PGK Online

Main articles:

• Transportation Management System (TMS)
• Logistics information system (classifications and methods)

2020

An option of tracking of cars on the interactive map. An opportunity for work with online shipping requests

On December 9, 2020 Freight One (FO) together with developer company Area announced expansion of functionality of "A personal account of the client" – the digital system "PGK Online". Owners of loads when sending by railway transport can obtain detailed and analytical information directly on the interactive map now.

So that clients of the operator could understand where there is a specific car, the option of their tracking was finished. If it was possible to see only location of the car in specific timepoint earlier, then now on the card all way of its movement is built. Having filled out number of the car, the client can see by what regional railroads the load through what stations passes goes and where is. Different roads are selected in different flowers that visualization was more evident. Finally, it is possible to see where there are difficulties in the course of the movement and to quickly solve problems.

In addition to the station at which there is a car all are brought up data according to delivery notes, general information and transit

If the number of cars on a certain direction is interesting to the client, he can use search in a traffic volume.

In the provided version of the interactive map it is also possible to filter a request on the status and a type of the rolling stock. All cars are distributed on three most important indicators: in providing (approach and existence at stations), my sendings, idle time there is a lot of. These digits give to the client understanding about a current status of all cars which are at its disposal, and help to manage loading unloading and other transactions.

Thus, now the user of Personal account sees a ratio of cars under loading, in approach, under unloading and in way. It is convenient because simplifies planning of cargo transactions. All digits which are visible on the card are clickable. When clicking relevant dislocation of cars and the side menu of search in a traffic volume is displayed.

That "not litter" the card and not overload attention of the user, cars are grouped in nearby stations. If to bring closer them, then they "break up" to smaller groups which are designated by circles. They are clickable too — in a pop-up window cars are distributed on stations, detailed search is available. For example, the click on number of cars will redirect to the table "Reports on Dislocation" where cars are filtered taking into account the selected parameters (they can be set in mini-analytics or the side menu).

The side menu of search allows to analyze a traffic volume. Here it is visible how many units of the rolling stock it contains at what stations they are. All digits are also clickable and redirect the user on the big table on dislocation. All this allows clients of the operator to see accurately a picture and not only more precisely to plan deliveries and cargo transactions, but also to timely level risks of idle times.

That "not litter" the card and not overload attention of the user, cars are grouped in nearby stations

In upgraded version of the interactive map there is a reference information on the specific station or a route. It is possible to learn the code of the station, the list of transactions which can be made, the name of the road on which it is or on which the structure, range of its following and other data moves. If to set search of a route, on the card the evident way with color indication of roads will be built.

"Clients of PGK can not only see key information on all the transportations on the card and to detail information on the separate interesting car and the station, but also to receive the forecast of arrival of cars for a destination station. Forecast data arrive from constantly developing models of machine learning and have high accuracy that allows clients to increase quality of planning and efficiency of cargo transactions", - the head of the center of digital development of PGK Nikita Yamshchikov noted.

The problem of excessive load of databases is solved by service of updating according to the schedule. A system in advance, by the expected moment of visit, updates data of Personal account without participation of the user. For example, for "morning" clients service automatically loads at 6 a.m. balance and dislocation of cars into Personal account. At 9 a.m., when the working day only begins, the client sees fresh data from the caching base. Such updating according to the schedule perhaps several times in a day — it is also convenient to specialists of the PGK branches located in different time zones.

"The architectural concept for PGK was an interesting challenge. We excluded a possibility of hangups and overloads. Except service of updating according to the schedule, implemented caching of data and service of queues. The first helps clients of the company not to wait on the blocked data loading screen. At an input in Personal account data from the caching base are available, for example, to two-hour prescription. In parallel a system checks relevance of these data. Depending on their age requests updating or not. The client sees the notification that bases are updated, even when works with data from a cache. The second - service of queues - divides all mass of requests from 100+ of the companies into "batches" and in turn sends each of them for updating", - Ekaterina Mochalova, the project manager of Areal company told.

The updated interactive map became a versatile tool of tracking the rolling stock of Freight One and also allowed to increase transparency of workflows of the operator.

Besides, as told in PGK, now in "A personal account of the client" it is possible to work with online shipping requests: give and approve them using the electronic signature, watch the relevant statuses of execution and make changes.

"Digitalization of business processes is one of priorities of PGK. All completions will be approved with modern IT trends and performed according to the interests of clients of the company. Implementation of new functionality simplifies the order of services for transportation of goods. Clients of the company can keep track of the status of accomplishment of each request, location of the rolling stock in real time. They do not need to spend time for calls or letters to the manager, to specify whether the request is approved as there is a transportation process. Everything is available online", – the deputy CEO for commerce Andrey Kravets noted.

The interface of service is developed on the basis of already available user experience. The register of requests is available from the main menu in the form of the table where it is possible to sort and filter data according to the user's tasks. Also the mini-analytics by the main statuses – "on approval" is available, "on completion", "is approved" and so on. The module in which possibilities of flexible configuration of requirements to characteristics of cars, to the diagram of their giving, types of loads and other parameters are provided is developed for application. At any time procurement of the document it is possible to save and return later. The submitted applications instantly are transferred to the IT system of PGK on approval, managers quickly take them in hand.

If at the partner the freight forwarding agreement is signed with PGK, in "A personal account of the client" he can also submit the shipping request of loads in GU-12 form. In this case the company undertakes all work on execution of transportation documents and approval of the Russian Railway.

In addition, in Personal account the system of notifications appeared. Each consignor can set individual preferences depending on the requirements now. For example, it is possible to obtain information in that case when the rolling stock for loading or every time when the status of the car changes came to the selected station. Notifications come to e-mail.

Obtaining the automated analytical information on approach of cars, loading and unloading

The Freight One (FO) announced on January 31, 2020 release of updating for the digital system "PGK Online" – the last generation of "A personal account of the client". Now partners of operator can obtain the automated analytical information on approach of cars, loading and unloading and also the specified forecast of arrival and dynamic balance from any device.

All data are calculated by means of special algorithms and displayed in the form of evident infographics in a personal account. In the same place it is possible to monitor dislocation of cars online on Yandex.Maps. One more innovation - a chat which will allow to improve interaction and will reduce time of replies to the requests of users.

Development of customer services – one of the most important tasks of PGK. The company continues to improve them, relying on requests of clients and according to market trends. The popularity "Online" promptly grows at PGK: for the end of January, 2020 more than 700 companies are already connected to a system, noted the deputy CEO for commerce Andrey Kravets

In 2020, in addition to analytical tools, the personal account will be complemented with such opportunities as execution of requests online, calculation of rates and information exchange through API (the program interface which will allow to make data exchange between automatic management systems of PGK and partner companies without participation of the person). For obtaining forecast data of PGK plans implementation of the module with machine learning (ML) that will allow to increase the accuracy of forecast data.