In the dynamic realm of transportation logistics, efficiency is paramount. You don’t want your employees to spend a lot of time on standard trips. Make your TMS work for you and stop creating the same order over and over again weekly. How do you do that? The introduction of recurring transport orders emerges as a sophisticated solution for seamlessly managing repetitive transport requirements. In a previous blog, we explained how to create calendars for recurring transportation orders. Whether it involves periodic deliveries to a consistent destination or any other regularly occurring transportation need, the recurring order functionality offers an advanced approach to enhancing operational efficiency.

Recurring Orders in 3PL Dynamics

The recurring order functionality empowers users through a dedicated page where the configuration of recurring orders becomes a flexible and consistent process. This template-based approach allows the capture of specific information at both the transport document header as well as line levels. Thus ensuring a comprehensive and tailored approach to recurring transport needs. In the video below, you learn how you can configure recurring transportation orders yourself.

Scenario 1 – Day checkboxes

In the scenario outlined below we will dive into the logic behind the day checkboxes. In this particular example we execute the template on a Friday. Consequently, based on this template, only one new transport order will be generated taking the associated configuration for the selected day into account.

Scenario 2 – Calculate from

In the second example, we will dive into the logic behind the calculate from field. Once again, we execute the template on a Friday. The calculate from value has been determined as +3D. This means that the calculated date will be Monday. In the below example this means that 2 new transport orders will be created.

Scenario 3 – Unloading and loading day calculation + Workday calendar

In the third scenario, we will dive into unloading day and loading day fields. Besides, we will also validate the impact of the workday calendar configuration. In this particular example, we execute the template on a Friday [02-02-2024]. The calculate from value has been determined as +0D. At the same time we see that the first recurring order line has specific requirements regarding the loading and unloading date [both +1D]. The second order line does not have any particular loading and unloading date requirements. If the user for this template subsequently triggers the creation of new recurring orders, two new orders will be created including the (un)loading date information that can be found below.

Scenario 4 – Job queue

In the above examples we have highlighted you can manually trigger the creation of recurring orders. Besides this manual trigger option it will also be possible to trigger the creation of recurring orders periodically. The below job queue will validate for all recurring order templates for which the “batch” checkbox has been enabled whether new recurring orders need to be created. The logic that has been discussed above will during the job queue run be taken into account.

The 5 Do’s and Don’ts of a new TMS solution

You are ready to select a Transportation Management System (TMS). If you are switching from a different TMS, the adjustment may be a bit easier. But when coming from an Excel spreadsheet, you’ll notice there will be a significant change. What should you do? What should you avoid? We tackle these concerns in our whitepaper.