TMS software

What does a TMS do?

A transport management system (TMS) handles the transport of goods, from the order to the invoice. Orders come in by email, EDI or an integration, the planner divides them over vehicles and drivers and the system calculates the route. On the road the driver works with an app: the trip, scanning, a signature for the proof of delivery and the CMR. Customers follow their shipment with track & trace, and after the trip the TMS creates the invoice based on your rates. A WMS handles what happens in the warehouse; the TMS takes over as soon as the goods leave the building.

Which TMS suits your business?

Transport companies and logistics service providers need a TMS that handles orders, planning, subcontracting and invoicing in one go, with links to on-board computers and accounting. For this there are Dutch packages such as Transplan, LogisticManager, FiLogic OpenTMS and Arox TMS, Qargo from Ghent, and 3PL Dynamics from Boltrics for those who also run a warehouse. FleetGO combines a TMS with vehicle tracking and the tachograph.

If you deliver with your own vehicles, such as a furniture store, wholesaler or installer, planning software such as Bumbal, which makes routes and keeps customers informed, is often enough. Shippers that book their shipments with carriers, such as manufacturers and wholesalers, look at Cargoson, which compares rates, books with the carrier and creates the labels and waybills, or at the TMS for shippers in Adaption's Logistics Cloud Suite.

What should you look out for?

• Planning: do you want to plan yourself on a planning board, or should the system optimise the routes with time windows, capacity and several days? Many packages use PTV for this.
• Driver app: check whether the app works on the phones or on-board computers your drivers already have, and whether it supports the digital CMR and proof of delivery.
• Integrations: a TMS links with your accounting, your customers (EDI or a customer portal), on-board computers such as Transics and Webfleet, and possibly your WMS. Ask which are standard and what has to be built.
• Costs: you pay per vehicle, per user, per shipment or a licence based on your turnover. Some packages have a free entry plan or trial; for most you only get a price after a demo.