boundaries for time windows.

Finally and no less significant is the addition of a new module to ORTEC TD: Congestion Patterns. ORTEC and its partner Navteq have combined forces once again to launch this specific module for truck congestion patterns. This enhancement to ORTEC TD will ensure that planners can more accurately calculate anticipated travel/arrival time.

Web client
In addition, ORTEC has developed a web client that now enables planners to use the software from any location with Internet access. As with the live updates in the 'normal' client, ORTEC is now in a position to ensure that web client users also have continuous access to the latest information. This will drastically reduce the total cost of ownership for our clients and further improve the business case to implement the ORTEC TD software.