The process of delivering products from a warehouse to the customer includes multiple factors. Just the way one needs to manage the entire logistics operations, delivery can’t be successful without an ideal Transportation Management system (TMS). As your logistics business grows, managing shipments, end-to-end tracking, documentation and everything in between can’t be done manually with spreadsheets. This is where you need a feature-rich TMS to support your logistics supply chain in numerous ways.
While the logistics industry is operating efficiently for faster and more efficient deliveries, it’s important to have a TMS for your logistics business. If your business is growing significantly and you still don’t have a TMS, this article will help you make the best decision on how to choose the best one available in the market. Dive in!
What is a Transportation Management System?
From managing multiple deliveries to complex freight and taking care of local deliveries or global operations, an ideal Transportation Management System does everything for you. A TMS helps organizations conveniently manage and optimize the supply chain with the physical movement of goods. While playing a central role in the supply chain system, one can make informed decisions depending on the deep visibility offered by the TMS. It can conveniently be used by logistics companies, manufacturers, retailers, eCommerce companies, and everyone who does physical transportation of goods.
Now that we are aware of how Transportation Management Software can be beneficial for your business, let’s take a look at how to pick the right one for your business.
Checklist to choose the best Transportation Management System for your business:
How will the best transportation management system impact my business?
Look at what your business needs and not what the TMS offers. Focus on your business goals and longevity in terms of investing in a system that would optimize transportation for your business in the longer run. Understand your current business landscape and determine how having a TMS can change various aspects of business growth. For example, If live tracking of goods is something that you are looking for, a Transportation Management System can make it happen for you. Ask yourself these questions:
– What is the frequent mode of transportation for my business?
– What is the total number of shipments my business deals with every day?
– How will the TMS help me in serving multiple locations conveniently?
– Will a particular TMS be capable enough to contribute to the growth of my business?
While the market has to offer multiple transportation management solutions, every solution has a different cost depending on the set of features offered. However, choosing the most affordable one or the most expensive one with a certain set of expectations should not be the general scenario. Make a list of the best transportation management software available in the market and find out which one of them suits your needs the best and is an affordable choice for the longer run. Choosing a TMS should not just be focused on the current goals of your business but also serve the future vision that includes growth, boost in ROI, ease for resources, and transparency in the system.
What are the top features offered by the TMS?
Focusing on the needs and demands of a business, every Transportation Management system should prioritize three elements specifically including time, money, and resource allocation. Here are the top features every TMS should have.
Route Planning and Overall Optimization: Figuring out the fastest and most efficient route for numerous deliveries along with streamlined optimization for the future.
Reporting and Analytics: Utilizing the power of data in the best way possible with the help of analytics and monitoring various actions done for various deliveries.
Order Tracking and Visibility: End-to-end transparency about the movement of the order to the shippers and customers with minimum manual intervention.
Carrier Selection and Management: Saving time, effort, and money while choosing the right carrier partner for your business with the help of a consolidated list of providers and their features.
Fleet Management and Optimization: Overall optimization for the fleet that ultimately results in time-saving as well as more efficient deliveries.
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