Planning a transport management system (TMS) will help you and your company improve operations. It also helps control costs and improve customer service. It’s essential that you choose the right TMS for your business.
It’s important that you choose a benefits management solution that can handle all of your needs. With so many systems to choose from, it can seem overwhelming to pick the right one.
Using this guide, you’ll learn the five essential features of a TMS system. You’ll also learn what to look for when you’re shopping for a solution. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Real-Time Tracking and Monitoring
Real-Time Tracking and Monitoring is an essential feature to look for in a transport management system. It provides up-to-date transport insights. This includes time departures, arrivals, route progress, delivery statuses, and transport performance metrics.
It helps to mitigate potential delays. It also helps with problems with DRT/courier services and other service-level issues. It gives quick access to data such as the following:
- optimized routes
- improved dispatch accuracy
- effective route optimization
On top of this, it allows us to accurately predict arrival times, saving time, money, and resources – as well as enhancing customer service.
2. Automated Reporting and Analytics
This is one of the essential transport management system features to look for. It allows companies to collect, store and retrieve data regarding their transport operations. This is while providing real-time feedback and insights into their performance.
It also helps companies identify areas of improvement within their transportation process. It helps measure operational performance over time. By leveraging this, companies can gain insight into their supply chain operation. They quickly identify and address emerging trends.
3. Intuitive User Interface
When looking for a transport management system, an intuitive user interface is essential. An intuitive user interface means the user has the ability to interact with the system with ease. It can also interact without the need for a manual or learning process.
The user should be able to quickly learn how to use the system with minimal effort and be able to easily access its features. The user should also have access to a set of color coordinate widgets and graphical tools. It should also have animations to make getting to the desired feature simple and direct.
4. Cross Docking Feature
Cross dock logistics is essential for efficient supply chain and transportation operations. Cross-docking allows the immediate transfer of goods from inbound to outbound trailers, eliminating the inventory sitting and transport costs of long-term storage.
While manual cross-docking can still be used, digital solutions are an ideal choice as they provide better support for tracking and organizing multiple stakeholders that are part of the process, such as suppliers and customers.
5. Purchase Order and Inventory Management
Purchase order and inventory management features should be a key priority when considering a transport management system. A system should provide detailed insight into order patterns and quantities and be able to track stock levels.
It should also be able to receive, manage and process invoices. Furthermore, it should facilitate the analysis of purchasing data and provide reporting capabilities. This facilitates the decision-making process, helping to ensure the supplier meets their needs.
Explore These Transport Management System
A transport management system can help to streamline your transport and logistics processes. This makes operations much more efficient. By understanding the essential features your business needs and which ones are necessary, you can make an educated choice when selecting a TMS.
Investing in the right TMS will pay off – so start researching the top options now!
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