cloud logistics for transport management - carrier ......the logistics process with built-in...

Carrier Connectivity: Accelerate your TMS investment

SUPPLY CHAIN INSIGHTS

CARRIER CONNECTIVITY: ACCELERATE YOUR TMS INVESTMENT

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IntroductionConnectivity between internal systems and external service provider systems has been

cited as the biggest challenge to transportation management system (TMS) use1. Network

connectivity remains one of the most overlooked—yet critical—elements of implementing a

TMS solution.

As cloud-based software has proliferated, and as business parteners have become increasingly

interdependent, the role of TMS has expanded exponentially. Shippers that narrowly focus on

using a TMS to simply manage the routing of inbound and outbound orders often overlook

one of the platform’s most important capabilities: enabling and supporting complete carrier

connectivity.

Shippers can streamline access to transportation data by introducing a connective foundation

to their TMS that aligns shippers, carriers and customers on a single platform. A fully

connected TMS can increase efficiency and supply chain visibility for lower transportation

costs while connecting all shipping partners on a 24/7/365 basis in the cloud.

1. Johnson, Eric. American Shipper. Falling Short: Where TMS Fails to Meet Global Shipper’s Expectations.


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Every year, companies spend anywhere from 3-7% of their sales on

transportation costs. For large companies, this burden quickly adds up

to millions of dollars, but even small to mid-sized firms are paying out

more than necessary for transportation.

Technology may help speed up and simplify a previously manual

transportation management approach, even if it lacks direct access to

carriers, but simply won’t produce the long-term return on investment

(ROI) for which TMS is well known.

With many firms looking for centralized “control-tower” visibility

across operations, there is a burden on shippers to come up with ways

to streamline without creating even higher costs and more challenges

in the process. Integration can add complexity to a TMS project. Here

are some things to consider on your path to a collaborative digital

transportation network.

Digital carrier networks for a new era in logistics


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Many organizations are already sold on the idea of visibility within their own

internal networks, but information can become opaque once sent on to the

carrier. Your carrier may be providing real-time updates, status messages and

other information regarding your shipment, but without an uninterrupted

connection back to the TMS, end-to-end supply chain visibility gets lost in

translation.

Companies that already have TMS in place are embracing full connectivity

in an effort to re-think and re-enable their platforms to glean the biggest

benefits from their initial technology investment. Results-driven logistics

and supply chain managers have come to understand that efficient, well-

informed transportation optimization simply isn’t possible without real-time

data exchange.

Without the ability to pass shipment information back and forth between

all connected partners, miscommunications and inefficiencies resulting from

disrupted flows of information can sabotage any potential for optimization.

Centralized visibility with real-time data


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Using a collaborative cloud-based middleware solution to create an interface

between TMS and carriers or third-party systems reduces complexity for both

the shipper and the carrier, and eliminates the need for endless file transfers.

With one seamless integration, every supplier becomes connected via a single

portal—be it via a web portal, installed web service or through EDI.

Next-generation connectivity features

A single-source connection to your TMS environment eliminates the

complexity of managing multiple information sources by joining all

transportation service providers to the same network—shippers can use

reliable, high-quality data for optimal execution and to quickly onboard new

carriers, dramatically increasing logistics agility.

• A fully connected carrier network with automated

plug & play connections to each one of your carriers

• Operational control to improve data quality and

avoid processing errors

• Scalability for quick, easy onboarding of new carriers

and new lanes

Benefits:

SHIPPER

Collaborative cloud-based middleware platform for:

SourcingRate ManagementShipment ExecutionDock SchedulingVisibility

90,000+ connected carriers worldwide

TMS


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Collaborative network-based solutions can add definition and structure

around your logistics processes. The right integration can pass a carrier

acceptance while also performing additional logic that requires the carrier to

take more action, like booking an appointment or logging status messages

on the delivery. These solutions not only connect information, but create

improved transportation-driven logistics processes directly within the

middleware platform.

While enterprise-level TMS and ERP provide basic functionality for carriers

to tie in and accept/decline loads or transfer electronic invoices, robust

collaboration platforms offer additional capabilities for carriers to provide

more finite information on the loads they’re carrying. Additionally, all data

connections with carriers are maintained by the provider of the carrier

connectivity network, which frees up IT resources on the carrier side, as well.

Improve processes & manage complexity

A plug & play connectivity platform manages complexity by simply requiring the carrier to connect to one single portal, allowing two-way access between shipper and carrier


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With “plug & play” carrier integration, shippers simply continue to work

within a very simple single-system landscape—their TMS. All confirmations,

offers, appointments and status messages are displayed in the shipper

system while carriers work on one central web platform for all their shipper

customers. Web-based transportation connectivity allows the shipper to

offer one standardized interface from TMS to reach all carriers.

Saving your carriers time & money helps you

As capacity levels shift, especially in the truckload market, the ability for

carriers to plan ahead with access to your real-time data gives you an edge

in getting your shipments accepted. A collaborative network connection can

help carriers save time and money, differentiating you from your carrier’s

other customers.

• Leading intermodal carrier CAI Logistics streamlines

shipment acceptance and increases appointment

visibility for steel supplier with direct EDI integration

• Mid-size specialty carrier Iuvo Logistics increases

access to all shipment data by integrating with its

shipper customer

Carriers gain efficiencies from plug & play connectivity integrations:

https://www.transporeon.com/us/expertise/case-studies/cai-logistics/

https://www.transporeon.com/us/expertise/case-studies/iuvo-logistics/


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The right connectivity solution guarantees a smooth integration to all

your transportation providers. Instead of assigning countless dispatcher

hours to on the phone scheduling or dedicating an entire IT department to

managing complex connections across suppliers and carriers, automating

the logistics process with built-in real-time communication becomes much

more efficient.

In fact, time savings, reductions in IT costs and other efficiency gains can be

realized within the first few months of implementation.

Connectivity solutions with comprehensive functionality for carriers will

also provide valuable carrier training and technical support, removing the

burden of the nonessential part of carrier management from the shipper.

Reduce IT burdens for you & your carriers

Reduced manual effort

Cuts time required

to verify & accept

shipments

Transparency

Detailed, auditable

history of all freight

moves

Uniform data

All data is stored in a single,

accessible system

Direct connection

All freight orders & info from

connected shippers in one

platform

Benefits of connectivity for carriers:

Better carrier collaboration with real-time shipper-carrier connectivity


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When you choose a TMS connectivity provider that has a central

foundation in bringing together carriers, customers and other supply

chain partners on a single centralized platform, benefits extend beyond

the shipper. The carrier process becomes more automated, as well,

allowing for unprecedented agility stemming from real-time access to

shipper data and reduction of manual information transfer.

To take the first step in creating a very efficient transportation ecosystem

with benefits for all your carriers and suppliers, talk to us today about

a customized business analysis to uncover cost savings opportunities in

your logistics operations.

Discovering more about carrier connectivity

CLICK NOW FOR A DISCOVERY CALL

AND FEATURE DEMONSTRATION

https://www.transporeon.com/us/request-demo/

Transporeon boosts logistics performance and profitability with every freight load. Founded in

Germany in 2000, Transporeon connects a worldwide network of more than 1,200 industrial shippers

and retailers with over 90,000 logistics service providers in 100+ countries in real time. Its security-

certified platforms offer digital solutions for freight benchmarking and sourcing, freight assignment

and shipment execution, time slot management, shipment tracking, and end-to-end supply chain

visibility. By leveraging the latest capabilities, including artificial intelligence and predictive analytics,

Transporeon solutions cut CO2 emissions, empty runs and truck waiting times while digitizing manual

processes. Transporeon is located across Europe, Russia, Asia and the U.S.

For more information, please visit us at www.transporeon.com

Transporeon

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