Did you know that trucks move nearly 75% of all freight in the US?
Since you’re reading this article, your business likely makes up some of that percentage. You know how much work is involved in coordinating routes, tracking shipments, and keeping on top of all the needed paperwork.
Thankfully, a transport management system can solve all those problems! In just one program, all logistical and financial data is tracked and stored, massively reducing your workload.
The challenge is choosing the right system for you. To help you out, we’ve created this brief guide to identifying the system best suited to your business. Read on to learn what you should look for when choosing a transport management system.
Scalable
Transport management systems usually come in the form of SaaS. That means you pay for the software as well as the software company’s assistance.
Therefore, you should be able to scale your usage. Depending on the size of your fleet, the provider should let you scale your subscription up and down as needed.
Customizable to Your Needs
You don’t need all the transport management system features out there. And you shouldn’t pay for any features you don’t need or won’t use. If your provider lets you configure your plan to your exact needs, then it’s the right one for you.
Automation
The systems will only save a significant amount of time if they take work off of your hands. To do that, they need to be highly automated, like this transport management software. That means handling automated scheduling, billing, and invoicing, all without you lifting a finger.
Integration With Other Software
The best software doesn’t have to run on its own but can integrate with existing programs.
If you are using bookkeeping software, such as Quickbooks or Xero, you need software that can work with it. Otherwise, all the automation of billing and invoicing will still rely on you. You’ll have to transfer data from one program to another.
Even if you don’t use accounting software now, choose a transport management system that can integrate with it. Then, if you use it in the future, the transition will be simple.
Easy to Deploy
Software should not only be simple to use but simple to set up. Look for a software provider that specializes in a quick and painless rollout so you can be up and running ASAP.
Reliable Support
If an in-house team handled fleet management, you could contact them quickly in case of issues. The best providers offer the same level of service. Look for a company that is always easy to reach and happy to help, whatever issues you come across.
Transport Management System Developments
As with all tech, the latest transport management system developments are just around the corner. Buzzwords like “automation” and “customization” may eventually be overshadowed by more advanced approaches.
When that happens, we’ll have the most up-to-date information. Keep up with our business articles to learn what’s happening in the world of tech, and how it affects your business.
