An effective transportation management system holds the ability to transform into a central hub for logistics, generating optimal routing proposals and identifying less congested routes in real time to avert unplanned circumstances. Businesses can cut down on their vendor footprint without employing specialized software to manage their warehouse and transportation.

Manhattan Associates (Nasdaq:MANH) facilitates connectivity for functions across every aspect of the transportation management system with its Manhattan Active Platform, offering businesses complete control over their inbound and outbound processes.

It is a leading global provider of supply chain and omnichannel commerce software solutions dedicated to helping businesses leverage technology to optimize their supply chain operations. Over the years, the company has been consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation, providing cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency, reduce costs and improve service levels.

“The need for improved speed, efficiency, visibility and accountability is reverberating throughout the supply chain and is influencing warehouse operations,” says Eddie Capel, CEO. “We are proud to enhance our market-leading solutions with new intelligent optimization, asset orchestration and workforce agility tools that address these changing needs.”

Humble Beginnings, Maximum Impact

Manhattan Associates transcended from a small warehouse management system (WMS) provider to being a trusted partner for global brands. It gradually shifted its offerings from addressing the complexities of distribution center operations to providing a suite of solutions, all designed to support end-to-end supply chain visibility and control. The company serves diverse industries, including food and beverages and healthcare, with solutions for warehouse, transportation, inventory optimization and omnichannel commerce operations.

Its commitment to creating value for customers through technology and expertise is reflected in the continuous investment in research and development, ensuring the company’s solutions remain at the forefront of industry trends and technological advancements.

One of the company’s key offerings is its transportation management system (TMS), a feature-rich solution designed to enable businesses to manage their transportation networks more efficiently, reduce costs and improve service levels. The TMS uses advanced algorithms and machine learning to optimize routing and scheduling by taking diverse factors into account, like delivery windows, vehicle capacities and road conditions for improved delivery performance. Comprehensive tools are offered for carrier selection, contract management and performance monitoring.

Leveraging real-time data and analytics through TMS equips businesses to negotiate better rates and ensure high service levels from their carriers. A thorough analysis of key performance indicators generates custom reports and identifies opportunities for improvement. Automated freight audit and payment processes ensure accuracy and reduce administrative overhead. It verifies freight bills against contracts and actual shipment data, identifying discrepancies and facilitating timely payments to prevent overpayments and improve financial control.

Curating Optimized Outcomes

Real-time visibility into transportation operations allows businesses to monitor the status of deliveries and address issues proactively. This enhances customer service by providing precise and timely information about shipment statuses, leading to on-time deliveries and higher customer satisfaction.

Manhattan’s TMS is designed to integrate seamlessly with other systems, including warehouse management, enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management, forming a cohesive and efficient supply chain that enables data flow and process synchronization across different functions. The scalable architecture is designed to support businesses of all sizes and industries, accommodating increased volumes and expanding transportation networks.

Case in point, a prominent supermarket retailer and distributor was facing inefficiencies and fragmentation in their transportation strategy across three disconnected systems, leading to inefficiencies, decentralized routing and wasted miles.

Store delivery schedules varied greatly, causing inconsistency in daily loads and delivery times for more than 460 stores. This instability, combined with the direct delivery model from each distribution center, resulted in excess miles and multiple deliveries to a single store in a day.

The varying volume, fluctuating by up to 20 percent, created overtime in distribution centers, driver inefficiencies and late deliveries. The client reached out to Manhattan Associates, seeking a solution to integrate with their WMS and change their organizational processes. The company implemented TMS, consolidating separate systems into a singular platform.

The optimization engine allowed the client to revamp routes for daily and every-other-day deliveries. This dynamic capability enabled the supermarket chain to manage store deliveries in batches that were separate from transmission schedules, ensuring better coordination and efficiency. Connecting procurement with the TMS enabled them to improve the process of evaluating carrier rates and loading them into the system, further enhancing their inbound logistics. Manhattan Associates reduced empty miles by eight and total miles by 7.7 percent through optimized delivery schedules. It also improved cube utilization by 8 percent and effectively filled available capacity with backhauls, lowering inbound costs and improving load use.

The success of the project prompted the client to evaluate the implementation of Manhattan Active Yard Management—a solution that allows for adjustments to unexpected situations and uncover opportunities for performance optimization and cost savings. The architecture provided real-time visibility of trailers and yard jockey management at their distribution centers. These additional measures enhance efficiency and provide even greater control over transportation operations.

Driving Scalability with Proprietary Platform

Every offering is powered by advanced technologies like AI, machine learning and IoT to enhance predictive analytics and automation capabilities. The company’s cloud-native platform, Manhattan Active Solutions, provides complete flexibility and scalability, enabling businesses to quickly adapt to changing market conditions.

For instance, a leading pet retailer recognized the need for a more agile and innovative WMS to support optimal omnichannel operations and ensure seamless service across all locations. They reached out to their longtime partner, Manhattan Associates, for a solution and ended up becoming the first customer to implement its proprietary platform.

The implementation was carried out remotely, using cameras, videos, screen shares and constant communication between the two teams. The cloud-based solution enabled rapid deployment and eliminated the expenses associated with traditional on-premise applications. The intuitive interface of the application minimized the learning curve, allowing the client to onboard team members quickly and efficiently. The conversion process was smooth and operations were swiftly brought to full capacity.

The cloud-native WMS provided a lower total cost of ownership compared to an on-premise system, and its ability to scale automatically to meet demand fluctuations proved invaluable. New features and innovations were delivered continuously every quarter, ensuring the system remained at the cutting edge of technology.

A strong commitment to sustainability empowers Manhattan Associates to help businesses reduce their environmental impact. Its TMS includes features to support green logistics initiatives, like optimizing routes to minimize fuel consumption and emissions and promoting the use of eco-friendly transportation modes.

The drive for innovation and customer satisfaction positions Manhattan Associates as an invaluable partner for businesses seeking a unified approach for seamless execution of inbound and outbound logistics. Its formidable, integrated system of omnichannel commerce solutions reduces bottom-line operational costs while increasing opportunities for higher conversions and top-line revenue growth.