How to Turn Big Data into Actionable Intelligence

Supply chain managers are tasked with ensuring all freight is moved efficiently.

The more complex a supply chain, the more opportunity for costly kinks to develop.

Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) is one-way transportation teams can monitor performance and seek out ways to save money.

But KPIs are only one piece of the puzzle.

Within the company’s transportation management system (TMS) lies information to help managers make better business decisions: it’s called actionable intelligence.

The amount of information a transportation management system can provide depends on a number of factors including years of data collected and if the system is cloud-based or on-premise.

This white paper will explore how the data saved in a TMS can be turned into information managers can act upon to improve supply chain performance.

Why Software as a Service is Best

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions empower companies of any size to leverage the combined benefits of cloud computing and big data.

According to global research firm Gartner, the demand for big data analytics has been the largest driver of SaaS subscriptions.

In fact, more than three-quarters of global enterprises will use advanced analytics to improve business performance in the next five years.

At the 2016 Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference, it was reported that the number of new customers seeking a cloud-based (SaaS) transportation management solution is between 60 and 70 percent.

There are several advantages to a SaaS model that make it very appealing to business leaders.

1. Quick Implementation
   A SaaS implementation, on average, can take between 12 and 16 weeks.
2. Operational Flexibility
   You can access the system anywhere that you have an Internet connection. You don’t have to be in the office to obtain information.
3. Pay As You Go
   SaaS-based services establish a monthly fee for using the technology versus paying a large lump sum for an on-premise solution.
4. Upgrades
   The system is automatically upgraded on a regular basis for better performance and increased functionality.
5. Security Handled by Vendor
   The vendor is responsible for maintaining security.

While all of those advantages are behind the shift to SaaS solutions, a cloud-based TMS alone is not enough.

The real power is found in the network infrastructure. Actionable intelligence is best leveraged by users who choose a TMS solution that is not only SaaS based but also a single instance
with multiple tenants.

In other words, one platform of technology that can be privately accessed by countless customers.

Download this white paper and discover the four-step process to continuous cost savings and how data saved in a TMS can turn into actionable intelligence.