Why You Can Stop Dreading Transportation Management System Integrations

Transportation Management Systems Integration & Visibility

Managing logistics can’t happen in a vacuum; you need visibility and awareness of internal and external partners, systems and resources.

The problem is that integration and visibility are a big hurdle for most transportation management systems (TMS).

According to the Transportation Planning and Execution Benchmark Study by American Shipper, for example, 61 percent of respondents said the biggest challenge of their TMS was system connectivity.

Rethinking Integrations and TMS

Building tight integrations between your TMS, internal systems and external partners leads to better visibility and collaboration throughout your supply chain.

Rather than focusing on the day-to-day details of your operations, planners can be more strategic and creative with how they manage your logistics.

It also gives your customers better insight into opportunities for efficiency and cost savings.

Solid and fast integrations were a tall order for TMS systems of the past, and integrations are still a big challenge for systems reliant on 15-year-old architecture.

But modern TMS systems, built on an entirely reimagined architecture, are reshaping the industry’s expectations of timelines and cost.

TMS Love and Marriage

Integration and visibility go hand-in-hand; you really can’t have one without the other.

The ability of your TMS to integrate with other systems determines how much visibility you have into your entire transportation operation.

For instance, a TMS with visibility-driven workflows can read and translate vastly different data types and put them into the same format from which you can take action.

This includes SOAP and REST transactions, API, EDI, CSV, X12, and others.

With this capability, your TMS can act like a transportation control tower and give you a single point that provides full visibility into the flow of data and the tools to act on the data.

By integrating with many systems, you can meet your customers where they’re at, rather than force them to do extra work to fill the gap of your TMS’ limitations.

It’s also a far more cost-effective approach, as you have the ability to leverage what exists in your organization (your TMS), rather than rip and replace with another solution.

How to Spot a Better TMS Integration Experience

Integrations are never easy; be wary of any vendor that makes them sound like a snap. But today’s transportation management systems have made huge strides in their ability to integrate quickly. If you’re considering a new TMS, keep these key features in mind.

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Crowley Logistics Accomplishes the Unknown with 3Gtms

When Crowley Logistics was charged with providing logistical support for the U.S. military, they needed a TMS provider that could help them accomplish the unknown;

Meet the government’s stringent requirements, Crowley’s requirements, and be ready to respond to changing needs.

Watch the video above an learn how 3Gtms developed it flexible TMS to help Crowley meet every milestone and government requirement in full and on time, and why this partnership “wouldn’t be seen with a larger, more established TMS system.”

Adrian Gonzalez, Talking Logistics: Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a TMS Partner for Your 3PL Business

“Transportation Management Systems (TMS) are primarily used by two types of companies: shippers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs). But 3PLs have unique requirements compared to shippers, so there are some additional factors they need to consider when evaluating and selecting a TMS solution and partner. What are those key factors, and what should other 3PLs and shippers look for?” read more

About the Author

Chuck Fuerst oversees all marketing efforts for 3Gtms, with a strong focus on buyer-centric programs that drive opportunity creation and pipeline development. His prior roles include director of product marketing and product management at Identifix and director of product strategy at HighJump. Chuck also served in various marketing leadership positions at Lawson Software (now Infor), McGladrey, and Datatrend Technologies.

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