How To Choose A TMS Solution For Your Business

One of the most important decisions that a logistics business needs to make in today’s day and age is what Transport Management System (TMS) to use. A TMS is a logistics platform which is used to plan and execute the transportation of goods both into and out of business and track the movement at all times - it is usually part of a larger supply chain management (SCM) system. Hence, it is essential that it can integrate with other systems. There are many different systems out there which can make it hard to choose so read on to find out how you can find the best TMS solution for your business.
 
Understand Your Needs
 
You need to have a clear insight of what your needs are from Transport Management and what challenges you currently face. A few key areas to address include:
 
-    How many shipments are made each month
-    How many locations do you operate from
-    How many invoices are audited each month
-    How many modes of transport you ship with
 
Determine Key Features
 
This information should help you to identify what key features are essential for your business so that you can find TMS solutions which will help to take your business forward and assist with areas that you struggle with. You may want features such as:
 
-  The ability to integrate with internal systems
-  Full visibility for all shipments
-  User friendly
-  Customisable
-  Easy to implement
 
Research
 
It is a good plan to start researching systems online to find ones that fit within your budget and requirements. Crucially, make sure that you read reviews online from previous customers so that you can get an insight into how these systems work for other businesses and from an impartial source.
 
Reputation
 
Following this, it is always a smart idea to go with a TMS provider that has the experience and developed a positive reputation. There are different options out there in today’s day and age, but no two systems will be the same, and as such a critical area of the business you will not want to take a gamble on a lesser known company.
 
Customisable
 
No two businesses are the same, so a typical “off-the-shelf” system is unlikely to integrate smoothly into your operation. This is why it is always a good idea to look out for customisable systems, which will make them easier to integrate and help to streamline your entire operation.
 
 Full Support
 
It is essential to have all the best features and be easy to implement into your operation, but one key aspect which is often overlooked when looking at these systems is supported. Some support and training will inevitably be required whenever you implement a major system like this into the supply chain, so you should always be on the lookout for providers which can provide full support and training and are easy to get in touch with.
 
Hopefully, this guide will help you when looking for a TMS solution and allow you to find one who will streamline your business