Tms Transportation Management System Pdf

This article's tone or style may not reflect the used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia's for suggestions. ( August 2011) A transportation management system (TMS) is a subset of concerning operations and may be part of an system.A TMS usually 'sits' between an ERP or legacy order processing and warehouse/distribution module. A typical scenario would include both inbound (procurement) and outbound (shipping) orders to be evaluated by the TMS Planning Module offering the user various suggested routing solutions. These solutions are evaluated by the user for reasonableness and are passed along to the transportation provider analysis module to select the best mode and least cost provider.

1. Tms Transportation Management System Pdf Download

Once the best provider is selected, the solution typically generates electronic load tendering and track/trace to execute the optimized shipment with the selected carrier, and later to support freight audit and payment (settlement process). Links back to ERP systems (after orders turned into optimal shipments), and sometimes secondarily to WMS programs also linked to ERP are also common. Contents.Licensing These systems have been offered with different types of licensing arrangements. The four main offerings are:. On-premises licensing (traditional purchased license).

Hosted licensing (remote, SaaS, Cloud). On-premises hosted licensing (a blend of 1 and 2). (same as 2 but free with no license requirements)Additionally, some software providers were either acquired or merged with supply chain management consultancies and started offering shippers 'blended' managed and software services as an outsourced process. Primary Tier 1 TMS providers are still independent, carrier and 3PL neutral, and ERP neutral.

. Close. Close. Business Intelligence.

Business Intelligence. Close.

CRM. CRM. Close. ERP. ERP. Close.

HR Management. HR Management.

Close. CMMS. CMMS. Close. Medical. Medical. Close.

Supply Chain Management. Supply Chain Management. Close. Other.

Other Software Categories. Close. Close. So, what features should a company’s TMS checklist include? That’s dependent on what your company needs and the scope of the business you do. But to help you get started, we’ve created a list of TMS software requirements you can use to decide what you’ll need from. Top TMS System Requirements Automatic Order ProcessingModern systems utilize (EDI) to standardize communication.

EDI replaces manual means of communication, such as mail, to speed up the exchange of information. EDI is useful in order processing, eliminating the need for manual order entry. This reduces the time involved with data entry, but it also reduces error.

Corel draw 12 activation key free download. When using EDI, your system can automatically pull order data from other resources to create orders automatically.Most systems will also allow you to create orders using data that isn’t sourced from EDI. So, for instance, if your suppliers still run on very manual processes, you can still work with them without EDI. Moreover, you can choose a system that will generate confirmation notifications that can be sent to the appropriate parties.Automated Data Entry via EDIConfirmation NotificationsScheduled PickupThis feature also takes advantage of EDI to streamline communication. If you choose a system that allows users to schedule shipment pickups in advance, your program will typically use EDI to automatically communicate with carriers.

Furthermore, scheduled pickup enables users to plan deliveries using what’s most profitable and efficient.By choosing a system that enables users to access information on pickups and drop-offs, you maintain a higher level of visibility of your deliveries. This allows you to deal with arising issues early on to foster customer satisfaction.Monitor Pickup and Drop-Off Information (Locations, Dates, Times, etc.)Send Pickup and Drop-Off Information AutomaticallyPlan Trips by EfficiencySchedule Shipments in Advance Auto Carrier SelectionChoosing a carrier to handle your shipments can be difficult.

You have to consider a multitude of factors like cost, geographic accessibility and whether or not you’ll need multiple carriers. Your needs may also be slightly different from shipment to shipment. But you probably don’t have the time to go through and choose a carrier by hand for each package. That’s where auto carrier selection comes in. Quickly decide which carrier to choose with all information in one place.Auto carrier selection manages all your carrier options in one place. Not only does it conveniently centralize your selection process, but it also chooses the best carrier automatically.

Systems do this by taking into account factors such as cost, preference, insurance coverage, equipment needed and more. These are all considered using an algorithm that determines the lowest cost option that can provide all other necessary aspects.Multi-Carrier OptionsAutomated Carrier SelectionCustom Rules Multimodal ShipmentsMultimodal shipment involves a level of detail not seen in many other industries. Between the actual logistics of managing several modes of transportation and the legalities of subcarriers, it can be useful to have a TMS solution to handle it all.If you plan on implementing multimodal shipments, make sure your transportation management software can manage all the modes you utilize. This includes road, rail, sea and air. Your system should handle the logistics of cross-border freight as well as any domestic considerations. You also may prefer a system that can handle cross-docking, which minimizes storage time and warehousing costs.Rail TransportAir TransportRoad TransportSea TransportDomestic and Foreign SupportCross-Docking Shipment ConsolidationThis feature facilitates shipment planning to ensure the best delivery pattern. First, shipment consolidation creates groups of items to be transported together by pallet, container or weight, maximizing load efficiency.

Tms Transportation Management System Pdf Download

Many systems do this by taking into account your constraints, business rules and carrier capacity.Some TMS solutions incorporate distribution strategies like multi-stop, multi-pickup, pooling and direct. These are all used in conjunction to reduce transportation costs and improve resource management. You can also consolidate shipments of all sizes from small parcels to high volume shipments.Automatic SchedulingAutomatic ConsolidationConsolidation by Weight, Container and PalletConstraint-Based SystemDispute Managementis one of the reasons why many companies today still utilize brick-and-mortar storefronts in a world where online retailers like Amazon reign supreme. But wherever there’s an opportunity for profit, there’s also the potential for failure.

That’s why it’s important for TMS providers to supply a centralized method of dealing with disputes. Dispute management covers all claims related to cargo, such as damages and goods lost in transit.One of the ways to manage your disputes is to integrate your financial data. This allows you to instantly audit agreed-upon rates and see the associated billing records. If you are liable for damage, you’ll want full visibility of potential revenue loss.

Additionally, some systems offer dispute reporting and analytics. Reporting gives you a quick means of sharing important data, and analysis can help you understand trends.Claim ManagementIntegrated Financial DataReporting and AnalysisPayment and Settlement Process Performance TrackingTransportation is a complex process, but understanding how well your company is performing doesn’t have to be. Most performance tracking systems manage metrics like on-time appointments, multimodal transit times and loading and unloading times. With the help of performance tracking, you can get quick insight into where you perform the best and where your team could use some work.TMS software allows users to monitor all modes of transportation, providing better visibility into the movement of goods. You can also set deadlines, see historical performance and receive notifications for events or delays. This helps you get ahead of issues, enabling you to resolve them before the consequences become apparent.On-Time AppointmentsTransit TimeLoading and Unloading TimeEvent NotificationsDeadline TrackingHistorical PerformanceTransportation Visibility Billing SupportAccurate billing is incredibly important for maintaining good relationships with your carriers.

Your TMS software should support billing and the various models commonly used in transportation management, like door-to-door or cost-plus. You may also want a system that can calculate the transportation costs for both the party ordering the goods and the supplier. Certain solutions can automatically calculate carrier rates using rate databases, as well.Invoice ManagementClaims ManagementOrdering Party and Supplier BillingDoor-to-Door ModelCost-Plus ModelAccessorial ChargesAutomatic Calculation of Carrier Rates Cargo TrackingThis feature ties largely into performance tracking, with many systems using the flow of goods as a metric of performance. If your product has stopped moving somewhere, you must find out why along with how you can get it moving again as quickly as possible.Cargo tracking provides supply chain visibility, allowing users to track cargo by SKU numbers and various other identifiers. If you’re looking for end-to-end visibility, consider a system that can track shipments en-route, at pool locations, and that can provide delivery confirmation.

Some solutions can help you track returns, as well.SKU Number TrackingIn-Transit TrackingDelivery NotificationOrder Number TrackingCustomer Reference NumbersTracking by DateLocalizationWith the supply chain becoming more and more globalized, it’s important to maintain local protocol wherever possible. Users can choose the units of measurement, currencies and languages present on labels. Localization can also come from the method of deployment you select. Hosted solutions can be easily updated with new TMS features to make localization a breeze. On the other hand, on-premise solutions give a company full control over how the software works.Multi-Language SupportMulti-Currency SupportUnits of Measurement Driver DispatchTo properly manage your fleet, you need a system that can dispatch your drivers, track their location and provide a means of quick communication. Most solutions enable dispatchers and drivers to communicate directly in an app.

Additionally, many TMS solutions can optimize the dispatch process by choosing the best driver and mode of transportation based on skill, availability and seniority. Dispatchers can also track drivers to ensure they’re on the correct shipment route.Driver Assignment OptimizationIn-App CommunicationLocation Tracking ReportsReports are one of the easiest ways to understand and convey vital information. Transportation software provides classic reporting tools like charts and dashboards, but also includes specialized maps to visualize shipping patterns.Custom DashboardsCustom ReportsVisual Data and Maps. Visual reporting can help you quickly see where your company could improve. Business Intelligencein the context of transportation isn’t too different from standard analytics tools.

However, with so many working parts involved in logistics, your software needs to be able to. A TMS system should also track industry-specific KPIs and predict trends using “What-If” analysis.Additionally, transportation analysis provides the visibility to see where your company is underperforming and areas of especially high cost. You can then use this new information to plan future shipments, with the software efficiently mapping out resource usage based on historical data.Data IntegrationProfitability AnalysisProfit ForecastCapacity Allocation MobilityMobility is often considered a “nice-to-have” in other realms of software, but when your entire industry is on the go, it’s a necessity.

Some vendors offer designated mobile apps, with others relying on their mobile website. While some systems can be accessed from any device with internet access, others are OS-specific. Most commonly, TMS applications have been optimized to run on iOS or Android, but there are systems available that can run on Blackberry and Windows Mobile as well.It’s also beneficial to consider the user-interface of the application on mobile devices. While design isn’t a part of TMS functional requirements (because it doesn’t affect how the software works), it does affect the adoption rates within your company.

If you expect some resistance during implementation, user-friendliness is something to include on your TMS checklist.Operating System SupportMobile TMS ApplicationMobile Website Deployment EnvironmentBoth methods of deployment have their benefits and their drawbacks, so it’s helpful to include which you prefer in your TMS requirements before comparing systems. Are typically cheaper to set up and easier to maintain. However, on-premise solutions exist if access to the internet is an issue or if you need maximum control over your data.On-Premise InstallationHosted InstallationMaintenanceHaving an optimized fleet with the best routes and loading practices is one thing; keeping it running is another.

Successful TMS platforms should contain all the features you need to monitor and maintain vehicles and other mechanical assets. Maintenance features help ensure equipment compliance, track costs associated with machinery, measure fuel consumption and more. Never miss out on maintenance for your vehicles again with preventive scheduling designed to head off equipment problems before they happen.Preventative Maintenance SchedulingWarranty TrackingEquipment ComplianceAccounting Integrations with Maintenance Next StepsNow that you’re familiar with what transportation management solutions can provide, it’s time to make your own list of requirements to use during software selection. We recommend using our. You can customize it to include only the features you need, and you can set reminders to get feedback from stakeholders. Once you’re done with that, you can start comparing systems to find a solution best-suited to your needs.What transportation management system business requirements will you utilize? Did we miss anything on our TMS software checklist?

We’d love to know all your thoughts on the topic, so leave a comment down below!