Finding the Right Solution for Your Business

Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, transportation and logistics companies need to stay ahead of the curve. The key to success lies in leveraging the right technology to streamline operations, enhance efficiency and drive growth. A Transportation Management System (TMS) is the cornerstone of this transformation. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one for your business? This eBook will guide you through the essential features and considerations to help you make an informed decision.

Finding the Right Solution for Your Business

Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, transportation and logistics companies need to stay ahead of the curve. The key to success lies in leveraging the right technology to streamline operations, enhance efficiency and drive growth. A Transportation Management System (TMS) is the cornerstone of this transformation. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one for your business? This eBook will guide you through the essential features and considerations to help you make an informed decision.

It's All About the Numbers

Successful transportation businesses routinely do the math to determine how they measure up. Those calculations drive the decisions that enhance efficiency and utilization, reduce costs and operating ratios and lead to improved profitability. However, the vast and growing amount of data available to carriers, freight brokers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) can easily lead to information overload. Coupled with the need to make data actionable across a range of business management processes is the critical end-to-end visibility and control necessary to make the right decisions.

Transportation Management System (TMS) solutions are the key to making it all add up. TMS solutions are being applied across a full range of transportation industry segments by for-hire and private carriers. Included are truckload, less than truckload, Final Mile, refrigerated, flatbed, bulk, intermodal and a range of specialized operations such as auto haulers and fuel suppliers, among others. They are also employed by non-asset-based freight brokers, 3PLs and logistics services providers.

Whether your challenge is growing the top line by boosting freight volume and improving customer relationships, or improving the bottom line by managing an ever-growing range of business needs and working to control costs, choosing the right TMS solution is the first step.

"Technology is changing every aspect of how logistics companies operate." - PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers): "The Future of the Logistics Industry" (2016)

Defining Needs

TechTarget defines a TMS as "specialized software for planning, executing and optimizing the shipment of goods.” This can mean different things to different businesses, as several types of transportation businesses have unique requirements when it comes to TMS solutions. Whether you're a for-hire carrier, private fleet, shipper, broker or 3PL, understanding your specific needs is crucial.nd logistics services providers.

TMS Uses

Private Fleets

Private fleets can apply many of the same best practices to enhance operational efficiency, improve safety and compliance, manage drivers for scheduling and reduce costs.

For-Hire Fleets

For-hire fleets can use an effective TMS to improve efficiency, utilization and operating ratios. Commercial carriers rely on TMS solutions to dispatch loads, bill customers and pay drivers.

Shippers

Shippers benefit from connections and collaboration through cohesive supply chains to improve efficiencies, realize cost savings and increase profits.

Brokers and 3PLs

Brokers and 3PLs leverage TMS capabilities for planning, order management and execution, and to automate administrative functions.

The Power of Connection

Though standard TMS technology is powerful at executing transportation tasks for a wide range of stakeholders, a TMS solution can only be as effective as the connected ecosystem it’s part of. Enter the connected TMS. The connected TMS concept aims to create a seamless, fully integrated transportation management environment, harnessing the power of connected people, data, workflows, and ecosystems to ensure the transportation management technology your business employs drives maximum productivity and realizes significant operational efficiencies. Embracing the connected TMS will be essential for the next generation of transportation leaders, as the demands on transportation operations continue to increase.

Connected and integrated transportation management systems aim to increase productivity and connect data to solve higher-order problems. Disconnected systems may solve single-point problems but not increase the productivity and efficiency of the business. A connected TMS facilitates collaboration and leads to more opportunities for shipper, carrier and broker partnerships.

A connected TMS also aims to improve freight operations by applying sophisticated rules and capabilities to a broad base of for-hire carriers, private fleets, brokers and sources of capacity. This network effect provides everyone with a better understanding of market and service needs and capabilities, leading to new opportunities for all transportation industry participants.