Kuebix TMS Integration with NetSuite and freight invoice management provided automation and transportation management capabilities that produced six-figure savings and productivity improvements.
Your supply chain is unique, which means what works for you might not work for someone else.
Our free TMS buyer’s guide will help you put the needs of your unique supply chain into perspective so that you can easily find a system that offers everything you need.
After reading this guide, you’ll have a clear picture of:
There is a lot of jargon associated with transportation management systems (TMS) that many people find hard to navigate. You may never have come across some terms if you don’t have a history of working with other TMSs or other forms of tech. The saying “it’s all Greek to me!” might spring to mind.
If you find yourself lost in the TMS jargon, take a look at this list of some of the most common phrases and terms used when talking about a Transportation Management System.
What is a Transportation Management System (TMS)?
This one might seem obvious, but actually understanding what a TMS does is crucial before you can understand how the other terms relate. A TMS is a collection of tools housed under a single umbrella technology that help supply chain professionals manage transportation operations. These systems usually sit in between ordering systems (ERPs) and warehouse management systems (WMS) and help streamline rating, booking, and visibility to orders, among other things.
What does TMS integration entail?
The term Integration in regards to a TMS means to digitally connect the TMS with another system. Intuitively, an integration is a pairing or merging of two entities, ie. two pieces of software. Common integrations to a TMS include ERP integrations, API integrations, and e-Commerce integrations. Information flows between the TMS and the system that is integrated. Doing so speeds up operations and greatly reduces the risk of costly manual error.
What does TMS Software as a Service (SaaS) mean?
Software as a service, more commonly known as SaaS, is a method of delivering software to users. The software is accessed via a subscription model as opposed to being paid for and owned by the end-customer. This makes implementation, managing issues and getting updates much easier. In logistics, this typically means selling the TMS technology as a standalone offering without selling services with it.
What is a Cloud-Based TMS?
This term is used to refer to a piece of software that was built to be accessed from the internet or “cloud”. Cloud-based applications or services are available on demand via a provider’s cloud computing services. Cloud-based TMSs are now the norm as more teams need access to TMSes or access to their systems remotely.
What is an on-premise TMS?
On-premise is the opposite of cloud-based software. Instead of the software being housed online the software is installed and runs on local computers (oftentimes in a plant or distribution center). This was the first method of selling software and has become an outdated model as the benefits of cloud-based software become even more apparent. On-premise TMSs are becoming obsolete as cloud-based ones are implemented quicker, return faster ROI, and are generally easier to manage.
What are Managed Services or Managed Transportation?
Transportation-related managed services are programs provided to companies wishing to partially or fully outsource management of their logistics operations. Some companies choose to outsource certain processes to experts to gain efficiencies and dedicate more time to other areas of their business. Oftentimes this entails companies contracting rates with carriers on behalf of the shipper, which is different from a broker where they are typically managing spot shipments. If your transportation operations has some level of predictability in terms of shipments, lanes, etc. then Managed Transportation is typically a good strategy to look into. These programs are often run in tandem with transportation management systems.
What is a logistics community?
A logistics community is a collaborative group of shippers, suppliers, customers, brokers, freight forwarders and carriers around the world. Members of the community benefit from opportunities to collaborate and community-specific functions like access to truckload spot rates. Communities can be built around a TMS and foster an environment where freight savings and efficiencies can be gained.
What is TMS optimization?
When someone talks about optimization and TMS together, they are usually talking about load and route optimization capabilities. Advanced TMSs offer optimization tools to their users to build perfect loads based on a variety of parameters. Instead of manually pouring over spreadsheets, TMS users with Optimization functionality can automatically build consolidated loads and route them efficiently. This reduces empty miles driven and speeds up the entire process of booking and routing.
What is on-demand trucking?
On-demand trucking is the process of finding capacity for shipments “on-demand,” rather than through negotiated agreements ahead of time. This is typically how brokers find capacity for shipments. When a shipper leverages a load matching platform to find last minute truckload rates, for example, that is what is known as on-demand trucking. This type of trucking helps carriers fill empty miles and shippers find the trucks they need when their regular lanes don’t suffice. Advanced TMS platforms help shippers take advantage of this trend in logistics.
What does TMS visibility entail?
Too often, the term “visibility” is used as a filler expression in business. In logistics and TMS, however, the term visibility means a whole lot more. Visibility tools in a TMS help stakeholders know everything about their loads in real-time with visual mapping capabilities and access to up-to-date and detailed shipment data. Visibility in TMS means that users never lose sight of their assets and have the tools they need to proactively manage their logistics operations.
If you have any questions on these terms, or how FreightWise or Kuebix can help in your TMS search, contact us.
Logistics professionals are struggling with the high cost of legacy transportation management systems (TMS) and their time-consuming implementations. Kuebix solves this by offering a modular, scalable and intuitive TMS platform that supports all modes of transportation.
Kuebix TMS and an Invoice Audit ERP integration with Sage 100 allows Monarch Global Brands to realize significant time and money savings!
In a keynote presentation earlier this year, Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland As, said, “You can’t run your business in 2020 like it’s still 1999.” Unfortunately, many companies are learning this lesson the hard way as they struggle to respond effectively to the dramatic market changes in 2020.
Knowing the right questions to ask when beginning a search for the right Transportation Management System (TMS) can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 10 questions it is essential to ask when evaluating a transportation management system. This list will help you gain an understanding of key capabilities and help you start the conversation to find the right TMS for your business.
This is something you can do your due diligence on prior to engaging with a provider. AI summaries are oftentimes helpful to get the main pros and cons across platforms — directly from users.
What will the implementation process look like and what is the expected turn-around time? If you have time to wait, or if you need a solution in a matter of weeks, this a good question to ask.
How do you connect with carriers?
As follow up to the implementation process, one of the lengthiest processes to implementation is if the TMS provider doesn’t have prebuilt or an easy way to connect with carriers. So understanding what this looks like will help you determine implementation timeframe, but as your carrier strategy evolves and changes the timeline for changes in the future.
This is one of our favorites for prospects to ask, because of how user friendly Kuebix TMS is. That said, if you just need a small group of highly technical supply chain team members in the tool, then ease of use may not be a key deciding factor. But if you have lots of different teams using the TMS, or if you don’t have resources to train new employees, understanding how user friendly and ongoing training and support is critical.
Whether a preferred carrier program or access to exclusive rates, understanding any additional benefits to this TMS. This is a good nice to have question if multiple TMS providers are all at the same level.
Easy navigation, fewer clicks to get data, these are all important considerations, because time in money when using a TMS.
Whether analyzing on-time performance, rules in place to select the least cost carrier, and more. Understanding the near-term, but also long term ROI of a TMS is important.
This is another great question to ask TMS providers. Asking for examples is helpful here too. But if you potentially want to start a direct to consumer channel and ship parcel, need to offer new modes, add new carriers, or just grow your business painting the picture of any growth plans and how this TMS could support that in the long term is important.
This is one of the best questions you can ask. Most TMSes will support less-than-truckload and truckload at a bare minimum, but we see frequently that the TMS won’t support parcel shipments. So therefore there are two systems for the rating and routing of shipments, you don’t have a single source of truth and lose visibility into shipments.
Most TMS systems today are cloud-based, but this is still a great question to ask to check the box.
Logistics professionals are struggling with the high cost of legacy transportation management systems (TMS) and their time-consuming implementations and limited capabilities. Kuebix solves this by offering a modular, scalable and intuitive TMS platform. And since it’s built on the latest cloud technology, Kuebix can seamlessly scale to meet any company’s complex needs.
Transportation management is inherently a network-based business process. It involves an ecosystem of different parties — a community, if you will, of shippers, carriers, consignees, brokers, and others that need to communicate and collaborate with each other in order to transport products and utilize assets and labor as efficiently as possible.
This transportation community is analogous to the connections and relationships enabled by social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn. A big difference, however, is that unlike Facebook and LinkedIn, which are powered by network-native software, the transportation community has historically been powered by enterprise-centric software — that is, transportation management systems (TMS) that were designed for, and used primarily by, the transportation function within the four walls of a company.
This fragmented, “inside the four walls” approach makes it challenging to quickly and efficiently match transportation demand with available capacity, as companies of all sizes experienced in 2018. This growing need in the market for better matching of supply and demand, coupled with the rise of cloud computing, software-as-a-service (SaaS), application programming interfaces (APIs), and other emerging technologies, is driving the next evolution of transportation management systems.
Simply put, transportation management systems are transitioning from being “inside the four walls” applications to becoming operating systems that power transportation communities and enable network effects.
H.C. Starck has been able to save money on their freight and improve processes internally and with their suppliers through their collaborative partnership with Kuebix.
Watch this quick case study video featuring Mark Smolinsky, H.C. Starck’s Logistics Manager.
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Traditionally inbound shipping costs and operations have been a challenge to control. Most companies have not developed a comprehensive strategy to manage their inbound freight. Shipments arrive from their suppliers without a plan to drive the lowest shipping and unloading costs, or to consolidate shipments to maximize efficiency at the distribution center. Additionally, many companies have failed to introduce compliance standards to improve the behavior of their suppliers and efficiently plan the arrivals of shipments to their warehouse facilities. This results in three endemic problems.
Use this guide to benchmark your company against best practices in the industry and help to put together a strategic approach to capitalizing on the opportunities to manage the “art of the inbound.”
Today unless you are going on a safari or need a really specialized advice we all book our flights and hotels directly online. Technology has given us convenient and immediate access to all the rates and choices in a single user portal. Candidly, the time has come for this to happen in the world of freight! DIY – It is time for the shipper to regain control of their freight operations and use information to make better shipping decisions every day!
After reading this guide, you’ll have a clear picture of:
Since 2008, the Paper Store has been able to count on Kuebix. Together, both organizations have formed a strong partnership that has been mutually beneficial. Watch this quick case study featuring The Paper Store’s COO, Craig Hewitt.
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