Technology has made significant impacts on the logistics industry and supply chain over the past five years. While our industry has been capable of tracking shipments for years, the technology that allows this has changed significantly in the last few.
Keep reading for some of the ways that modern technology is revolutionizing and streamlining how shipments are digitally tracked.
Transportation Management System (TMS)
A transportation management system (TMS) is a subset of supply chain management that covers transportation operations. It may also be part of an enterprise resource planning system. To put it in simpler terms, it’s a software platform that is designed to streamline the shipping process.
Now, what’s interesting to point out is that when we wrote a blog about TMS in 2015, only 35% of shippers were utilizing TMS software to manage their operations. As of 2019, a TMS study showed that approximately 75% of shippers were utilizing TMS systems, while 25% were still utilizing manual methods.
We can’t imagine managing operations without a TMS. Among other things, this technology assists in automating order entry, creating shipments, optimizing shipments and routes, managing our carriers, and scheduling pickups and deliveries. Our system helps us communicate effectively with all supply chain stakeholders.
Online Tracing and Tracking System
In our thriving economy, it’s more important than ever to have deliveries that come on time. After all, the ability to track shipments in real time and immediately know about delays is imperative to efficient operations.
Before TMS, supply chain managers would schedule a shipment, receive an estimated delivery date, and then they’d be forced to wait for their shipment. Now, advances in technology allow supply chain managers to choose a specific delivery date.
TMS allow shipments to be managed and monitored with ease, no matter where they are. These systems also give updates every time a shipment changes hands. This is something that is incredibly important for our customers. It allows our company to operate efficiently and systematize communications, especially if there are delays.
Capacity Management
When we refer to capacity management, we’re talking about the physical facilities, processes, and personnel that are available to meet the needs of customers and provide the maximum possible output. Part of capacity management is capacity planning, which ensures that resources will be available to meet supply chain and logistics needs.
Our capacity management software ensures and increases our stacking and loading ability so we can maximize shipments. We focus on helping organizations utilize containers more efficiently, manage capacity, and ultimately reach optimization within their international supply chains.
After all, our goal is to help our customers maximize efficiency, cut back on unnecessary expenses, and save money.
We adopt technological advances that allow us to be a stronger partner to our customers. TMS technology is just one of the types of programs that we utilize. Are you interested in learning more about our services? Contact us today or reach out to us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.