Logistics Tech Outlook

Command Alkon
The Supply Chain 'Heavy' Lifters

Phil Ramsey, President and CEO, Command AlkonPhil Ramsey, President and CEO
CIOs across the construction sector look forward to obtaining accurate, real-time, and actionable information derived through their supply chain trading partners to help run businesses better; and the entire process of acquiring such information begins with getting data to the cloud. Once in the cloud, relevant information can be presented via applications, or can be interfaced with other systems using APIs.

However, having data in the cloud is just the beginning. Considering the demands of the supply chain and logistics arena, it is imperative that data flows match the material flows across buyers, sellers, and haulers, driving greater expectations around a fleet management solution’s scalability, flexibility, and interoperability. “We are addressing these issues via our platform strategy, where we have already built a robust community of bulk material producers, suppliers, and haulers, and are rapidly extending that further into the contractor universe,” says Phil Ramsey, the president and CEO of Command Alkon.

The company is one of the prominent software and technology innovators for the Heavy Building Materials supply chain in construction, from bulk material suppliers, producers, and haulers through to heavy civil contractors, mega-project owners, and state DOTs. Command Alkon’s dispatch products, combined with its TrackIt GPS/ telematics capabilities, are making the Amazon experience a reality where the clients are provided with end-to-end digital experiences. No wonder that companies leveraging Command Alkon’s proven industry-specific product portfolio are gaining double-digit percentage growth in performance.

Command Alkon also brings a flexible, fully customizable solution— TrackIt—to track fleets and address specific needs of businesses, including in-cab time and attendance functionality. It helps to recapture lost time in the yard, enabling clients to drive efficient fleets and improve profitability.

TrackIt uses GPS truck tracking and telematics equipment to provide a constant view of the location of the entire fleet. The information gathered with TrackIt can be used to improve a driver’s performance by discovering areas for improvement, such as breaking at a restaurant on the approved route or taking too long to clock in/out.

The TrackIt Turn-Key service offering removes hardware risk by replacing failures at no charge to the customer while also eliminating large, upfront CapEx costs. The service offers a new ruggedized tablet device with replaceable batteries and fully functional and reliable engine interface. Clients with requirements for robust engine diagnostics also benefit from the TrackIt Turn-Key service. “The new Engine Data Connection (EDC) device comes as an optional solution along with a specialized software stack and can provide customers with more reliable, and more engine data than has ever been available,” mentions Ramsey. The combination of the EDC device with the software allows fleet owners and operators to easily capture and transfer the engine diagnostic data from their trucks.

Further, top-tier companies are also enhancing their fleet management capabilities with Command Alkon’s Dispatch Optimization Engine, COMMANDoptimize. “Dispatch decisions are complex as a plethora of variables, such as planning and re-planning, are at play. The human brain can only process about 50 variables at once. COMMANDoptimize juggles millions of facts and recommends a decision to save time and dollars while keeping buyers happy,” mentions Ramsey.

Having carved a unique niche in the Heavy Building Materials supply chain in the construction space, Command Alkon has recently positioned itself as a platform for the building and construction community to collaborate on projects to maximize efficiency and enhance communication through visibility, process automation, and simplification.

“We have taken steps to brand more clearly as a software and technology company, while also accentuating our supply chain prowess in heavy building materials,” says Ramsey. “As our growth continues to accelerate, we seek to hire top talent, investing significantly in improving the software and services, and are continuously looking for ways to provide the customers with the best experience possible,” he concludes.

Command Alkon News

Command Alkon Leverages API-First Strategy to Empower Cloud-Based Ready Mix Dispatch Customers to Make Data-Driven Decisions

Integrations Enable Users to Share Data Across All Aspects of the Operation
BIRMINGHAM - Command Alkon, the leading software and solutions provider bringing together technology and people for the heavy building industry, is committed to amplifying APIs and integration capabilities for cloud-based Command Alkon Dispatch. Enabling data transfer across various aspects of the business delivers operational visibility to plan and make decisions fueled by data.
“We are continuously expanding our API and integration capabilities from our platform,” said Matthew Brinker, Global Product Manager at Command Alkon. “This will enable our customers to leverage their data with other systems, whether they are Command Alkon systems or not, and have information from Command Alkon Dispatch flowing to that system for production, truck tracking, or any other piece of the operation.”
Operational visibility through API integrations enables field and other personnel – sales, quality control, and management – to have real-time insight into dispatch operations. Dispatch integrates with Command Alkon solutions to share data across all aspects of your operations – from sending production requests and receiving batch weights with COMMANDbatch, to sharing ticket data with TrackIt to inform drivers, and TrackIt sharing vehicle locations and status times with Dispatch. Command Alkon Dispatch can also easily export or integrate with ERP data for invoicing, purchasing, and financials.
Command Alkon Dispatch leverages the Command Alkon Platform, which is secure, scalable, and ready for real-time, mission-critical operations.
“Being a technology company, we completely understand the importance of security, and we value our customers’ trust in us to be a steward of the data in their operations,” said Matthew. “The Command Alkon Platform sits on top of Amazon Web Services and security measures are taken to the next level through regular NIST audits and compliance verification.”

Command Alkon to Invest an Additional $20M to Further Accelerate Its Cloud Native Applications for Aggregate and Asphalt Customers

BIRMINGHAM - Inspired by the overwhelming success of its initial 100 Ready Mix Cloud Dispatch customers, Command Alkon, the prominent global provider of software and solutions for the heavy building materials industry, has announced a further investment of $20 million in 2024 and 2025. This investment is dedicated to enhancing its Command Cloud suite, which comprises modern, cloud-native products tailored for the Ready Mix, Aggregates, and Asphalt markets. The additional funding will facilitate the expedited rollout of advanced features for Ready Mix cloud customers and the finalization of the development of Command Alkon's Aggregates and Asphalt Cloud software offerings, which encompass Dispatch and Scale Ticketing functionalities.
The introduction of Command Alkon's Aggregates and Asphalt Cloud solutions is scheduled for early 2025, marking a significant milestone in industry modernization efforts. These solutions will encompass all crucial functionalities and seamlessly integrate with both existing and future plant automation equipment. As a result, they will offer unparalleled efficiency and integration advantages, particularly beneficial for vertically integrated businesses.
"Our aim is to simplify and unlock the advantages of a single platform for companies who produce and sell more than one material," says Martin Willoughby, Chief Executive Officer at Command Alkon. "All Command Cloud products are API-first, reflecting our commitment to interfacing with third party systems and ensuring customer flexibility. We are dedicated to supporting our customers' transformation journey, whether they utilize our full suite, or integrate with other industry tools."
This decision represents a major milestone in Command Alkon’s commitment to transforming the way that the Aggregates and Asphalt markets do business through streamlined workflows and seamless connectivity across their technologies and applications. The investment enables the company to accelerate the replication of value and benefits that the Ready Mix market has realized through next-generation cloud capabilities and underscores the company’s dedication to staying at the forefront of innovation, enabling customers to thrive in the digital era. 
"Scalability, flexibility, and real-time data insights have become essential in today’s fast-paced business landscape," said Ranjeev Teelock, Chief Product Officer at Command Alkon. "By investing in a modern, cloud-based approach in developing our products, our customers in the Ready Mix market are already seeing significant value from dynamic dashboards, APIs, powerful machine learning algorithms, and cutting-edge AI capabilities. We are thrilled to extend these benefits to our customers in the Aggregates and Asphalt markets, delivering cloud solutions that provide instant access to timely information and analytics to make data-driven decisions, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall efficiency." 
"With this investment, we are well positioned to lead the heavy building materials industry in delivering a full suite of cloud technologies that optimize and streamline processes and drive growth," said Jeff Newlin, Chief Revenue Officer at Command Alkon. "Our commitment to empowering our customers with the most advanced tools in the industry remains unwavering, and we are excited to embark on this next phase of our cloud transformation strategy." 

Command Alkon agiliza processos operacionais com maior visibilidade no cumprimento de pedidos

Solução conecta vendas, operações e campo a uma visão em tempo real das operações de despacho
SÃO PAULO - A Command Alkon, líder em software e soluções para a indústria de construção, lança a solução Dispatch em nuvem no mercado brasileiro. Esta ferramenta proporciona visibilidade integral nas operações de materiais de construção, permitindo que funcionários, fornecedores e clientes acessem o status atualizado dos pedidos a qualquer momento e de qualquer lugar.
A Command Alkon está integrando o despacho em nuvem a todas as suas soluções líderes de ponto de venda, começando com o Dispatch para concreto usinado. Os usuários podem gerenciar suas atividades diárias por meio de acesso móvel a partir de qualquer dispositivo.
“Apresentamos oficialmente o produto na Concrete Show no Brasil, e a receptividade foi extremamente positiva”, disse Leo Marthe, vice-presidente de vendas internacionais da Command Alkon. “Um dos fatores críticos para o sucesso em projetos de construção é a gestão eficaz de custos e tempo. O Dispatch foi projetado para aumentar a produtividade e gerar resultados excepcionais em desempenho de projetos, cronograma e gestão de força de trabalho. Conectado a uma rede baseada em nuvem, oferece verdadeira visibilidade empresarial, permitindo que o pessoal de campo e o despacho trabalhem com informações precisas e em tempo real.”
A migração de soluções locais para o Dispatch em nuvem pode reduzir significativamente os custos operacionais, facilitar integrações e atualizações, proporcionar melhor suporte e uma abordagem proativa para questões do sistema, além de simplificar os processos contábeis.
A experiência dos motoristas também é significativamente aprimorada com o Dispatch. Integrações com dispositivos de rastreamento permitem que os motoristas operem com um único aplicativo, eliminando a necessidade de alternar entre diferentes soluções. Os motoristas recebem notificações em tempo real sobre os próximos passos no processo de entrega, enquanto todos – incluindo os clientes – têm visibilidade sobre o progresso das entregas.
Operações, Qualidade, Produção e Vendas têm acesso imediato ao status de cada pedido através do Dispatch. Os membros da equipe podem facilmente fazer login no aplicativo de despacho, seja pelo celular ou pela web.
Top 10 Fleet Management Solution Companies - 2020

Company
Command Alkon

Management
Phil Ramsey, President and CEO

Description
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and with over 40 years of experience, Command Alkon believes in building a fantasy world. As a supplier collaboration platform for construction’s extensive work, Command Alkon dramatically improves how contractors, bulk material suppliers, logistics providers, Jobsite inspectors, project owners, and more interactive. The company works together and grows together capabilities deliver increased productivity, real-time visibility, keen business insights, and certainty of outcomes when building things that matter. The Command Alkon team, along with the software and technology, has empowered customers to achieve higher levels of quality and profitability across their projects and operations