You’re looking for transportation management software. How do you know which one is the most reliable?

Vital is a business centric lead approach, rather than leaving it to IT to lead. Does it meet your business needs? But can it also take you to the next level in a digital world and does it fit into your strategic vision? consider the now but also the scalability and future potential.

Na minha experiência, é importante selecionar software que disponha de funcionalidades completas que se ajustem às suas demandas particulares. Isso pode envolver características como otimização de itinerários, planejamento de cargas, monitoramento em tempo real, administração de frete e geração de relatórios. Garanta que o software seja compatível com seus processos operacionais e que possa se adaptar ao crescimento de sua empresa.

When looking out for transportation software, I will check the reliability. This means that the features that it possesses that suit our business needs such as package creation, shipping amongst others and how far we can depend on it. Also I will check the cost if it is cost effective. Furthermore, user friendly and response time will be the key criteria to look out for.

Deployment of a new TMS is a big challenge to the team. Having an experienced unbiased Project Manager and Business Analyst is paramount. Features themselves are only as good as the operators/planners and whether they are used to maintain and improve a given supply chain. It is often the case that feature rich software doesn't have a single but very important function. Flexibility of a developer needs attention.

Seek for software that has the particular functionalities required to efficiently oversee your transportation operations. Route optimization, load planning, freight monitoring, inventory control, and reporting features are a few examples of these. Determine whether the features of the program meet the needs and objectives of your company.

Before diving into the details of the transportation management software, the suitability of each software will depend on ones specific requirements, business size, and budget. It's important to conduct a thorough research, request demos or trials, and seek references from existing customers to make an informed decision. Additionally, one needs to consider factors such as vendor support, scalability, and long-term roadmap to ensure the software aligns with the organization's growth and evolving needs.

Para determinar cuál es el más confiable primero debo tener claro cuáles son las necesidades y los puntos claves del negocio que necesito impactar a traves de un TMS. Los más comunes son: - Costos - Delivery - Rapidez - Flexibilidad - Visibilidad - Sinergia con otros software Un TMS que pueda contemplar estos 6 puntos críticos, reúne el 90% de las necesidades que cualquier empresa en el día de hoy necesita para competir en el mercado.

In my experience, a reliable TMS must have a cloud architecture to be deployed quickly. A complete footprint to cover the process from a full Service provider master, including a configurable rate management that can act with an intelligent planning engine, capable to plan using multiple variables including transportation costs, service level, routes, LSP available contracts, and multi mode criteria, among others. A modern TMS must include good capabilities to have an end to end transportation execution, able to retrieve news from LSP via mobile capabilities. Also we need to consider open interfaces to send quickly payment information to each ERP and close the loop with happy service providers. We can complete the definition stating

Integrations and surrounding departments and critical systems are often overlooked. Especially finance is often underrepresented. How much can the core TMS do vs what you plan to connect to it? And where do you make those connections in the process are critical decisions. e.g. invoicing - you could do that out of a core TMS or out of a Finance system.

Examine how well the software works with the tools and systems you already have, such as telematics, warehouse management, and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. Your transportation management operations can operate more efficiently and with less data flow if they are integrated seamlessly.

A facilidade de integração é crucial em um TMS confiável, garantindo que ele se conecte sem problemas aos seus sistemas existentes, como o ERP, WMS e outras ferramentas essenciais para sua cadeia de suprimentos. Isso reduz potenciais interrupções operacionais e silos de dados, promovendo uma visão unificada das operações logísticas. Além disso, o software deve suportar o compartilhamento de dados entre plataformas para garantir uma integração eficiente e eficaz.

Creo que si es un punto muy importante a considerar, tengo la experincia de haber adquirido una solución tipo ERP, que era el Roll Royce del mercado. Su costo tenia las caracteristicas de los autos de lujo, sin embargo la compra del Sofware fue el inicio de las inversiones más fuertes, porque resulta que los servidores que teniamos, NO ERAN COMPATIBLES con dicho sotware, ¿Te imaginas?, compraste un Roll royce y ahora tienes que construir carreteras y calles parejas, para que "funcione bien" dicho carro. Fue cuendo dijimos, un Wolks Wagen pudo haber recorrido las calles y carreteras que ya teniamos. En fin, cerciorate que la garantía incluya la adaptación a tu infraestructura.

la capacidad de un TMS para integrarse perfectamente con sistemas existentes como el ERP y WMS es fundamental. Esta integración facilita una comunicación fluida entre diferentes plataformas, lo que es crucial para evitar interrupciones y silos de información. Un TMS que se integra eficazmente asegura que todos los aspectos de la cadena de suministro estén alineados, proporcionando una visión clara y unificada de las operaciones, lo que a su vez mejora la toma de decisiones y la eficiencia operativa.

yes these systems are compulsory in TMS it help us to get exact information that, how much we have and how much we have to dispatch and how much will be remaining which should matched with our physical count on floor.

À reliable TMS should take in consideration all aspects of the transportation operations including costs and different departments, this integration should be with minimal disruption of already existing systems of exploitation.

The problem with “differentiating requirements” is they often require an implementation-level understanding of how two or more different TMS will solve this problem. A shipper cannot easily understand how multiple TMS platforms will interpret or “solve” requirements through features and functions, and therefore won’t be able to characterize a requirement as “differentiating” to their solution. Further, shippers that rely upon consulting firms specializing in a single vendor platform will also tend to struggle identifying these unique requirements, as their implementation expertise is largely focused on that single vendor’s capabilities – and not the other TMS vendors you might invite to your RFP.

L'intégration transparente d'un TMS avec vos systèmes existants, tels que les ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) et les systèmes de gestion d'entrepôt (WMS), est cruciale pour assurer une efficacité maximale et une synchronisation optimale des données. Cette intégration permet une communication fluide entre les différents systèmes, ce qui garantit une visibilité et une cohérence accrues dans l'ensemble de votre chaîne logistique. En reliant le TMS aux systèmes ERP et WMS, vous pouvez rationaliser les processus, réduire les erreurs de saisie manuelle et améliorer la prise de décision grâce à une vue holistique des opérations. Cela permet également d'optimiser l'utilisation des ressources et de maximiser l'efficacité opérationnelle globale.

La UX, es realmente un enfoque nuevo, es como redescubrir que trabajamos para el cliente. El usuario debería de ser el punto de partida, pero el usuario muchas veces NO toma las decisiones de inversión, entonces, siempre empezamos al revés, las soluciones empiezan con las necesidades de finanzas, ingeniería y del dueño de negocio, Ya después tratan de adaptar la herramienta al usuario. Sigamos teniendo el enfoque al usuario, y seamos facilitadores.

Choose software that is intuitive and user-friendly, as this will increase adoption and minimize training time for your team members. Test the software's interface and navigation to ensure that it is easy to use and understand. Look for features such as customizable dashboards, mobile accessibility, and responsive customer support to enhance the user experience.

To determine the most reliable transportation management software (TMS), consider factors like user reviews, industry reputation, customer support quality, and scalability. Look for software that offers robust features for fleet management, route optimization, real-time tracking, and integration capabilities with existing systems. Additionally, prioritize solutions with a proven track record of reliability, demonstrated through case studies, customer testimonials, and industry awards. Requesting demos and trials can also provide firsthand experience to assess usability and performance before making a decision.

A experiência do usuário (UX) de um TMS é um indicador importante de sua confiabilidade. Uma interface amigável, intuitiva e fácil de navegar pode reduzir a curva de aprendizado e aumentar a adoção pela equipe. Procure por software que ofereça insights claros e personalização para atender às suas necessidades específicas. Uma boa UX contribui para operações eficientes e satisfação do usuário.

La experiencia del usuario (UX) en un TMS es crucial para su eficacia. Una interfaz intuitiva y fácil de navegar no solo reduce la curva de aprendizaje, sino que también facilita la adopción del sistema por parte del equipo. Es esencial elegir un software que ofrezca información clara y procesable y permita personalizaciones según las necesidades específicas de tu negocio. Un TMS con una UX positiva no solo respalda las operaciones diarias de manera eficiente, sino que también contribuye a una mayor satisfacción y compromiso del usuario, lo que es fundamental para el éxito a largo plazo de cualquier herramienta de gestión en la cadena de suministro.

UX is the daily interface to ensure transport operations, the TMS providers should add personalisation option so the TMS would adapt to the specifity of users

The first step in any implementation is discovery leading to capture and prioritize requirements! Without requirements, we have no clue what we’re designing, how to prioritize the build, or how to validate the end solution is complete when compared against what the shipper was hoping to achieve. Identifying ‘differentiating requirements’ prior to vendor selection is critical to the shipper if they want to avoid some of the most costly and disruptive implementation failure points. This is a clear case of ‘pay me now, or pay me later,’ coupled with the new reality that by skipping over the requirements due-diligence prior to selecting the TMS vendor – you have introduced a great deal of risk to the implementation of the software.

Please make sure that your system come with online tutorials that are easy to access from the system. It will save time and money to your company and to your team.

Absolument ! L'expérience utilisateur (UX) d'un TMS est un indicateur crucial de sa fiabilité et de son utilité dans votre environnement opérationnel. Une interface conviviale, intuitive et facile à naviguer peut considérablement réduire la courbe d'apprentissage et encourager une adoption plus rapide de la part de votre équipe. En recherchant un logiciel qui offre des informations claires et exploitables, ainsi que des options de personnalisation pour répondre à vos besoins spécifiques, vous pouvez améliorer l'efficacité quotidienne de vos opérations et la satisfaction globale des utilisateurs. Une expérience utilisateur positive contribue non seulement à des processus plus fluides.

Es fundamental que un TMS sea escalable y pueda crecer al ritmo de tu negocio. Esto significa que debería ofrecer precios flexibles, permitir la incorporación de nuevos usuarios y transportistas, y adaptarse a nuevas áreas geográficas o modos de transporte según sea necesario. Una solución de TMS escalable asegura que tu inversión esté preparada para el futuro y pueda responder a las demandas cambiantes del mercado sin requerir una revisión completa del sistema.

Think about if the software will grow and change with your firm. In order to adapt to changes in your transportation requirements, such as growing your shipments, entering new markets, or introducing more modes of transportation, look for a system that is flexible and scalable. Scalable software can reduce the need for future, expensive system replacements and help you future-proof your transportation management operations.

A escalabilidade é crucial para um TMS confiável, garantindo que ele possa crescer junto com sua empresa. Procure por um sistema que ofereça modelos de preços flexíveis, permita a adição de novos usuários e transportadoras, e possa expandir para novas geografias ou modos de transporte conforme necessário. Isso garante que seu investimento esteja preparado para o futuro e possa se adaptar às mudanças nas demandas do mercado.

Changing markets demands require adaptation which the TMS providers must take into consideration and the TMS should be able to adapt quickly to this growing demands and without adding much costs

The effort you put into the up-front requirements capture and prioritization prior to vendor selection will pay huge dividends for you in the implementation and steady-state phases. Soliciting expertise from objective, vendor-neutral advisors with implementation experience can also help to remove risk by ensuring a higher-probability fit within matching shipper requirements to vendor feature sets. To be sure, this step will take time and may slow down your purchase of the TMS – but it is far better to execute this step prior to selection instead of realizing you have a great deal more customization to do (and at what cost?) during the implementation.

It should also being aligned with your future business goals.... Many peoples only have a short term view of their goals and need and on how the needs of their customers will progress or being refined over time.

L'évolutivité est essentielle dans le choix d'un TMS, surtout lorsque votre entreprise se développe. Un système évolutif peut s'adapter à l'augmentation de vos besoins en transport sans nécessiter une refonte majeure. Cela implique des modèles de tarification flexibles, la capacité d'ajouter de nouveaux utilisateurs et transporteurs, ainsi que la possibilité de s'étendre à de nouvelles zones géographiques ou à de nouveaux modes de transport selon les besoins. Avec un TMS évolutif, vous pouvez être sûr que votre investissement continuera à répondre aux exigences changeantes du marché, offrant ainsi une solution durable pour votre entreprise en pleine croissance.

Além da funcionalidade do software, a confiabilidade de um TMS também depende do sistema de suporte oferecido pelo provedor. Procure por um provedor que ofereça atendimento abrangente ao cliente, incluindo treinamento, suporte técnico e atualizações regulares. Isso garante que quaisquer problemas sejam resolvidos prontamente e que seu sistema esteja sempre atualizado. Um sistema de suporte forte é essencial para garantir a confiabilidade contínua do seu TMS.

O que mais observo em companhias que passei, são empresas que fazem um alto investimento em um software, mas não fazem treinamento adequado ou o suficiente, e quando necessitam de um suporte do provedor encontram dificuldades de contato. Um TMS precisa de um suporte constante, logística não para nunca, mas um atendimento rápido em caso de problemas pode não ser simplesmente bom para resolução do problemas mas pode ser determinante para o sucesso da operação do cliente (seja ele interno ou externo).

Identify and Update Processes – to better align with technology: Ensure that your associates have access to data generated by your TMS and regularly review that information both as individuals and as a team, so that they can make better decisions. Define boundaries for those decisions, including exception management guidelines and escalation paths. Implement feedback loops for planning and execution functions. Ensure quality data by establishing robust master data controls, especially for customer/supplier locations data; automate where possible to limit manual work required to maintain the TMS.

Alguna vez compramos una solución tipo CRM de transporte, cuando tadavía se instalaban en los servidores( no había nube, y que creen que pasó, desapareció en un año,quedándonos a deber, actaulizaciones, capacitación y por su puesto la recuperación de nuestra base de datos. Elige bien, y pide referencias, mete en garantía la permanencia de mercado.

Keeping up to date with the latest advancements is a must that should be negociated clearly whit the TMS providers without adding much costs and ensuring that in case of a mishap the intervention of the support teams are rapid and effective

Also the support to hand over to inhouse IT, especially for backend system. Another is about security of system, an open system which compactible with another technology

Considerando os custos, é importante avaliar o custo total de propriedade, incluindo taxas de configuração, assinaturas e quaisquer cobranças adicionais por atualizações ou suporte. Uma estrutura de preços transparente, sem custos ocultos, é indicativa de um provedor de TMS confiável. Embora o custo não deva ser o único fator decisivo, uma boa relação custo-benefício é essencial.

Especially linked to the scalability aspect, upgrades are needed and they should not be excessively costly which will affect its exploitation costs

It's important to also consider where your business is today and where you are likely headed in terms of both your fleet strategy and industry evolution. Often times companies find the best-rated enterprise TMS, but they are in the early or growth stages and may require specific customizations and tailored support to enable its use for their business. Don't try to fit your business into the TMS, make the TMS fit your business. Create your own score-card of what's important today and in 5-yrs and select based on that criteria.

To identify reliable transport management software, it is crucial to evaluate its usability, integration with existing systems, ability to handle large volumes of data in real time, robustness in terms of information security and flexibility to adapt to different operational needs. Furthermore, the software's ability to provide detailed and customizable analytical reports, as well as its scalability to accommodate operational growth, are key technical aspects to consider. It is worth highlighting and analyzing systems available on the market, benchmarking with other segments to find the one that best suits your needs.

Além de uma ampla pesquisa de mercado e consulta de feedbacks, é de suma importância que o seu software escolhido seja o mais personalizável possível ao seu negócio e a suas características de produto e operação. Há diversos sistemas que contribuem e melhoram o processo que já está inserido, todavia deve-se sempre pensar na subjetividade praticada em alguns steps do seu roteiro operacional. Ter uma gestão inteligente e aliada, compatível e maleável , é um grande passo para que seu time não caia num retrocesso, mas sim em um plano de oportunidades que abra caminhos e possibilidades para melhora de cenário, ganhos de produtividade e redução de custos, sendo um facilitador a equipe.

One should consider factors like integration ease, user experience, scalability scope, support systems, and cost when evaluating TMS options. Ultimately, the most feasible TMS depends on your specific requirements, industry, and organizational needs. I would recommend exploring demos, understanding pricing, and assessing how well each solution aligns with your logistics and supply chain goals. As a Manager one should always delve deeper into the details of the options available to make an informed decision! 🚚🌐. 🙏🙏

O primeiro ponto é entender a aderência ao processo, que precisa estar totalmente atualizado. Em seguida costumo pedir indicações para um benchmkt, para entender se a ferramenta realmente entrega o que promete. Outros pontos importantes são entender como é o suporte e a escalabilidade da ferramenta para outras operações.