{"id":30186,"date":"2019-02-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/test.tranistics.com\/nvision\/2019\/02\/08\/is-your-tms-helping-or-hindering\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T11:46:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:46:51","slug":"is-your-tms-helping-or-hindering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/test.tranistics.com\/nvision\/2019\/02\/08\/is-your-tms-helping-or-hindering\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your TMS Helping or Hindering?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transportation Management System (TMS) software is arguably the most important asset of a third-party logistics provider (3PL). An inclusive TMS software will provide the tools, resources, and technologies necessary for supply chain management, all within an integrated system that serves as a system of record.<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, modern supply chain demands have altered the definition of what a TMS needs to be capable of. As a result, many 3PLs are working with a solution that\u2019s \u201cgood enough\u201d instead of a TMS that enables them to best serve their customers.<\/p>\n

How Supply Chains Are Changing?<\/h2>\n

The modern supply chain is robust, far outstripping even the most complex supply chains of the early 2000s, when modern TMS solutions hit the market. These legacy options worked great for a time, even updating with the growth of global commerce. Where they\u2019ve stopped being effective is with the rise of 4G telecom and the introduction of networked devices. As we move into 5G and the internet of things (IoT), legacy TMS software is quickly falling out of favour.<\/p>\n

Part of the struggle is in defining the role of a TMS. Should it strictly route freight? Should it be an automated system, translating predictive analytics into decisions? Should it manage information such as carrier selection, account, cargo, and more? Some argue it should include all of this, but few transportation management solutions encapsulate even a fraction of these capabilities. And with supply chains growing more complex by the day, there\u2019s a widening gap between what a TMS should be and what freight managers can expect theirs to do.<\/p>\n

Is Your TMS Up to the Task?<\/h3>\n

Putting aside the argument of what a TMS should be, freight managers need to ask if their current software solution is effective. More importantly, is it equipped for the next generation of smart supply chains?<\/p>\n

Vetting your TMS means taking stock of its features and capabilities. Take a close look at the problems facing modern 3PLs and pair these challenges with opportunities offered (or not offered) by your TMS:<\/p>\n