Most standalone transportation management systems are too limited to encapsulate the tiered complexity of an international, multi-segment supply chain, but technology that can integrate and converge transportation with other supply chain functions, such as order management, sets the new industry standard.
FREMONT, CA: A transportation management system (TMS), which began as a simple idea, has grown into a complicated ecosystem of suppliers, transporters, warehouses, retailers, and other parties, each with its own requirements and benefits.
Capabilities are restricted to batch orders with constrained order-level reporting and speed using basic TMS features. However, new systems that combine order management and transportation management are more adaptable and responsive, making them better suited for streamlining the entire supply chain network.
The Essential Elements of a Transportation Management System
More sophisticated logistical skills are required by mature organisations with numerous partners. A cloud-based TMS provides a comprehensive substitute for a standalone platform.
Complete Visibility
Perfect order performance requires considering various factors, some of which change every minute. Stakeholders have more influence over individual order management, especially when conditions vary minute by minute, end-to-end visibility, and in-app functions for supplier selection, exception management, and more. Dashboards are essential for responding to disruptive events like a supply shortfall or weather-related delay since they can display real-time centralised data from several sources.
Order Fulfillment and Delivery Efficiency
Opportunities to streamline processes across business units are created when order management and transportation management are natively built on the same platform. Stakeholders can gain from one another and enhance operations by cooperating to achieve common objectives, like, instance, using full truckloads and improving time performance.
Cost Management, Compliance, and Risk
Understanding performance value and financial reporting are more crucial than ever in a period of supply chain disruption, shortages, and high delivery costs. A few instances of recent events that resulted in service disruptions and expenses include the Suez Canal accident, evolving COVID-19 variations, and international sanctions.
Innovation and Customer Delight
Customer service is a top priority for executives in every sector. Creating an omnichannel capability, which allows a product to be ordered, fulfilled, or returned at any location within the network, is one way to innovate in this field. This operation makes it seamless for customers to use goods and services, increasing the likelihood that they'll continue to support business in the future.
A Future-Focused Technology Strategy
Although useful, these features only scratch the surface of what supply chain management platforms can achieve to assist specific business units and the entire supply chain network. When unforeseen events threaten the bottom line, transportation management systems may reduce risk and foster resilience. Enhancing segmented flows is also made possible by increased service levels and communication across silos. Businesses can offer high service levels and a seamless customer experience with integrated transportation and order management or an order-centric TMS.
