Order management
It is a simple matter to specify transport requests and manage them, right up to and including invoicing. Planners, drivers and customers all have access to the same information in the TMS, so data need only be entered once. Paper shipment lists are a thing of the past. This provides both you and your customer with continuous insight into the status of transport requests and precludes unnecessary administrative transactions.
Entering transport orders
In the TMS you enter orders to transport products from one location to the other, as well as any necessary details such as weight, format, product details, etc. Pre-set routes/details such as via depot, via ferry or tunnel/bridge, collection, depot traffic, distribution, etc., are automatically generated when an order is entered from A to B. If you use our integrated WMS then the transport requests automatically end up in the TMS as ‘to be scheduled transports’. Another option is to give your customers access to a unique customer portal where they can register transport requests.
Via (automatic) email messages the dispatcher and recipient receive information about the pertinent transport order.
Planning transport requests
As soon as transport requests and the corresponding routes are created, they are made available to the planning board for the planning department. Various routes, areas, or activities are set out for the planner in question on a single overview.
Thanks to the real-time link between the TMS in the office and the onboard unit or the driver’s tablet/smartphone, the planning department has maximum insight into where vehicles are located, who is being delayed, etc.
At all times, the planner has insight into the costs & input/output ratio of a scheduled shipment and a planned shipment, thus the pre-calculated margin. During execution, this margin is adjusted by the exact hours/mileage.
Managing transport orders
As soon as transports have been scheduled the driver sees all the relevant data on their onboard unit or on the app on their smartphone or tablet. This provides them with all the necessary data onboard, without the need for any paper freight documents. As soon as the driver has delivered the goods, their terminal (tablet or smartphone) is updated, where necessary with the (digital) signature of the recipient. Moreover, if needed, the driver can also register potential losses and packaging. As such the dispatcher and planners have direct access to all relevant information.
Optimize recurring orders
The Recurring Orders functionality allows you to easily handle repetitive transportation tasks. 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. 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.
Transport orders: ETA (expected time of arrival)
Because the driver updates the status of transport orders en route, and because the vehicle is hooked up to GP(R)S, each recipient (and/or dispatcher) has insight into the ETA of their goods, even if the shipment is delayed. This improves service levels and prevents the planning department being inundated with queries.
Invoicing for transport orders in TMS
When creating transport requests in TMS or WMS, the cost of a particular transport is (often) pre-determined (based on price lists, customer agreements, discounts, etc.). As soon as the goods have been delivered by the driver an invoice can be automatically prepared in the TMS. Upon verification by the accounts department the invoice in question is either sent or the transport request is placed on a summary invoice together with other transport requests. Special route-related costs are easily added: waiting hours, repackaging costs, booking costs etc.
Managing Irregularities
When dealing with transport orders, you have to handle all sorts of irregularities. For example, when customers are not available for delivery, the address is unavailable or unknown, or goods are damaged or missing.Not every event has the same impact. For quick handling of irregularities you need insight into the different impact levels. This can be done by determining a default impact level for each type of irregularity.By providing the irregularities with a clear type code it is also possible to assign groups of irregularities to certain departments.When an irregularity occurs, the feedback can be shared with the customer service of these departments via the onboard computer (or by phone). Irregularities are provided with the 3PL status and step functionality allowing for an immediate follow-up action by the customer service employee.
PESENTI Trasporti & Logistica opts for Boltrics' TMS
“In a dynamic world like logistics, customer loyalty is our top priority. To keep up with customer needs, we need to stay on top of the latest technological developments.”
The 5 Do’s and Don’ts of a new TMS solution.
What to pay attention to when implementing a new TMS? We have listed the do’s and don’ts for you with tips to keep things simple and transparent.
3PL Dynamics’ visual planning screen
Have a direct overview of your trips and correlating resources. Add addresses to an existing route or combine stops to create a new trip, while keeping an eye out for the total number of load meters on the route.