Real-time tracking
Real-time tracking is an integral component of transportation management systems. Constant tracking of products and vehicles gives logistics professionals an overall view of operations, giving them all of the tools necessary to operate more efficiently while cutting costs.
Logistics managers use TMS technology to keep an eye on shipments from loading dock to delivery, communicating their status to customers along the way. TMS allows companies to identify inefficiencies or areas in need of improvement – for instance if orders consistently arrive past their promised dates, this may indicate issues with shipping methods and carriers; A TMS monitors KPIs such as average delivery time, freight invoice accuracy rates and damage rates to address such concerns.
Real-time tracking technology can also assist businesses in cutting expenses by optimizing routes. This reduces fuel costs and unnecessary travel, thus lowering carbon footprint. Furthermore, real-time tracking saves money on inventory by keeping an eye on levels and locations to prevent overstock or out-of-stock situations from arising.
Real-time tracking not only saves companies costs but can also help improve customer service by ensuring orders arrive on time, increasing customer satisfaction and building trust with customers, thus leading to brand loyalty and repeat business. Real-time tracking also enables logistics departments to upsell or cross-sell products at appropriate moments for an increase in revenue and improved profit margins.
Automated shipment planning
An efficient TMS uses automation to streamline all aspects of transportation – routing, carrier selection and load planning included – helping businesses increase shipment reliability, lower transportation costs, enhance customer satisfaction and comply with shipping regulations and standards. A robust TMS helps organizations meet these goals more easily than ever.
The TMS evaluates and ranks carriers according to predefined criteria, providing businesses with a list of recommended carriers to select. Businesses can automate this selection process for reduced manual effort and errors; additionally, TMS also offers custom reports which logistics managers or other stakeholders can easily access.
TMS software performs route optimization by evaluating cost and distance for each route to determine their best value. In addition, TMS identifies opportunities to consolidate or combine shipments in order to reduce transport expenses; as well as negotiate freight rates with railroads.
Once a routing and carrier have been selected, a TMS creates a load plan which specifies how items should be packed for safe and efficient transport. It takes into account factors like vehicle capacity utilization, even weight distribution and compliance with transportation regulations. A robust TMS also conducts thorough audits on carrier invoices prior to payment to ensure accuracy and avoid unnecessary costs as well as providing reports with each carrier’s performance rating.
Alerts and notifications
Alerts and notifications are key components of transportation management systems that help companies keep an eye on shipments in progress. Real-time messages delivered through e-mail, SMS text messaging, instant messenger apps, voice portals or desktop alerts can provide real-time updates of shipment activity – and can even be customized according to user’s needs! Notifications may also be triggered by events like driver fatigue, harsh braking or entering/exiting geofences which notifies users when it’s time for them to take action!
Alerts and notifications are most often seen on monitoring dashboards, where red or warning icons indicate something has changed that requires immediate action by users. Such alerts work best when placed within context of current tasks – for instance, when vehicle speeds exceed limits, trucking companies might send alerts out prompting drivers to take preventive steps before an accident happens.
New Relic alerts are flexible systems that enable you to select what data to monitor, the thresholds that constitute issues when exceeded, and who gets notified if an incident arises. Workflows allow you to route incidents directly to team members while providing them with more details and notifications about them. Alerts also help identify anomalies by pinpointing abnormal activity and uncovering related problems.
Integrations
TMSs act as the central hub for an intricate transportation network, orchestrating shipping operations that fulfill their logistical promises while simultaneously managing costs and efficiencies. They do this by giving visibility into all stages of a shipment’s journey–from load forecasting and ordering through invoicing.
TMSs also streamline manual management processes and limit errors. For instance, when customers contact companies regarding their order statuses, a TMS can send out tracking numbers with links back online for tracking progress updates – saving staff the trouble of manually tracking each delivery and updating customers individually. Plus, integrations into TMSs make route planning simpler by eliminating costly maps and instantly finding faster routes instantly!
TMSs also help ensure compliance and safety by monitoring driver hours-of-service records, international shipping requirements, route optimization to adhere to hours-of-service road limitations, as well as helping avoid regulatory penalties by keeping records on driver certifications and driving behaviors.
TMSs can connect seamlessly with key business systems like ERPs, warehouse management systems and CRMs to form an ecosystem where data flows seamlessly between them – eliminating manual handling of paperwork such as bills of lading, proof of delivery documents, customs forms, carrier contracts and rate confirmation forms. Integrating TMSs with point solutions such as ELDs fleet management or paperwork digitization also can save businesses money by eliminating paper waste.