The Buyer’s Guide to Transportation Management Systems

The Right Transportation Management System

Every company that ships freight is placing a heavy emphasis on streamlining their supply chains coming out of 2020.

If you plan to keep up in the ever-evolving supply chain industry, you need to make a plan to gain full control and visibility over your logistics-related data and processes.

Together, control and visibility can give users the power to define, manage and strengthen their supply chains, allowing them to cash in on revenue opportunities and be flexible enough to meet constantly changing business and economic needs.

With the right transportation management system (TMS), you can get that level of power along with the ability to automate and streamline work hours, time- and resource-consuming tasks such as finding the best rates and monitoring shipping statuses, you can even join connected ecosystems that allow you to tap into extensive networks of available capacity. And with predictive analytics at your fingertips, you can take action to dramatically reduce your freight costs and make better decisions faster.

A TMS can be the solution for all supply chains from the simple to the complex. There is no longer an excuse not to be leveraging technology to manage your transportation operations. TMSs have become an essential tool for managing the many challenges that come with shipping freight. The right TMS must easily integrate with your internal systems and carriers, offer valuable insights into tangible ways to reduce your freight spend, improve your customer service, and reduce your cost of goods.

Before selecting a TMS, use these 12 questions (and answers) in this buyer’s guide to find the best solution for your company:

1. Why Do You Need a TMS?
2. What Are the Critical Functions and Benefits of Using a TMS?
3. Are There Demos or Free Versions Available?
4. Does the TMS Offer a Full Carrier Network?
5. Does the TMS Vendor Understand Your Industry?
6. How Long Does it Take to Get the TMS Up and Running?
7. How Much Will a TMS Cost?
8. How Well Does the TMS Integrate with Your Other Systems?
9. What is the Support System Like?
10. What is the TMS’ Backup/Recovery Plan?
11. Can the TMS Scale with Your Business?
12. Does the TMS Support All Modes of Transport?

THERE IS ALMOST NO LIMIT TO HOW A TMS CAN BENEFIT YOUR UNIQUE SUPPLY CHAIN but the key to success is finding the right one for your goals.

So, before selecting a TMS, use the 12 questions in this buyer’s guide to find the best solution for your company.