Transportation Management Systems (TMS) are becoming more popular within the auto transport industry as technology becomes easier to use and competition is increasing. However, many organizations are slow to make the move from endless phone calls and paperwork to advanced technology automating manual processes.
Like many brokers and shippers who have heard of a Shipper TMS, and might be hesitant to leverage technology, how do you know when it’s time for you to take that leap? If your business can relate to even just one of these four signs, it’s time for your business to consider what a TMS can do for you.
Loads Aren’t Moving Fast Enough
Day after day, critical time is being lost to waiting on or chasing down paperwork, trying to get vehicle pictures for damages or proof of delivery, vetting carriers, or struggling to locate your loads. Sound familiar? Endless phone calls and emails can be adding hours or even days to your transport time. By utilizing technology, your business can automate these outdated processes thus saving you time and getting your loads moved faster.
A modern TMS enables brokers and shippers to track loads with instant status updates and one digital location for electronic proof of deliveries (ePOD), bill of lading (BOL), carrier documentation, and automated billing. No more delayed faxes or hunting down the location of your customers’ cars.
Along with a single platform for all your TMS needs, a good TMS brand also comes with a connected modern load board. The benefit of this integration is saving your business time with automated load matching and an activation team matching your loads to drivers for faster uptake.
An element of technology that can significantly decrease transport times is an API integration. What this does is streamline communication between internal and external systems for faster transport times. Organizations like Backlot Cars have been able to decrease transport times by 60% with an API integration through a TMS.
Visibility is Limited
Whether it’s meaningful data or shipment tracking, chances are that without a TMS you are missing out on crucial information. As the auto transport industry evolves, the need for real-time updates and financial data is important for a good customer experience and running a healthy business.
Technology isn’t an item to worry about later, it’s here now and customers are demanding it. Are your customers demanding fast updates on the shipment of their car? Are you able to provide that to them in real-time? With an equipped TMS, you can greatly improve your customer experience with immediate updates from your dashboard. Save time by eliminating the back and forth while anticipating the needs of your customers.
Running a business and managing loads is not easy or inexpensive. In order to run your business successfully and to strategize for growth you need access to data and insights on where your company might be leaving money on the table. Managing your loads and integrating your applications with your TMS provides you with a single platform where all your information is synced.
This provides your business with a single source of truth when it comes to grading your business on transportation spend, delivery times, carrier data, and the ability to build custom reports based on your unique business needs. Leverage these reports for more accurate financial insights and the ability to forecast for strategic growth.
Your Current TMS Isn’t Scalable
With steady success comes growing pains, but your TMS should not be one of them. Whether you are new to a TMS or currently on a legacy system, your platform should be one that meets your needs at every phase of your business. As your company grows, is your TMS or current process flexible enough to adapt to your evolving complex challenges?
A modern TMS can help your business maintain your day-to-day efforts while agile enough to support growing demand. Modern platforms include an API integration allow your organization to increase transactions without any additional hires.
When relying on spreadsheets is no longer cutting it, it’s time to leverage a TMS.
Wasting Money on Multiple Systems
While there are many apps that can be helpful to your organization, the lack of communication between all of your systems is only creating inefficiency and unnecessary expenses within your operation. A modern TMS has API and AI technology that can connect your app solutions across the board creating streamlined communication between apps, eliminating expensive systems you no longer need, and automating your workflows.
With optimized integrations, a TMS that syncs with your business critical apps like a CRM or accounting software, will greatly impact the productivity of your business. For example, by automating invoices and connecting to an accounting software like Quickbooks, you will be able to do more with less overhead to close out loads faster and save money in the long run.
A modern TMS also integrates with a customer relationship manager (CRM). A CRM that connects to your TMS makes gaining and nurturing new leads easy. The integrated CRM will enable you to be more productive acting as digital filing cabinet for all your customer info while allowing you to provide real-time updates and overall improved customer experience for repeat business.
Along with partnering with a great brand of technology to gain better credibility and to stand out above your competition, these four reasons are signs that it’s time to take your business to the next level with a Shipper TMS. Now that you know it might be time to invest in your business, consider trying out Super Dispatch — request a demo today!
