Atlas Amplifier PDF - Atlas Van Lines

AvailPuttingMovesin aSweetOrderAvail OrderManagement (AOM)It’s a common dilemma for organizations that makemultiple moves. How can you best distribute yourtransportation business among qualified carriers–andbe confident in the data to support your decisions?Here’s the good news. Avail Resource Managementhas solved the dilemma with a proprietary process calledAOM (Avail Order Management).“Organizations today scrutinize expenditures likenever before,” says Senior Vice President Richard Clarke,Ace Relocation Systems (75). “AOM gives relocationmanagers a means to get the best value from theirtransportation dollar, and justify their choice ofproviders with the facts.”How AOM WorksThe process begins when a client submits a moverequest into the AOM system. AOM notifies AvailResource Management, via email, to assign theapproved carrier based on guidelines set by the client.For example, XYZ Corp. has authorized three carriers:one provider for 50 percent of its moves and two othersfor the remainder.When notified of a move order, the carrier providesa budgetary estimate. AOM sends the estimate to therelocation company for approval, following which thecarrier performs the in-home survey.“When the move is completed, the invoices come toAvail and we can make sure the actual price is in linewith the estimate,” says Director Mark Haller. “If there arediscrepancies, we note the differences and find out why.”Customized Reporting PowerAs well as a tool for assigning and shepherding moves,AOM provides feedback that enables corporate movemanagers to make decisions supported by objective data.“AOM creates a level playing field in which to evaluatecarrier performance,” says Senior Move ManagementCoordinator Stephanie Shelton. “Managers get reportingcustomized especially for them. For example, we canshow variations in costs among carriers per mile, pershipment, per unit of weight, per transportation lane,and so forth. Whatever the expectation, AOM bringsvirtually unlimited flexibility for informed decisionmaking.”“What’s more,” says Stephanie, “the AOM system istotally transparent, giving the corporate manager theability to view all the company’s moves online at any time.”Avail developed AOM in 2009 in answer to a client’sspecific request. Today, several national accounts rely onit to make the best use of their transportation budgets;Richard manages three of them. He says his clients havefound it’s not always the carrier with the lowest shippingcost that represents the best value. But, with facts in hand,they can make the right choices–and justify them.“A client might save $500 in transportation costs onan international move, yet incur $4,000 in temporaryhousing and per diem expense because the shipmentwas delayed,” says Richard. “When you factor in suchthings as timeliness and claims, you get a clearerpicture of the cost to use a carrier. AOM makes valuecomparisons crystal clear.”20 Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2011 Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2011 21