By David Upton, managing director, DA Systems Ltd.
Within the next 15 years, London's population is tipped to exceed 10 million people, making it the most heavily populated city in Europe after Moscow. It's already very busy and transportation management technology will inevitably play an essential role in cutting the impact the logistics operations inevitably have on the environment.
Transportation Management, TMS, Distribution Software
The management of transportation operations of all types, including tracking and managing every aspect of vehicle maintenance, fuel costing, routing and mapping, warehousing, communications, EDI implementations, traveller and cargo handling, carrier selection and management, accounting. A Transportation Management System (TMS) is a term mainly used to describe a software package that helps to optimise transportation activities within an organisation by maximising the efficiency of resources and reducing operational errors. A TMS system belongs to a software group that commonly fall under the category of Supply Chain Execution (SCE).
Will population growth require transport providers to hone green credentials?
Nov 06, 2014
Meet at the dock – new service for dynamic optimisation of the supply chain
Nov 06, 2014
The Cloud-based service PTV Drive&Arrive provides every link in the logistical supply chain with the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of transport in real-time, allowing them to react immediately.
BSH Group improves transport transparency and tendering processes with Transporeon
Nov 06, 2014
BSH Group, manufacturer of domestic equipment, has strongly improved its transportation tendering and planning processes. Increased transparency, due to better data accuracy, has led to both cost savings and a reduction of the administration workload.
Covering all bases- transport management
Nov 06, 2014
With Transwide solutions, the Paul Hartmann Group strives towards excellence in the way it manages its inbound and inter-company logistics in Europe.
Meeting the demand-Transport Management Technology report October 2014
Oct 30, 2014
Chief editor Ed Holden spoke with some of the major players within the field of transportation management about current key talking points within this fascinating technology field; including changing demand trends, security and how transportation solutions might continue to develop in the near future.
NetDespatch and Blackbay announce global strategic partnership
Oct 23, 2014
NetDespatch, the Software as a Service (SaaS) parcel data management platform and Blackbay, the provider of mobility-enabled solutions for the transport and logistics industry, have announced a global strategic partnership that will greatly expand collaboration between the two organisations.
Microlise welcomes senior team from Tata Motors In UK visit
Oct 23, 2014
Microlise, the transport management systems provider, has welcomed a delegation of senior management from Indian company Tata Motors, one of the world's largest truck manufacturers.
Peak-Ryzex partners with Loqus to provide Managed Mobile Services
Oct 16, 2014
Peak-Ryzex has formed a strategic technology partnership with business intelligence company Loqus. Loqus provides solutions primarily for fleet resource management, including dedicated tracking, despatching and route optimisation products.
Kewill acquires the IBM Sterling Transportation Management System (TMS)
Oct 16, 2014
Kewill has acquired the IBM Sterling Transportation Management System (TMS), a SaaS-based multimodal transportation management system.
PTV Group wins telematics award with Truck Parking Europe
Oct 09, 2014
The PTV Group's free app for truck parking now lists over 15,000 parking options and has received the telematics award 2014
Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
Transportation is the process of shipping or moving people, animals and goods from one location to another. Freight forwarding and distribution is carried out by air, sea and land on roads, railways, airways, waterways and canals.
5 elements are needed for transportation to occur: infrastructure or accommodation (including terminals or ports), a vehicle (body or technology), Energy (fuel or pulse), an Operator and Support Services which allow the transportation to occur safely.
A Transportation Management System (TMS) is a software system designed to manage transportation operations of all types, including tracking and managing every aspect of vehicle maintenance, fuel costing, routing and mapping, warehousing, communications, EDI implementations, traveller and cargo handling, carrier selection and accounting.
TMS are one of the systems managing the supply chain. They belong to a sub-group called Supply Chain Execution (SCE). TMS, whether it's part of an Enterprise Level ERP System or from an integrated "Best of Breed" Independent Software Vendor (ISV) has become a critical part of any (SCE) Supply Chain Execution and Collaboration System in which real time exchange of information with other SCE modules has become mission critical. A TMS can optimise and transform a supply chain network by planning and executing inbound and outbound transportation processes.
A Transportation Management System can reduce costs through improved load planning, routing and mode selection, and create the optimal carrier mix based on routing guides. It can connect you to a collaborative logistics network of carriers, shippers, and customers and assist with automating the entire transportation management process. It can raise service levels by providing real-time visibility into shipping processes and increase productivity by eliminating manual transportation processes. Collaboration with carriers, vendors, and customers will improve on time delivery through better co-ordination.
Transport management systems are available “Software-as-a-Service” (SaaS), meaning fewer IT resources, no upgrade costs, easy connectivity, and low total cost of ownership
Transport planning allows you to plan and use a traffic & transport infrastructure intelligently. It is about preparing, assessing and implementing policies, plans and projects to improve and manage a transport system.
There are a number of software solutions available to cut transport costs, improve efficiency and raise customer service levels.
Route planning software is designed to plan the best and most efficient route between two different geographical locations.
Route scheduling software enables you to import your data, geo-code your orders and optimise. You will then be able schedule the lowest cumulative miles to carry out your workload, at the most economical cost and with the greatest vehicle utilisation. Time windows, quantity, fixed visit duration, capacity, costs, skill set, working time directive and speed are just a few of the parameters that are taken into account when producing results.
Route optimisation software is a more simple form of scheduling, designed to help fleets conduct runs in the best logistical order or redefine set routes for greater efficiency.
