In the face of ever-increasing digital transformations across sectors and borders, a growing number of shippers are reaping the benefits of a transportation management system (TMS). Amid both internal and external supply chain hurdles, investments in the right logistics technology go a long way, lending enhanced cost savings, visibility, and productivity.
When it comes to everyday workflows, a lot is at stake: a single human error can derail entire shipments, and even minor delays can damage customer relationships. Even so, many shippers still rely on disorganized spreadsheets and siloed systems, producing risks that only swell over time.
Fortunately, implementing a TMS is easier than ever—and shippers can start realizing benefits from the get-go.
Achieve end-to-end visibility
Today, consumers expect lightning-fast service, forcing shippers to consider how they can compete with large providers like Amazon. The benefits of a TMS begin with full visibility—a crucial contributor to many of its other advantages. Real-time tracking, for example, gives shippers full insight into every supply chain checkpoint, enabling quick and easy pivots in the event of a delay. In turn, efficiency skyrockets across the board—as does customer satisfaction.
With a more sophisticated TMS, transparency goes beyond shipment tracking. CTSI-Global’s Honeybee TMS provides comprehensive pre-shipment, post-shipment, and in-transit visibility, as well as automated exception alerts. Shippers can easily view and organize their data by shipment stage—all while resolving delivery failures as quickly as possible.
Cut costs over the long term
In today’s uncertain economic climate, shippers are scrambling to implement new budgeting measures. Among the many benefits of a TMS, cost savings can appear as early as day one—and dramatically increase as TMS usage scales.
Expense reductions often stem from a number of powerful features. Honeybee TMS, for instance, enables shipment consolidation by size and weight, complete with multi-stop routing, pooling, and intelligent process automation. Along the way, shippers can harness custom carrier selections, which enable the most cost-effective carrier choices based on individual preferences and shipment routes. Finally, minimizing manual labor altogether pays the greatest dividends, freeing employees up to focus on more high-level business concerns.
Simplify invoicing with easy integrations
For many shippers, invoicing can present a tedious headache. While that’s especially true for manual payment workflows, siloed electronic systems can also produce unnecessary ramifications.
The right technology can streamline the process. Honeybee TMS can quickly integrate with CTSI-Global’s Freight Audit and Payment platform, offering real-time visibility into the entire shipment life cycle. Even better: beyond greater transparency, a combined freight audit and TMS system can yield 8 to 12% more in savings than a freight audit platform alone.
Delight every customer
Perhaps the greatest benefit of a TMS? Stronger customer relationships. Beyond enabling quicker deliveries and fewer mix-ups, TMSs streamline customer communications and service at scale—all while minimizing team-wide labor and preserving internal resources.
With a TMS, shippers can send customers automated email and text updates on their orders—including whether they’ve shipped, their current location, and any delays or delivery exceptions. In turn, logistics teams can keep their customers in the loop, regardless of the situation at hand.
The most sophisticated TMSs come with dynamic customization capabilities. Honeybee TMS, for example, was built fully in-house, meaning it can be tailored to customers’ needs and goals as necessary—all without time-consuming third-party approval. A custom TMS enables smarter, more flexible customer service, with the option to group sub-sections of customers together by their desired carrier, delivery timeline, shipping and handling preferences, and more.
The benefits of a TMS only get better with time
Global supply chains are continuing to undergo record digitization—a trend that shows no signs of letting up. In the face of rising fuel costs, labor shortages, growing competition, and other challenges, shippers can stay ahead of the curve with the right tools—beginning with a powerful TMS.
Honeybee TMS equips shippers with a number of scalable advantages, right from day one. By turning to best-in-class technology, shippers can maximize the value of their investments—and make unprecedented gains in efficiency, savings, customer satisfaction, and beyond.
Searching for a TMS that can turbocharge your business? Contact CTSI-Global today.
