Clearmetal

What is clearmetal

ClearMetal is a supply chain software platform that applies machine learning and predictive analytics to freight visibility, inventory forecasting, and demand planning. The platform consolidates shipment, order, and inventory data across carriers, ERPs, and warehouse systems, then surfaces predictions and suggested actions to reduce stockouts, lower expedited freight spend, and improve service levels. ClearMetal is used by shippers, 3PLs, retail supply chains, and manufacturers that need to move from reactive logistics to predictive operations.

The product focuses on two core areas: continuous visibility into in-transit inventory and demand-driven inventory optimization. For visibility, ClearMetal ingests carrier and telematics feeds, EDI messages, and proprietary shipment updates to produce normalized, real-time status and estimated time of arrival (ETA) predictions. For inventory and planning, the platform uses probabilistic forecasting models to translate visibility signals into replenishment recommendations and multi-echelon inventory policies.

ClearMetal is offered to enterprise customers as a cloud-hosted SaaS solution and, following industry trends for supply chain deployments, is often delivered with a phased onboarding plan that includes data integration, model training, and pilot use cases. The platform is positioned for mid-market to large enterprises that have complex global supply chains, multiple data sources, and a need for automated decision support rather than manual spreadsheet processes.

ClearMetal features

What does clearmetal do?

ClearMetal performs continuous data ingestion, normalization, and predictive analytics across shipping and inventory domains. It standardizes disparate inputs—carrier tracking, EDI 214/315/856, order management systems, WMS events, and customs data—into a single, searchable event stream. That unified dataset enables ETA calculations, dwell-time detection, and exception scoring.

The platform runs machine learning models that produce deliverables such as probabilistic ETAs, expected delivery windows, demand forecasts at SKU-location granularity, and recommended replenishment actions. These outputs are surfaced through dashboards, alert workflows, and integration endpoints so planners and transportation teams can act earlier and with quantifiable confidence levels.

ClearMetal also includes scenario planning and what-if simulation capabilities for shipment routing, inventory buffer optimization, and demand surge handling. Users can test the impact of lead-time variability, carrier delays, and demand spikes on on-hand coverage and service levels before committing to changes in procurement or transportation modes.

Key functional areas and capabilities:

• Data ingestion and normalization: Connectors for EDI, carrier APIs, TMS/WMS/ERP systems, spreadsheets, and manual uploads. ClearMetal standardizes timestamps, location identifiers, and event semantics to create a unified event timeline for each shipment.
• Predictive ETAs and arrival windows: Machine learning models that account for historical transit variability, route-level patterns, and intermediate dwell times to compute ETA probability distributions and confidence intervals.
• Inventory forecasting and multi-echelon optimization: SKU-by-location demand forecasts that feed into reorder point, safety stock, and replenishment recommendations considering lead time variability and service-level targets.
• Exception detection and alerting: Automated scoring of shipments for risk of late arrival, customs holdups, or abnormal route deviations with configurable alert channels.
• Scenario simulations and policy testing: Tools for testing buffer sizing, expedited shipping trade-offs, and supplier lead-time changes with model-driven impact estimates.
• Integrations and extensibility: APIs and connectors to ERP systems such as SAP and Oracle, common TMS and WMS products, and freight visibility providers for two-way synchronization.

Each feature area is typically supported by an implementation program that includes data mapping, model calibration using historical data, and a pilot phase to validate predictive accuracy against actual outcomes.

ClearMetal pricing

ClearMetal offers these pricing plans:

• Starter: $2,000/month (billed monthly) for basic visibility and ETA predictions across a limited number of shipment lanes and SKUs
• Professional: $5,000/month (billed monthly) with expanded connectors, inventory forecasting for multiple locations, and scenario planning
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for full multi-echelon optimization, advanced SLAs, dedicated support, and on-premises integration assistance

ClearMetal pricing is frequently quoted as an annual contract for enterprise customers, with discounts applied for multi-year commitments and larger transaction volumes. Typical enterprise engagements include set-up fees and professional services for integration, which are priced separately depending on the number of data sources, level of customization, and geographic scope.

For organizations evaluating ClearMetal, price includes the hosted software, ML model maintenance, and standard support tiers. Advanced services such as dedicated data engineering, custom API work, and on-site workshops are often added as separate professional services agreements. Check ClearMetal's current pricing on their official pricing and solutions pages for the latest contract models and volume-based rates: View ClearMetal's pricing and deployment options (https://www.clearmetal.com/pricing).

Implementation cost considerations commonly encountered with ClearMetal deployments include data preparation, mapping legacy EDI flows, and creating reliable connectivity to carrier APIs. Budgeting for pilot months, professional services, and potential middleware licenses is recommended when requesting a formal quote.

How much is clearmetal per month

ClearMetal starts at $2,000/month for entry-level visibility implementations when billed monthly. That entry point typically covers a limited lane set, a constrained SKU scope, and access to standard dashboards and ETA functionality.

Mid-tier implementations that include inventory forecasting, multi-site planning, and more extensive integrations commonly range in the $5,000–$15,000/month band depending on transaction volume and number of connectors. These implementations usually include a package of professional services for setup and model calibration.

Enterprise deployments with global scope, multi-echelon optimization, and custom SLAs are priced via negotiation and often include annual recurring fees plus implementation and integration costs. Customers typically plan for an initial 6–12 month rollout budget that covers software, services, and change management.

How much is clearmetal per year

ClearMetal costs roughly $24,000/year for the Starter plan when billed annually at the monthly-equivalent rate of $2,000/month. Annual pricing frequently includes a commitment discount compared to month-to-month billing and may require a minimum one-year contract.

Professional-tier annual contracts typically fall in the $60,000–$180,000/year range, depending on the breadth of functionality, level of support, and integration complexity. These contracts are common for mid-market shippers that require both visibility and forecasting across multiple DCs or international lanes.

Enterprise programs are custom-priced on an annual basis and often include volume-based metrics (number of shipments, SKUs, or data events) that determine final contract value. For accurate enterprise pricing, organizations should request a tailored quote and a statement of work that clarifies implementation milestones and outcomes.

How much is clearmetal in general

ClearMetal pricing ranges from approximately $2,000/month to custom enterprise contracts depending on scope and requirements. The lower end covers visibility-only pilots while the higher end reflects full-scale, multi-echelon forecasting and optimization projects.

Total cost of ownership should factor in implementation services, data integration effort, ongoing data management, and potential changes to internal processes — not just the subscription fee. Many procurement teams measure ROI in freight savings, reductions in safety stock, and fewer stockouts rather than software cost alone.

When evaluating costs, consider phased rollouts that begin with visibility and ETA accuracy, then expand to forecasting and replenishment to spread implementation spend and capture incremental value.

What is clearmetal used for

ClearMetal is used primarily for two business objectives: improving shipment visibility and optimizing inventory through predictive forecasting. For logistics teams, the platform provides earlier and more accurate ETAs so exceptions can be handled prior to disruption. For supply chain planners, the platform converts visibility signals into demand forecasts and replenishment actions that reduce emergency orders and expedite spend.

Typical business uses include weekly and daily planning workflows where insights from ClearMetal replace manual tracking spreadsheets. Transportation operations use the ETA predictions to prioritize exceptions and allocate carrier capacity; purchasing and inventory teams use the SKU-location forecasts to adjust reorder points and safety stock policies.

Industry use cases include retail (reducing out-of-stocks during promotions), manufacturing (improving supplier lead-time visibility), and 3PL operations (consolidating tracking for multiple clients and improving SLA adherence). The platform is also used to identify systemic carrier or routings problems by aggregating dwell, delay, and exception patterns across lanes and vendors.

Operational benefits realized by users include earlier detection of late shipments, lower emergency expedited freight spend, improved fill rates, and reduced excess inventory when models enable more precise buffers. ClearMetal is often used as the analytics layer on top of existing ERPs and TMS, providing predictive signals rather than replacing transactional systems.

Pros and cons of clearmetal

ClearMetal's strengths include advanced machine learning applied specifically to logistical event data and inventory forecasting. The platform's predictive ETAs and probabilistic forecasts help teams move from reactive firefighting to proactive exception handling. Its ability to normalize disparate data streams into a single event model is valuable for organizations struggling with fragmented visibility.

Another advantage is model-driven decision support: ClearMetal surfaces not just alerts but recommended actions (e.g., expedite decision, change PO timing, or reroute). This prescriptive element shortens time-to-decision for planners and transportation managers. In practice, customers report measurable reductions in expedited spend and improvements to service levels when the models are well-calibrated.

On the downside, ClearMetal is designed for enterprise-scale problems and requires investment in data integration and change management. Organizations with limited digital footprints, inconsistent data, or small shipment volumes may find the implementation effort disproportionate to near-term benefits. There is a learning curve for planners used to manual processes, and the platform requires organizational alignment to act on model outputs consistently.

Finally, because many ClearMetal customers are large enterprises, pricing and contract terms can be complex. Procurement teams should budget for professional services during the first 3–6 months and verify SLAs and support coverage. When considering ClearMetal, evaluate internal readiness for data quality, the number of data sources, and the governance model for acting on automated recommendations.

ClearMetal free trial

ClearMetal typically offers a discovery phase and pilot engagements rather than a self-serve free trial. The pilot approach pairs the vendor with customer data to validate model accuracy on a subset of lanes or SKUs and demonstrates potential return on investment. During this pilot, customers can see ETA improvements, forecast accuracy lift, and suggested replenishment actions without committing to a full enterprise rollout.

Pilot programs usually last 6–12 weeks and include integration of a limited set of data feeds, configuration of alerting rules, and a set of success metrics agreed upon in advance. This trial-style engagement provides concrete evidence for stakeholders and helps fine-tune the models for a broader deployment.

For buyers who want to explore product capabilities without a pilot, ClearMetal publishes product collateral, case studies, and solution briefs; however, the most reliable way to evaluate performance is through a data-backed pilot with real shipments. Prospective customers should contact ClearMetal to request a pilot and scope the expected inputs and outcomes.

Is clearmetal free

No, ClearMetal is not a free product for enterprise use. The platform is licensed as a paid SaaS solution with pricing tiers and professional services. Entry-level pilots or discovery assessments may be provided under limited engagement terms but ongoing use requires a subscription.

Organizations evaluating ClearMetal should anticipate software fees plus integration and professional services costs, which are typically built into the initial contract. For small teams or low-volume shippers, the per-month cost and implementation effort may make lighter-weight or freemium visibility tools more cost-effective.

ClearMetal API

ClearMetal provides programmatic APIs and integration endpoints designed for exchanging visibility events, forecast outputs, and recommended actions with upstream systems. The API suite supports JSON-based RESTful endpoints for retrieving ETAs, subscription-style webhooks for shipment events and exceptions, and batch endpoints for forecast exports.

Common integration patterns include:

• Pushing normalized shipment events into ClearMetal from carrier systems and TMS via API or EDI
• Pulling predicted ETAs and risk scores into a TMS or a customer portal through REST APIs
• Subscribing to webhook notifications to drive downstream alerts in Slack, email, or internal dashboards
• Exporting forecasted replenishment reports into ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) via SFTP or API

ClearMetal's API capabilities enable two-way synchronization so that changes made in the planning system can be fed back into ClearMetal for closed-loop optimization. For developers, ClearMetal typically provides API documentation, sample payloads, and sandbox endpoints as part of onboarding. For enterprise customers, custom API work and advanced integrations are often implemented by ClearMetal professional services or certified partners.

For details on specific API endpoints and authentication flows, consult ClearMetal's developer documentation and integration guides: Review ClearMetal's API and integration resources (https://www.clearmetal.com/platform).

10 ClearMetal alternatives

• project44 — Real-time transportation visibility and ETA platform with extensive carrier network and enterprise-grade integrations.
• FourKites — End-to-end shipment visibility and predictive ETAs focused on real-time tracking across modes.
• Blue Yonder — Supply chain planning suite that includes demand forecasting and multi-echelon inventory optimization at enterprise scale.
• Descartes — Global logistics and routing solutions with strong capabilities in compliance, customs, and visibility for carriers.
• SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) — An enterprise-grade planning suite that combines demand planning, inventory optimization, and supply planning.
• Oracle SCM Cloud — Comprehensive supply chain management platform with planning, logistics, and inventory modules.
• Manhattan Associates — Supply chain and WMS solutions with planning and execution tools for distribution and transportation.
• Llamasoft (Coupa) — Advanced network modeling and supply chain design capabilities for strategic scenario planning.
• MercuryGate — Transportation management with strong carrier integration and visibility capabilities.
• Project44 (again for comparison) — (note: project44 acquired ClearMetal; organizations evaluate both offerings for combined capabilities)

Paid alternatives to clearmetal

• project44 — Offers broad carrier coverage and turnkey integrations for shippers seeking rapid connectivity across modes. Project44 emphasizes network effects and scalability for large shipment volumes.
• FourKites — Strong predictive ETA models and a focus on real-time visibility across ocean, rail, and road. FourKites frequently competes on speed of carrier onboarding and UI for operations teams.
• Blue Yonder — Includes deep forecasting and inventory optimization tied to replenishment execution for large retail and manufacturing clients. Blue Yonder is aimed at organizations that require an integrated planning suite.
• SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) — Enterprise planning with tight integration to SAP ERP and strong scenario planning for complex supply networks.
• Oracle SCM Cloud — End-to-end supply chain suite that includes demand management, order orchestration, and logistics execution.
• Manhattan Associates — Combines WMS and TMS functions with visibility layers and optimization tools targeted at distribution-centric operations.

Open source alternatives to clearmetal

• OpenBoxes — Open-source inventory and supply chain management system that supports basic demand planning and tracking for healthcare and humanitarian logistics. Suitable for organizations seeking an extensible, low-cost solution.
• ERPNext — Open-source ERP with inventory and stock management features, demand forecasting modules, and community-developed integrations for logistics workflows.
• Odoo (Community Edition) — Provides inventory, MRP, and basic forecasting modules in an open-source community edition; well-suited to smaller businesses or teams willing to extend functionality.
• Apache OFBiz — A flexible open-source ERP framework that can be adapted for inventory and order management but requires significant development to match ClearMetal's predictive features.

These alternatives vary significantly in scope. Paid competitors generally cover visibility and predictive ETAs at scale, while open-source options are better for budget-constrained teams that can implement custom forecasting logic and integrations.

Frequently asked questions about ClearMetal

What is ClearMetal used for?

ClearMetal is used for predictive shipment visibility and inventory forecasting. Logistics teams use it to predict ETAs and risk scores for in-transit shipments, while planners use its demand forecasts to set reorder points and safety stock. The platform aims to reduce emergency freight spend and improve service levels through earlier, data-driven decisions.

Does ClearMetal integrate with SAP and Oracle?

Yes, ClearMetal integrates with SAP and Oracle ERP systems. Integration typically happens via APIs, EDI, or batch file exchange to synchronize orders, inventory positions, and forecast outputs for downstream execution and reporting. Professional services frequently assist with the mapping and validation steps.

How much does ClearMetal cost per user or per month?

ClearMetal starts at approximately $2,000/month for entry-level visibility pilots and increases for professional and enterprise tiers depending on lanes, SKUs, and integrations. Pricing is usually quoted as an annual contract with optional professional services for onboarding.

Is there a ClearMetal free trial?

No, ClearMetal typically offers data-driven pilot engagements rather than a free self-serve trial. Pilots allow customers to test the platform on a subset of shipments or SKUs to demonstrate ETA accuracy and forecast lift before committing to a full deployment.

Can ClearMetal provide real-time ETAs for ocean containers?

Yes, ClearMetal supports ETAs for ocean containers and multi-modal shipments. It aggregates carrier event data, port status, and historical transit variability to produce probabilistic arrival windows for ocean and intermodal legs.

How secure is ClearMetal with enterprise data?

ClearMetal follows enterprise security practices for cloud SaaS deployments. Typical safeguards include TLS encryption for data in transit, role-based access controls, and contractual commitments for data handling; customers should verify certifications and SOC or ISO attestations during procurement.

How long does a ClearMetal implementation take?

Implementation timelines vary, but most pilots run 6–12 weeks and full rollouts take 3–9 months. The timeline depends on the number of integrations, data quality, and internal change management; phased deployments (visibility first, forecasting second) shorten time-to-value.

Does ClearMetal offer APIs for developers?

Yes, ClearMetal provides RESTful APIs and webhook endpoints for integration. APIs expose ETAs, risk scores, and forecast outputs and support both pull and push integration patterns with TMS, ERP, and internal dashboards.

Can small businesses use ClearMetal?

Small businesses can use ClearMetal but should evaluate fit based on complexity and cost. The platform is optimized for customers with multiple data sources and sufficient shipment volume to justify ML-driven forecasting; smaller teams may find lower-cost or open-source options more appropriate.

What measurable benefits do customers get from ClearMetal?

Customers typically see reductions in expedited freight spend, fewer stockouts, and improved forecast accuracy. Reported benefits include lower safety stock requirements, faster exception resolution, and improved on-time delivery rates when models are well-integrated into operational workflows.

clearmetal careers

ClearMetal hires across data science, software engineering, logistics consulting, and customer success functions. Roles often require experience in machine learning, time-series forecasting, cloud engineering, and supply chain operations. Candidates with hands-on experience in TMS/ERP integrations and data engineering for logistics are frequently in demand.

Career progression in ClearMetal-style companies typically includes opportunities to work in cross-functional implementation teams, product engineering, and client-facing analytics roles. Job seekers should review the company's official careers page and LinkedIn for the latest openings and role descriptions.

clearmetal affiliate

ClearMetal has historically engaged with systems integrators, logistics consultancies, and technology partners to resell and implement its platform. Affiliate or partner programs usually include training for integration partners, co-selling arrangements, and certified implementation tracks. Prospective affiliates should reach out to ClearMetal's partnerships team to request program details and certification requirements.

Where to find clearmetal reviews

You can find user reviews and peer comparisons on enterprise software review sites and logistics technology forums. Common places to check include review platforms and industry analyst reports that compare shipment visibility and inventory forecasting vendors. For authoritative product details and case studies, consult ClearMetal's customer success pages and solution briefs on the official website: Explore ClearMetal's customer case studies and solution materials (https://www.clearmetal.com).