AMCS Platform Winter 2021 Release

Enhanced digitalization of recycling automation to include scrap metal processing

This release offers scrap metal-specific enhancements which leverage the powerful integrated end-to-end recycling functionality of the AMCS Platform that covers logistics, purchasing, scale, pricing, grading, inventory, production shifts, customer service, finance, sales, and outbound logistics.

Screen: Production Shift User Interface

New Truck Scale (Weighbridge) and New Floor Scale support for Peddler (Walk-in trade)

A new touch screen truck scale is available for efficient weighing and recording of peddler transactions and allows easy capture of specific peddler characteristics (including hair color, height, etc. ) for regulatory compliance purposes. The new touch screen workstation for floor scales allows rapid weighing and recording of incoming loads

Enhanced Mobile Yard Management

New features include:

• Loading material for outbound sales on the mobile device and adding comments and capturing photos now supported
• Enhanced flexibility for grading users now has the option to grade confirm loads where the material has been rejected and/or a material split occurred.
• Ability to add a secondary processing fee during the grading process

Screen: mobile yard management 

Enhanced Production Shift Cost Tracking

It is now possible to configure running costs by production asset (e.g. baler) so that these costs are included in your material valuation. This provides you with an accurate build-up of the cost of goods sold so that you can price effectively.

Enhanced Inventory Management and new Inventory Valuation

A major new feature of our real-time Inventory Management module is to track costs and calculate the value of materials held in inventory using a weighted average cost method. There is also a new Inventory period closing dashboard designed to provide Finance teams with a succinct overview of issues preventing inventory closing.

New AMCS API Accelerator Program

We are introducing an API Accelerator Programme to support and accelerate third-party application integration for customers and partners. The API Accelerator Programme presents a new simplified, API Management, design, and development approach; and this will offer greater resources and expert support to all our customers who want to integrate AMCS Platform with other applications in their ecosystem.

Screen: AMCS Platform API Support Layer

The Accelerator Project, Sandbox, Integration Hub, and Integration Experts combine to provide a dramatically improved customer experience reducing the overall risk to integration projects by reducing costs, time, and learning curve.

APIs have the potential to transform businesses. Forward-thinking companies are reducing costs and time spent, by building networked solutions, which they access via APIs. This means increased automation of commercial processes and activities, with a focus on how to grow rapidly in an ever-changing business environment.

APIs are growing as an essential capability to successfully navigate in the digital era. Moreover, as businesses integrate IoT and other smart technology into their ecosystem, success will lie in adopting API-driven strategies to make these powerful tools drive business performance.

Transformed User and Customer Experience

The Winter Release sees a further realization of the user and customer experience transformation across the AMCS Platform.  It offers the best user and role-centric browser-based design and workflows designed to boost user adoption and productivity and generate great customer experiences.

As an illustration of enhanced user empowerment, the release contains a new Transport Dispatch User Interface providing a dispatcher with a timeline and map view of each route.

Screen: AMCS Smart Dispatch in action

This release also sees the launch of our User Validation Program whereby our UX team will liaise with Platform users to get their feedback on product designs.

Enhanced Customer Services Management

Pricing

• Container Combo Pricing - A new pricing model for Skip/Roll off containers has been introduced, enabling operators to charge an all-inclusive price for a skip/roll-off service where the total price charged covers both the transport servicing the container size and the disposal of the assumed material type.
• Price Hierarchy - We have extended the price hierarchy to include both Scale and Material Grading. This multi-level pricing hierarchy allows an operator to define and apply prices at a more granular level and it reduces the administration costs of setup and maintenance of complex multi-level pricing.
• Sold Weight - A new option on the route confirmation screen, allows the user to apply Sold Weight to each lift on a route when doing route confirmation. This feature can be used where waste operators are not using certified scales on their trucks and wish to charge based on an agreed sold or expected weight or container fill level.

Change Order Management

• The ability to change Order Quantity, Frequency, or Product Offerings and the ability to Close Orders is now available in the Customer Service work center. We have introduced a more controlled process that permits the adjustment of all the order components in a single screen.  The process also provides visibility on the impacts of Order changes in an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that includes associated charges or credits for invoiced orders in advance. The result is that order change processes are quicker and more streamlined to reduce the risk of user error.

Change Order Workflow Screen

New UX User Validation Program

We are already engaging with a small number of our clients on this exercise, and we are very keen to get more of our customers involved in this exciting program.

We have UX tests available in the following areas:

• Timeline Dispatch Board
• Reporting WorkCentre
• Customer Service Representative – Order Changes and Close
• Floor scale

Dutch Compliance Enhancements and Updates

New regulatory features and compliance updates for Netherlands including LMA waste flow numbers, as well as, VZC support for sludge and compost movements.