Don Braid (Mainfreight)
New Zealand-based logistics giant Mainfreight is celebrating the roll-out of two new custom-built enterprise software platforms, dubbed Mainmove and Mainstreet.
A newsletter released today says the Australian arm of the company is well into operating on its new domestic transport operating platform – Mainstreet – after a roll-out in New Zealand last year.
Mainstreet was rolled out in Mainfreight's US business first, in 2013.
The company's 2018 annual report noted the upgrade provided Mainfreight teams in Australia, New Zealand and USA with the latest technology, improving speed, visibility and freight management.
"Now we have this modern technology platform in place it means we can turn our attention to introducing a higher level of innovation that will increase business and customer benefits," the report said.
The scale of the investment is evident in the company's accounts over the last five years.
Overall, Mainfreight spent $52 million in technology during 2018, with $17.7 million was spent on software during the year.
Software assets were valued at $49.4 million, up from $43.1 million in 2017, $34 million in 2016, $22.7 million in 2015 and $19.1 million in 2014.
"The technology has been proven, and improved, in New Zealand over the last 12 months and the changes for Australia have been completed and tested," the newsletter stated.
Mainfreight Australia's Australian IT manager, Michael Hood, and Shona Taylor, HR, training and development manager, wrote that despite this being the biggest software roll-out in Mainfreight Australia, the world outside was unaware of the changes.
In other words, there were no significant issues on go live or subsequently.
"This success can be attributed to the total support throughout our business, from the senior management team, which allowed us to put together and implement our strategy, all the way through to the users at each branch," they wrote.
The project and training teams from Australia and New Zealand, along with developers Sandfield, were given credit for the virtually worry-free Australian transition.
Auckland-based Sandfield has been working with Mainfreight since 1989.
The Australian project was informed by solutions developed to issues that arose during the New Zealand roll out a year ago.
"Their experience was used wisely and allowed us to eliminate the pain points and challenges they encountered," Hood and Taylor wrote.
From Europe, forwarding and transport manager Frans Zuidgeest wrote that the Mainmove software platform used there has continued to move on.
"All forwarding shipments in the ‘s-Heerenberg branch are handled via the new system," he wrote. "The next step is the implementation of the cross-dock functionality, followed by the European roll-out.
"The new system offers us the necessary transparency and workflow based working. Soon the connection with the new data warehouse will be completed."
Meanwhile, global managing director Don Braid thanked the teams involved: "on behalf of us all, a very special thank you to all our people involved in the Mainstreet and Mainmove software roll-outs across New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
"The implementation of new technology is surprising difficult, nevertheless is a necessity to enable us to be more efficient for ourselves and our customers."
