• Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Supplier Directory
  • SCB YouTube
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
  • My Profile
  • LOGISTICS
    • Air Cargo
    • All Logistics
    • Express/Small Shipments
    • Facility Location Planning
    • Freight Forwarding/Customs Brokerage
    • Global Gateways
    • Global Logistics
    • Last Mile Delivery
    • Logistics Outsourcing
    • LTL/Truckload Services
    • Ocean Transportation
    • Rail & Intermodal
    • Reverse Logistics
    • Service Parts Management
    • Transportation & Distribution
  • TECHNOLOGY
    • All Technology
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud & On-Demand Systems
    • Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)
    • ERP & Enterprise Systems
    • Forecasting & Demand Planning
    • Global Trade Management
    • Inventory Planning/ Optimization
    • Product Lifecycle Management
    • Sales & Operations Planning
    • SC Finance & Revenue Management
    • SC Planning & Optimization
    • Sourcing/Procurement/SRM
    • Supply Chain Visibility
    • Transportation Management
  • GENERAL SCM
    • Business Strategy Alignment
    • Education & Professional Development
    • Global Supply Chain Management
    • Global Trade & Economics
    • HR & Labor Management
    • Quality & Metrics
    • Regulation & Compliance
    • SC Security & Risk Mgmt
    • Supply Chains in Crisis
    • Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility
  • WAREHOUSING
    • All Warehouse Services
    • Conveyors & Sortation
    • Lift Trucks & AGVs
    • Order Fulfillment
    • Packaging
    • RFID, Barcode, Mobility & Voice
    • Robotics
    • Warehouse Management Systems
  • INDUSTRIES
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Apparel
    • Automotive
    • Chemicals & Energy
    • Consumer Packaged Goods
    • E-Commerce/Omni-Channel
    • Food & Beverage
    • Healthcare
    • High-Tech/Electronics
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Pharmaceutical/Biotech
    • Retail
  • THINK TANK
  • WEBINARS
    • On-Demand Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Webinar Library
  • PODCASTS
  • VIDEOS
  • WHITEPAPERS
Home » Combating Transportation Costs and Challenges With a TMS

Combating Transportation Costs and Challenges With a TMS

Combating Transportation Costs and Challenges With a TMS
February 6, 2019
Frank McGuigan, SCB Contributor

As capacity constraints, driver shortages, government regulations and robust economic conditions continue to drive up logistics spending, companies are seeking new ways to cut costs — while still maintaining high levels of service to increasingly demanding customers.

Fortunately, today’s transportation management (TM) platforms provide organizations with greater visibility, intelligence and control over their supply chains than ever before.

Navigating the supply chain challenges of today requires timely, accurate and holistic visibility into a company’s transportation operations. But that doesn’t mean access to more spreadsheets containing old data; instead, success relies on a shipper’s ability to view the entire network in real time and easily access critical, actionable information.

Today’s TM technology gives shippers a 360-degree view of their entire transportation network. These advanced systems provide a comprehensive, graphical view of all shipments along with dynamic dashboards comprising key performance indicators (KPIs), such as on-time arrivals/departures, carrier performance and more. Additionally, relevant information from the web, including weather and traffic alerts, can be integrated with shipment data to deliver a “control tower” view, providing shippers a singular, all-encompassing, real-time access to their supply chain at all times.

The ability to customize reports and dashboards enables key personnel at every level and function of an organization to access critical information when they need it. Senior management are provided a holistic overview of operations, while those responsible for day-to-day operations can receive more detailed data on carrier performance, delivery times and more — helping them better understand how and why there have been fluctuations in cost or service. Greater supply chain visibility and access to data allows companies to be more proactive in their transportation planning, compare final shipping results with the initial goals, and better understand how to adjust plans moving forward in order to increase efficiency, reduce costs and ultimately enhance customer service.

While access to large amounts of data can be beneficial, compiling data simply for data’s sake doesn’t eliminate waste or improve service. What makes this information truly valuable is when data becomes actionable. The ability to view shipments in real time, as well as incorporate alerts from the web, allows shippers to use predictive analytics to make better, more-informed decisions — allowing them to proactively take steps to maintain smooth operations and high service levels during an event.

For example, if a blizzard is predicted to hit the Northeast, shippers can determine ahead of time if their shipments are going to be delayed — and identifying a delay before it occurs is only the critical first step. Control tower functionality then allows shippers to quickly and easily get real-time information on all affected shipments and take action, such as rerouting a shipment, reassigning the shipment to another carrier, or continuing on as planned. Shippers can then recalculate the new ETA and provide detailed, accurate updates to key personnel within their own organizations as well as to their customers.

The Outlook

In today’s complex supply chain, shippers need tools that enable them to make smart, data-driven decisions and proactively address potential disruptions. Today’s advanced TMS technology gives shippers a graphical, real-time view of their entire network, as well as all-important access to valuable network and market data, enabling them to better optimize performance, reduce costs, meet customer requirements and successfully navigate compounding market challenges.

Frank McGuigan is CEO of Transplace.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED VIDEOS

Transportation & Distribution Transportation Management
KEYWORDS TMS Transportation & Distribution Transportation Management transportation management systems
  • Related Articles

    Kuebix Transportation Management System (TMS) - Rate, Book & Track Freight with a Free TMS

    Building a Successful Inbound Process with Kuebix Transportation Management System (TMS)

  • Related Directories

    Kuebix

Frank McGuigan, SCB Contributor

More from this author

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter!

Timely, incisive articles delivered directly to your inbox.

Popular Stories

  • A WORKER IN A WAREHOUSE, SUPERIMPOSED WITH GRAPHICS SHOWING SUPPLY NETWORK

    Enabling Intelligent Visibility With Supply Chain Analytics

    Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)
  • A HAND TURNS A LARGE, LIGHTED DIAL WITH THE WORD RISK ON IT iStock-NicoElNino-1364371014.jpg

    Measuring KPIs and KRIs for Comprehensive Supplier Performance Management

    Technology
  • GSCMS-Promo.png

    Watch: Introducing the Global Supply Chain Marketing Summit

    Education & Professional Development
  • A COMPLEX SERIES OF ROADWAYS AND RAMPS, SEEN FROM HIGH ABOVE, IS PARTLY SHROUDED BY CLOUD

    Supply Chain Visibility Isn’t Just a Catchphrase; It’s an Imperative

    Logistics
  • A MAN IN A SUIT SITS LEANING OVER THE BACK OF A CHAIR IN A WOOD-PANELLED ROOM FULL OF LARGE PHOTOS OF OTHER MEN IN SUITS

    UPS Faces Rising Labor Costs, Strike Risk in Upcoming Union Fight

    Last Mile Delivery

Digital Edition

Scb nov 2022 sm

2022 Supply Chain Innovator of the Year

VIEW THE LATEST ISSUE

Case Studies

  • New Revenue for Cloud-Based TMS that Embeds Orderful’s Modern EDI Platform

  • Convenience Store Client Maximizes Profit and Improves Customer Service

  • A Digitally Native Footwear Brand Finds Rapid Fulfillment

  • Expanding Apparel Brand Scales Seamlessly with E-Commerce Technology

  • How a Global LSP Scaled its Security Program and Won More Business

Visit Our Sponsors

Orderful Yang Ming Alithya
Barcoding Blue Yonder BNSF Logistics
CoEnterprise Data Capture Deposco
E2open GAINSystems Generix
Geodis GEP GreyOrange
Here Honeywell Intelligrated IFM
Infor Inmar Keelvar
Kinaxis Korber Lean Solutions Group 2H
Liberty SBF Locus Robotics Logility
LogistiVIEW Lucas Systems MCA Connect
MPO Nvidia Old Dominion
OpenText ORTEC Overhaul
Parsyl PMMI QIMA
Redwood Logistics Ryder E-commerce by Whiplash Saddle Creek Logistics
Schneider Dedicated Setlog Holding AG Ship4WD
Shipwell Tecsys TGW Systems
Thomson Reuters Tive Trailer Bridge
Vecna Robotics Verity
Verusen
  • More From SCB
    • Featured Content
    • Video Library
    • Think Tank Blog
    • SupplyChainBrain Podcast
    • Whitepapers
    • On-Demand Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
  • Digital Offerings
    • Digital Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Manage Your Subscription
    • Newsletters
  • Resources
    • Events Calendar
    • SCB's Great Supply Chain Partners
    • Supplier Directory
    • Case Study Showcase
    • Supply Chain Innovation Awards
    • 100 Great Partners Form
  • SCB Corporate
    • Advertise on SCB.COM
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Data Sharing Opt-Out

All content copyright ©2023 Keller International Publishing Corp All rights reserved. No reproduction, transmission or display is permitted without the written permissions of Keller International Publishing Corp

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing