If you want your business to make as much money as possible, you need to optimize your transportation processes. The more efficient your transportation, the more money you’ll save, and the more successful your business will be.
Central to transportation efficiency is the transport management system. Transportation management software helps you plan and track the movement of your products so that they get from point A to point B in as cost-effective a manner as possible.
Wondering what to look for in a transport management system? Then read on. We’re going to cover 6 characteristics below.
1. Customization Capabilities
No two organizations have the exact same needs. As such, when choosing a transport management system, you need to choose one with customization capabilities. This way, you can shape the system to meet your requirements in a quick, flexible, and cost-effective manner.
Unfortunately, a good many of these systems are lacking in the customization department. Sure, they can be customized, but not without the help of seasoned developers. And you shouldn’t have to pay developers on a regular basis just to have a system that meets your needs.
2. Scalability
Odds are, your organization will grow over time. Of course, with growth comes the challenge of scalability. You have to be able to increase the coverage of your business processes so that they match the size of your operations.
This is particularly true of your transport processes. If you can’t scale your transport processes adequately, you stand to lose thousands or even millions of dollars. As such, you need to find transport management software that possesses a high degree of scalability.
One such transportation management system is the one sold by Headlight Solutions. This software allows for unlimited users, unlimited training, and unlimited software. So, even if you’ve employed 50 new trucks, you’ll be able to track them all without any additional expense.
3. Integration Capabilities
There are all sorts of beneficial business management software on the market today. However, on their own, they’re limited in what they can do. As such, you need to make sure that they’re capable of integrating with each other.
Software integration allows you to sync up different software with little effort. This way, data can be seamlessly imported and exported, and the systems can communicate with each other accurately over time.
If your system doesn’t offer the capability to integrate, you’ll need to hire a software developer to integrate it for you. That would cost you thousands of dollars in wasted money, all of which would have better been spent on a more comprehensive software.
4. Reasonable Cost
You also need to consider the cost of your transport management system. Prices can vary greatly and are often structured in different ways.
For instance, whereas some transport management systems can be used in their entirety after the initial purchase, other transport management systems require you to pay a monthly fee. And while some systems cost the same regardless of how many people are using them, other systems’ costs vary depending on their number of users.
So, when you’re browsing through different systems, make sure to get a feel not only for their prices but for how they’re priced as well. This information will have a huge effect on what you’ll pay over time.
5. Quality Customer Service
Regardless of the system you choose, you’re bound to run into problems from time to time. This is just the reality of using software programs. What’s important is that the system vendor has the customer service capabilities needed to help you whenever you run into roadblocks.
Not only should the system come with a Frequently Asked Questions guide but a customer service number and email address as well. Make certain there’s a number to call. If there isn’t, you’re likely going to be waiting in line whenever something goes awry; your company doesn’t have the time for that.
It’s also a good idea to call the customer service phone number before making a purchase. This way, you can see just how long it takes you to get through. You can also get a feel for the helpfulness and demeanor of the customer service representatives.
6. The Features You Require
The most important thing to look out for when choosing a transport management system is that it has the features you require. While transport management systems have many of the same features, they might be lacking some of the standards. I’m the other hand, they might possess some special features.
Features to look out for include route optimization, route automation, real-time monitoring, efficiency tracking, and route visualization. Some systems even provide the ability to set alerts so that you can more easily gauge the process of your drivers.
Regardless, you should demo the software before buying it. You’re going to invest a lot of money into this, and you want to make sure it will provide you with value in return.
Ideally, the vendor will have a free trial period for you to take advantage of. If not, call the vendor and ask to try a free copy. Any vendor that wants your business will oblige.
Choosing the Right Transport Management System Could Save You Millions
In order for a transport manager to do the best job possible, they must have the use of the right transport management system. Choosing the right transport management system will help you plan the specifics of your shipments, saving you — potentially — millions of dollars in the process.
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