Spark a Transformation:
Welding Lincoln Electric's Supply Chain Together
Welcome to your personalized FourKites resource hub. We’ve built this customized microsite based on our conversations with your team to address Lincoln Electric’s specific supply chain challenges. As our partnership develops, we’ll regularly update this page with relevant case studies, product information, and implementation resources. Bookmark this page as your go-to destination for exploring how FourKites Intelligent Control Tower™ can transform your supply chain execution.
Three Electrifying Challenges We Solve For Lincoln Electric
Your welding equipment creates precision connections every day. Yet your supply chain faces critical disconnects:
- 85% supplier-controlled shipments create significant blind spots
- Manual tracking processes drain your team’s energy and time
- Customers experience frustration with unreliable ETAs, eroding trust
As you shared in our recent conversations, your goal is to strengthen customer satisfaction as your competitive advantage while controlling costs in today’s uncertain market.
The Solution: FourKites Intelligent Control Tower™
Our platform seamlessly integrates with your SAP and Kinetic systems to address the specific gaps in your logistics technology landscape:
1. ILLUMINATE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN BLIND SPOTS
Supplier Connect AI transforms your inbound visibility:
- Automates supplier communications and documentation processing
- Enables full order lifecycle visibility and creates predictive ETAs for all shipments and orders, even supplier-controlled ones
- Integrates with your existing systems without requiring supplier IT changes
- Provides weeks to months of advance notice for potential disruptions, reducing expedites and improving resiliency
“Supplier Connect AI has helped us understand our supplier network better. Not only did we reduce inventory on-hand, but we were also able to eliminate 90% of our tracking effort. We see order status from the moment it’s placed, giving us weeks of advance warning.”
— Global Electronics Manufacturer
2. TRANSFORM CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Customer Connect AI revolutionizes your outbound operations:
- Provides precision ETAs your customers can trust
- Automatically alerts when deliveries are at risk
- Creates a differentiated customer experience that sets you apart from competitors
- Enables CS representatives to instantly answer “where’s my stuff?” questions
“FourKites enables us to deliver the best customer experience with precision in delivering the right product at the right time.”
— Andrew Mosteller, Director, Supply Chain Management, Exide Technologies
3. RECLAIM YOUR TEAM’S TIME AND FOCUS
FourKites’ AI Agents work 24/7 to automate routine tasks:
Tracy (Track & Trace Agent):
- Handles carrier communications automatically
- Provides real-time status updates to your systems
- Manages exception handling without human intervention
Sam (Supplier Collaboration Agent):
- Processes documentation from supplier emails and portals
- Automatically associates shipments and orders
- Proactively pursues missing information
Perfect Fit for Lincoln Electric’s Supply Chain
Our solution addresses the specific challenges you identified:
For your IT Procurement Manager:
- Flexible implementation that complements existing systems
- Seamless integration with SAP and Kinetic
- Scalable across all your global regions
For your Distribution Planning Director:
- Complete visibility across intermodal transfers between sites
- Predictive analytics by carrier, lane, mode, and beyond
- Anticipation tools for inbound shipments
For your Customer Service Teams:
- Instant answers to “where’s my stuff?” questions
- Proactive customer updates for delivery changes
For your VP of Digital Supply Chain Transformation:
- Fills critical gaps in your logistics technology landscape
- Creates measurable ROI through efficiency gains and customer satisfaction
- Provides comprehensive KPIs to manage the business effectively
The Transformation Path
Current State
- 85% blind spot with supplier-controlled shipments
- Manual tracking draining team resources
- Customers frustrated with unreliable ETAs
- Limited KPIs for performance management
- Reactive management after disruptions occur
Future with FourKites
- Complete network visibility across your global operations
- 90% reduction in manual tasks, redirecting talent to strategic initiatives
- Precision delivery information building stronger customer relationships
- Comprehensive analytics driving continuous improvement
- Proactive prevention with 5-6 weeks advance notice
Real-World Impact for Manufacturers
| Company | Challenge | Transformation |
|---|---|---|
| Bayer | Supply chain blind spots |
|
| Kimberly-Clark | Manual process drain |
|
| Exide Technologies | Delivery reliability |
|
| Pixelle | High detention costs |
|
| Cardinal Health | Inventory challenges |
|
FourKites Powers Success
Tracking 3.2 billion shipments daily across all mode
Identifying 98% of potential disruptions before they impact operations
Trusted by 1,500+ global brands, including 50% of the Fortune 500
Connected to 7 million+ facilities across 200+ countries and territories worldwide
Hear It Directly from Our Customers
"Today, there are more supply chain challenges and disruptions than ever before. With FourKites, we have seen firsthand how real-time transportation visibility can help to mitigate those disruptions, and even help us proactively avoid challenges across our end-to-end supply chains."
"If we have visibility, we can be efficient and flexible. We can communicate delays to our customers so they can adjust their operations and improve their experience. We can be more effective during peak distribution periods to make sure plans are going accordingly."
Additional Resources
Take our 2-Minute Value Assessment
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