Guide 7 min
How to choose a Transport Management System that fits your business
Useful Transport Management Systems are plentiful, each with its own technology and features. What should you look for, and how do you make a well-considered choice? We will help you on your way.
Where do you start?
Useful Transport Management Systems: by now there are plenty of them. Each with its own technology, ease of use and features. And that it should be simple to use goes without saying. But what else should a TMS deliver? How do you know which choice is best for your business? And what should you look out for above all when buying this kind of transport software? We are happy to help you on your way!
The benefits of a Transport Management System
Let us start at the beginning. Why choose a Transport Management System at all? The answer to that question is fortunately simple: because of a significant saving in cost and time. With a TMS you handle your order processing, planning and invoicing far more efficiently. The transport software does all of this for you. Automatically, or with a small action. A lot of manual work and piles of paper are a thing of the past. Tip: first think about which parts or actions you want to automate within your transport process.
Generic or custom transport software
One of the first choices you have to make when selecting a TMS is between generic and custom transport software. Generic software is developed for multiple companies, the costs are relatively low, implementation is fast and a trial version is often available. Custom software, on the other hand, is specific to a single company; it costs relatively much, but does offer every feature you could wish for. Our co-founder and technical director Marinus Brink is happy to explain when it is smart to choose one or the other.
A TMS in the cloud, or not
Something else you should consider straight away is whether or not you want a Transport Management System in the cloud. As far as we are concerned, that choice is very simple. A cloud TMS really only has advantages. You can think of it as a kind of online workplace. As long as there is an internet connection, you always have access to your own transport software, anytime and anywhere. In terms of security it is a smart choice too. But to benefit from this, you do have to be sharp about whether you are genuinely choosing a fully cloud-based TMS. Sometimes this is claimed incorrectly. Our TMS is one hundred percent cloud-based.
The features
We already advised you to define your requirements and wishes right at the start of your search. You do this by taking a good look at your transport process. How does your transport company work? How do your planners and drivers experience it? Where do you see possible improvements? What do clients expect of you? And which other systems do you already use? Just by answering these questions, you probably already know which suppliers are interesting for you. Do clients ask for the expected arrival time of their order, for example? Then sending an ETA notification is a required feature for you. And does your driver use a Fleet Management System (FMS)? Then it is handy if the TMS you choose can connect with it. This way you quickly gain insight into which transport software, with which features, fits your business.
Check the security
The last thing you want as a transport entrepreneur is, of course, for your trucks to grind to a halt. But a sophisticated cyberattack can bring exactly that about. So you want to make that chance as small as possible. That is why it is important, before you choose a particular Transport Management System, to check what the TMS supplier does in the area of security. Tip: always check whether reviews are available about the TMS suppliers you are considering.
Try our cloud TMS for free?
Of course there are all kinds of other things to take into account, such as price and ease of use, but this forms a good basis for a well-considered choice. Above all, have a thorough conversation with the TMS supplier you have in mind. Ask all your questions and never feel awkward about it. Naturally, it is always best if you can simply try out the Transport Management System for a while. For example through a free TMS trial like ours! Good luck, and once again: do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
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