2023 saw a big increase in Kleinschmidt's API integration projects
Author: Dan Heinen
As we look back on the past year, Kleinschmidt has seen change and challenges up and down the supply chain. From navigating disruptions to implementing innovative solutions, the company has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. I’d like to share some of the key achievements that have defined Kleinschmidt’s journey in the last 12 months.
More listening to you.
This year I personally spent more time out at conferences and on-site visits with our clients, and I’ve challenged every member of our staff to ask more questions and learn more about the challenges you are facing. We’ve proven our ability to adapt as a business over the decades, and there very well may be a project you are dreading that our team can help solve with technology.
The year of API integration
While we had been involved in API integrations in past years, 2023 saw a big increase in these projects. APIs are loved for their flexibility, but their very nature means that some of our supply chain clients—accustomed to the X12 standards—were looking for some guidance on API standards. Our team developed a “Kleinschmidt Standard API” for Transportation, Warehousing and Retail, and implemented them within a fairly short timeframe. Four examples:
- Kleinschmidt’s Transportation API was used as the foundation for integration for four new cloud-based TMS solutions.
- Kleinschmidt’s Retail API was used for a new ERP and eCommerce software.
- A motor carrier that used EDI messages from their legacy TMS needed to connect with state-of-the-art cloud-based systems at Tesla that relied on API calls. Not only did our team get them up and running quickly, but has implemented the same solution for a growing number of carriers working with Tesla.
- A rail carrier needed a solution that would help Tesla track product movement from port to destination at a more granular level, and needed it tested and ready to go in two weeks. Mission accomplished!
Cybersecurity remains a high priority
Kleinschmidt continued our commitment to security by renewing our SOC2 certificate. This commitment has become part of the DNA of our company.
Every week, it seems like there is a new story in the news about cybersecurity events. It was my honor to lead a panel at the NMFTA Digital Security conference in October specific to APIs, but also to be a part of the consistent message that every company in our industry must make a commitment to creating a culture of cybersecurity awareness and due diligence.
Blockchain solution in pilot
Chain of custody is becoming more and more important for everything from food, to prescription drugs, to hazardous materials. Our first blockchain solution to support a digital ledger for liquid freight went into pilot in 2023 and we are excited about helping our partner, Vessey, bring it to market in 2024.
Investment in the future
Kleinschmidt made two key investments in partnerships that are tangential to our core business.
- meshVI is a new solution for the insurance industry that will also make it easier for fleet managers to maintain and share equipment and driver information.
- FreightX, a payments solution from Transcard, will add transparency to freight billing to reduce time spent auditing invoices and make payment processing more seamless through integration. Kleinschmidt can enable data sharing from EDI/JSON messages they currently route for clients who use FreightX
We’ve also invested in making our on-premise hardware as well as our cloud-based infrastructure more robust and resilient. When these leaner times end we will stand ready, as we have since 1983, to continue our mission—provide radically personal service and technology innovation in a world where one size doesn’t fit all.
