Transport management system

By definition, a Transport Management System (TMS) is a software that deals with the planning, execution and optimisation of physical goods movements and ensures efficient transport logistics. The abbreviation TMS is also often used for Transport Management Solution or Transport Management Software. Ideally, the TMS integrates all steps of the shipping process and supports dispatchers during their daily business, i.e. in planning and executing domestic and international transport orders. For instance, a Transport Management Software includes modules for managing, costing, invoicing, documenting and executing transport services by road, air or sea.

Isolated IT solutions and chaotic processes that have grown historically are a major difficulty. In a network like this, it is often difficult to maintain an overview. Uncertainty quickly prevails in the case of changes and adjustments. As an all-in-one solution, a Transport Management System provides a remedy Ideally, it integrates all processes in one system, reduces the IT complexity and avoids errors that arise through switching between systems or errors due to manual processing.

A severe skills shortage is a constant companion in the logistics sector–with regard to dispatchers and also to drivers. With automation and system support in daily work, a TMS facilitates significant time saving and gives employees space for complex projects. Thus, a TMS can also simplify the cooperation between different users.

Another difficulty are the increasing customer requirements and the wish for forwarding companies to provide services. The customer wants to be informed of the location of the goods at all times (Track&Trace) and immediately be notified of problems or delays. Ideally, he can access all necessary documents in electronic form (freight documents, invoices, etc.). In this respect, a Transport Management Software increases customer satisfaction through increased transparency and higher transport quality.

In the logistics sector in particular, the high level of competition and price pressure, which also arises due to cost-effective foreign forwarding companies, is a challenge. In this case as well, a TMS can offer the decisive competitive edge, especially if not only the goods transport service itself from A to B is required, but a complex combination of different means of transport.

A TMS can contribute significantly to the digitalisation of a forwarding company and offers the following advantages:

• Simplification of the delivery-chain processes
• Automation of business processes
• Improved transparency during the transport
• Time saving, since fewer manual steps lead to faster processing, fewer delays and shorter delivery times
• Increased customer satisfaction through live updates and reduced shipping delays
• Quick investment payback
• Central control of transport processing
• Reduction of management costs and of invoicing errors
• No complicated transport planning with Excel or on paper
• Promotion of paperless work
• Manual errors are avoided
• Better training for new employees
• Cost saving through optimisation of utilisation and reduction of empty routes

The Transport Management Solution CarLo gains points with the following advantages:

• Intuitive user interface thanks to optical orientation towards the Office solutions
• Individually configurable thanks to modular add-ons
• High flexibility for all transport sectors and their individual requirements
• No long adjustment period or expensive trainings required thanks to clear UI design
• Many helpful functions available in the standard version, such as drag & drop, live refresh of changes, conditional formatting and much more
• Many interfaces to other systems possible
• Informative, automated evaluations
• Use of artificial intelligence proactively supports planning, e.g. while determining ETAs or selecting carriers

• Transport planning including graphic planning
• Management of all transport orders
• Master data entry/maintenance for business partners and staff (CRM)
• Costing of transport costs
• Consignment tracking with status messages
• Telematics
• Forwarding freight calculation
• Warehouse management
• Fleet management
• Staff planning
• Connection to existing IT systems through interfaces

Years of experience in the logistics and IT sector have made Soloplan an expert. That is why the following functions are also implemented in the Transport Management System CarLo:

• Digital order processing through OCR scanning
• Creation of digital freight documents/delivery documents
• Integrated digital document management
• Numerous assistants and restriction tests: Appointments, vehicle utilisation (volume, weight, store places), tour contribution margin, remaining driving time of the driver, mixed loading prohibitions and many more
• Automatic tour planning under observance of many specifications, such as vehicle type and time slots
• Individual evaluations, such as the degree of utilisation, profits, empty routes or planning quality
• Calculation functions
• Vacation planning, resource management and loading unit management
• Configuration of workflows for automated work processes

There is no general answer to this question. However, the suitability of a TMS can be assessed roughly based on some key figures, such as the number of users, the number of transport orders and the size of the fleet.

A TMS can be useful for all companies concerned with logistics and offer added value:

• Classic forwarding companies
• Freight brokers
• Automotive
• Building material
• Food
• Intermodal transports
• Industry and trade
• Pharmaceutical
• Heavy loads
• Bulk cargo
• Silo and tank logistics
• Partial and full loads
• Air and sea freight

For all of these sectors, the standard version of the TMS CarLo, without individual programming, can already integrate the usual tasks, interfaces and processes. You can find a list of references from different sectors on the References tab. Please feel free to contact us for detailed references and more information regarding your sector.

The company size itself is a secondary matter in the decision-making process. The following aspects should be taken into account when considering whether a Transport Management System is useful for a company:

• Which parts of the transport process are to be processed in the TMS?
• How complex are the internal processes and transport routes?
• Which tasks and steps in everyday work is the TMS to integrate?
• Which and how many different user groups are involved in the process in the company? (E.g.: warehouse, sales, dispatchers, drivers, etc.)
• Which modes of transport are to be integrated?

As any software solution, a TMS also requires time and money. Nevertheless, purchasing a suitable TMS pays off very quickly. Especially due to the saving potential with regard to costs, as well as with regard to time during the entire process and for all users. In the age of staff shortages and increasing staff costs, the TMS facilitates further company growth, since more tasks can be completed with the same number of employees.

Soloplan caters for customer wishes with an individual requirements analysis in the first discussion and the detailed recording of the current state. Due to its modular structure, the Transport Management System CarLo can be adapted to company-specific requirements and company sizes. Thus, it is suited for small transport companies, medium-sized forwarding companies and international groups.

Thanks to CarLo’s open architecture, fully integrated bidirectional communication with almost all telematics systems is possible. Tour and order data is sent to the driver and status information is returned. Furthermore, GPS information, digital documents, driving and rest times or information on the cooling chain are available.

CarLo can be used universally as a software solution for all sectors from the entire world of logistics. Under References, you can find an excerpt of our customer testimonials, sorted by country or sector, as well as video portraits. We will gladly send you additional references matching your field of activity upon request. Contact us now at info@soloplan.com.

CarLo can professionally integrate all road, air and sea transports. Not even complex transport chains across country borders, with different time zones, with different currencies and with many companies involved in a transport are an obstacle.

Yes. Upon request, all desired interfaces can be developed. The effort required differs depending on the programme. Many interfaces are already included in the standard version. All other interfaces and special adjustments can be programmed individually for each customer, based on a detailed requirements analysis.

In our software, information can be imported and/or exported in many different ways. Within the scope of the initial installation, Soloplan can take over the initial import of the master data upon request of the customer. That way, significant bureaucratic efforts as well as errors during manual data transfer are avoided and the customer can work on the system with his data directly after the go-live.

At Soloplan, the process up to the go-live has the project designation “Ready2Work”. A dedicated project manager is assigned to each customer. This project manager is responsible for the coordination during the implementation phase and is the main contact for the customer. Additionally, the project manager creates a milestone plan before the start of the project. Prior to the installation and training appointments, all of the required steps are defined with the project manager in an elaborate and individual concept.