What is a Transportation Management System in E-commerce?
A Transportation Management System (TMS) is a web-based software application designed to automate and streamline the transportation planning, execution, and management processes of e-commerce businesses. It helps to manage the end-to-end goods transport and delivery efficiently. It provides visibility into the entire supply chain network, enabling users to track shipment progress, plan and optimize routes, and manage customer service.
Significance of Transportation Management System in E-commerce Logistics
Transportation management systems (TMS) allow companies to manage their supply chain better and optimize their shipping process. The benefits of TMS are –
1. TMS enables automated route optimization, shipment tracking, and invoicing. This helps to streamline the e-commerce logistics process and reduce operational costs.
2. By integrating data from multiple sources, TMS provides a single view of the entire supply chain. This helps to improve visibility into the delivery process and identify potential bottlenecks.
3. TMS provides an accurate estimated time of arrival (ETA) for shipments. This helps ensure that customers receive their orders in a timely manner, leading to improved customer satisfaction.
4. TMS helps to reduce manual processes and streamline the delivery process. This helps to reduce delivery times and increase efficiency.
Prerequisites to Use Transportation Management System and How It Works
The following are the prerequisites to efficiently use TMS:
1. Geographic Information System (GIS)
2. Data Analysis Tools
3. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
4. Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS)
5. Fleet Management Solutions
6. Vehicle Tracking and Telematics Solutions
7. Logistics Management Software
8. Real-Time Traffic Information
9. Optimization Algorithms
10. Predictive Analytics Platforms
Use Case With Transportation Management System
A transportation management system is widely used in almost every sector. Companies can use route optimization to find the most cost-effective routes to be calculated for a shipment, considering factors such as cost, time, and available resources. Using an effective TMS, a company can reduce extra costs related to its logistics and utilize affordable freight systems.