Traditionally, supply chain and transport businesses had a heavy administrative burden, from taking customer orders by phone or fax to writing out driver schedules and instructions to transposing actuals onto invoices and dealing with any queries and credits. Thankfully, a digital system to manage transport removes all of that and streamlines the administration and accounts process, among many other benefits.
A Transport Management System (TMS) can save you administration time by automating and streamlining various aspects of your transportation and logistics operations. Here are ten ways a TMS can help you save time:
Order Management:
• Automated Order Entry: Your TMS can automate the process of entering and managing orders, reducing manual data entry.
• Order Consolidation: It can consolidate orders, optimize routes and reduce the time spent on planning and scheduling.
Route Optimization:
• Efficient Routing: Your Transport Management System can calculate the most efficient routes, minimizing driver time and fuel costs.
• Real-time Updates: It can provide real-time updates and visibility to all supply chain partners, with estimated arrival times and "on my way" messages.
Carrier Selection:
• Automated Carrier Selection: A platform TMS can select the best carrier for each shipment based on predefined rules, reducing the time spent with phone calls and emails.
Paperless Documentation:
• Digital Documentation: TMS systems can store and manage digital documents like driver instructions, office notes and PODs, all reducing paperwork and administrative tasks.
Inventory Management:
• Inventory Tracking: Your TMS can help you keep track of inventory levels, based on inbound and outbound movements and bookings, helping you predict future stock levels.
Analytics and Reporting:
• Reporting: TMS can generate customized reports on transportation and logistics performance, helping you make data-driven decisions.
• Real Time Analytics: These help provide managers with up-to-date visual KPI reporting against selected criteria.
Visibility and Communication:
• Real-time Tracking: TMS provides real-time visibility into the status of shipments, reducing the need for constant communication with carriers and customers.
• Automated Notifications: TMS can send automated notifications to customers, carriers, and other stakeholders, reducing the need for manual follow-up.
Invoice Auditing and Payment:
• Automated Auditing: TMS can automatically audit carrier invoices to ensure accuracy and prevent overcharges.
• Rating: Your TMS can provide automated rating of jobs with pre-saved rating cards
• Payment Integration: It can facilitate automated payment processing, reducing manual invoice handling.
Integration with Other Systems:
• Modern Cloud-based TMS systems can integrate with other business systems, such as ERP, CRM, and accounting software, reducing the need for duplicate data entry.
User-Friendly Interface:
An intuitive user interface simplifies the administration process, reducing the learning curve for users.
By implementing a TMS, you can significantly reduce the time and effort spent on manual administrative tasks, leading to increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved overall transportation and logistics management. Additionally, it can help you make data-driven decisions and enhance customer satisfaction. When choosing a TMS, make sure to select one that suits your organization's specific needs and is scalable for future growth.
Here at M2X, we provide a number of these tools, but more specifically:
1. Connected Eco System between all partners in the supply chain
2. End to End Supply Chain connections and visibility
3. Integrations with Partner systems including ERP, Warehouse Management and Weighbridges.
4. Cloud-based, allowing secure easy access from many locations.
5. Digital Queries between partners.
If you would like to find out how M2X could save your organization administrative time and burden, get in touch with one of our team to learn more about these features.
