The transportation and logistics industry is growing dependent on diverse transportation management systems (TMS). This is true not only for the big shippers but also for small companies triggered by different rates, international operations, and competitive landscape. Gartner’s 2019 Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems summarizes the growing importance of TMS solutions when it says, “Modern supply chains require an easy-to-use, flexible and scale TMS solution with broad global coverage’. In a competitive transportation and logistics environment, TMS solutions help organizations to meet service commitments at the lowest cost.
For TMS solution providers, the path to developing or modernizing applications is not as simple as cruising calm seas. Their challenges are myriad and relate to ensuring systems that organize quotes seamlessly (no jumping from phone to a website). They need to help customers to select the ideal carrier based on temperature, time, and load to ensure maximized benefits. Very importantly, they need to help customers to track shipments while managing multiple carrier options and freight. Customers look for answers, and TMS solutions should be able to provide customers the best options in carriers. All this does not come easy and while developing and executing the solution is half of it, the more critical half lies in ensuring that the system’s functionality, security, and performance remain uncompromised. When looking for a TMS solution, customers look for providers who can present a clear picture of the total cost of ownership. Unpredictability is a no-no in this business which essentially means that the solution is implemented and tested for 100 percent performance and functionality.
The TMS solution providers who will be able to sustain their competitive edge are the ones who have tested their solution from all angles and are sure of its superiority.
In a recent case study which explains the importance of testing, a cloud-based trucking intelligence company that provides solutions to help fleets improve safety and compliance while reducing costs invested in a futuristic onboard telematics product. The product manages several processes and functions to provide accurate and real-time information such as tracking fleet vehicles, controlling unauthorized access to the company’s fleet assets, and mapping real-me vehicle location. The client’s customers know more about their trucks on the road using pressure monitoring, fault code monitoring, and remote diagnostics link. The on-board device records and transmits information such as speed, RPMs and idle time, distance traveled, etc.in real-time to a central server using the cellular data network.
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