Hallmark Optimises Inbound Supply Chain with Management Dynamics

Management Dynamics, a leading provider of global trade management solutions, today announced that Hallmark Cards, Inc., the personal expression industry leader of greeting cards, has implemented its Supply Chain Visibility and Event Management solution for Hallmarks transportation and logistics operations.  Hallmark is leveraging the global, multimode visibility solution to streamline purchase orders, inbound inventory, order fulfillment and trading partner performance, facilitating end-to-end collaboration across its supply chain network.

Hallmark selected Management Dynamics solution to establish a complete end-to-end source of order and shipment information to help manage their inbound supply chain.  With multiple trading partners involved in each shipment and long lead-times from their manufacturing base in Asia, Hallmarks logistics team needed better tools to pinpoint in-transit delays and resolve issues before they impacted the demand plan.  Now, Hallmark can share critical order, shipment and inventory information with employees in purchasing, warehousing and inventory planning groups.  And, with the systems sophisticated scorecarding functionality, the Hallmark logistics team can easily measure and analyse the performance of their vendors and service providers.

 
We needed one secure central location for tracking and analysing inbound shipments across our partner network, said Cathy Burrow, International Transportation & Customs Manager for Hallmark Cards, Inc. Management Dynamics delivered with a complete end-to-end solution supported by an established track record of customer implementations and carrier partnerships.  We now have the ability to spend more time on strategic initiatives, such as managing our carriers performance, and proactively identifying bottlenecks in our domestic and international supply chain before they impact the bottom line.

Management Dynamics comprehensive Supply Chain Visibility solution supports the key objectives of Hallmarks inbound transportation management programme, including:  

One central location for tracking critical shipment information, providing visibility to in-transit inventory and speeding the flow of goods to distribution
Event alerting capabilities that anticipate potential inventory receipt and fulfillment issues and prompt rapid resolution before they impact availability
Accelerated fulfillment of 'hot items' with the ability to track orders and expedite delivery
Significant reduction in the number of service calls by automating proactive notification of shipments and establishing a one-stop resource for trading partners
Real-time measurement and analysis of vendor and carrier performance using scorecards and ad-hoc reporting tools

By utilising our supply chain visibility solution, Hallmark has optimised its global trade operations to improve cost efficiencies and increase responsiveness to market demand.  We are thrilled that one of Americas most successful and recognisable brands has selected Management Dynamics to help them achieve this objective, said Jim Preuninger, CEO of Management Dynamics.  Hallmarks success in streamlining their inbound transportation management operations is testament to our ability to deliver global trade management solutions that truly improve visibility and enhance collaboration across the global supply chain.