Transportation Management Systems (TMS)

10 years ago, here’s what I recall the Freightech landscape being like. - Legacy TMS systems were written using old technology with clunky UI. - Those legacy systems were not interoperable with other platforms. - Connecting with other partners was impossible and/or lengthy and prohibitively expensive. - Automation was minimal, and system execution was rigid. - There were not many stand-alone tools, and TMS did it all. Fast forward to 2024: - Many new TMS players, built with modern languages and great interfaces, showed up. - Even the legacy incumbents have caught up to some extent to compete with the more agile players. - Some of these TMS players became specialists in the new needs and complexity of supply chains (different modes, planning, etc.). - Interoperability skyrocketed, and there is much more connectivity (meaningful, solid, and impactful) than ever. - There is almost a stand-alone tech product for every process, from rating to tracking to billing and settlements, in every mode and connected to the primary LSP, Carrier, or Shipper’s core system. - Automation and AI are starting to play a part in processing all these systems, enhancing human work and making it better, smarter, and faster. I’m excited for the next 10 years in our space; there is a ton of disruption and opportunity ahead of us. #logistics #transportation #freighttech #saas #trucking #freight #tms #platform #automation #ai #integration #api #rpa

What is Transportation Management (TM) in SAP S/4HANA? Simply put: It’s an advanced solution to plan, execute, and monitor transportation activities—covering the entire transportation lifecycle. From: - Order creation and carrier selection To: - Freight cost calculation and final delivery Whether you’re shipping locally, nationally, or globally, SAP TM ensures:   ↳ Smooth operations   ↳Fewer errors   ↳ Greater visibility at every step For businesses dealing with complex logistics, TM acts as the backbone for efficiency and control. --- What makes SAP TM so powerful? Let’s explore its standout features: 1. Freight Order Management       ↳ Handles carrier selection, freight bookings, and costs. Supports tendering for competitive rates.     2. Transportation Planning       ↳ Optimizes routes, consolidates shipments, and saves time and costs—even allows dynamic re-planning.     3. Freight Settlement       ↳ Automates billing processes, prevents disputes, and accelerates payments.     4. Real-Time Tracking       ↳ Provides shipment visibility to handle delays proactively—boosts customer satisfaction.     5. Analytics & Reporting       ↳ Offers insights into performance, costs, and trends to enable data-driven decisions.    --- Let’s break down the process flow—step-by-step. 1. Order Creation       ↳ Sales orders (SAP SD) and purchase orders (SAP MM) trigger transportation planning.     2. Planning & Scheduling       ↳ Optimizes routes, schedules deliveries, and consolidates shipments based on cost, time, and priority.     3. Freight Booking       ↳ Assigns carriers and generates freight orders. Automates communication with carriers.     4. Execution & Tracking       ↳ Dispatches shipments and enables real-time tracking to ensure transparency.     5. Freight Cost Settlement       ↳ Calculates costs automatically, verifies invoices, and processes payments seamlessly.    This structured process keeps operations smooth and minimizes errors. --- Real-World Example: Simplified Logistics for a Car Manufacturer Imagine receiving parts from multiple suppliers across the country. With SAP TM, you can: - Consolidate shipments to reduce costs and simplify handling. - Track deliveries in real time to avoid production delays. - Automate freight cost calculations and settlements to save time. - Analyze carrier performance to optimize future shipments. This kind of efficiency and reliability keeps modern businesses ahead of the curve. --- If you found this post helpful, repost it for others ♻️ and follow me for more insights! --- 📌 Resources to Support Your SAP Upskilling Journey SAP SD Interview Preparation Video Course along with Config Guides: https://lnkd.in/g8XFK6Js SAP SD Processes Mindmaps: https://lnkd.in/gk72sp8G SAP Basics E-Books: https://lnkd.in/dvYG7iS7 ---

Is your TMS doing the job… or just doing the bare minimum? For many large shippers, their TMS in place is adequate. It meets basic functional requirements. It’s “fine.” But here’s the kicker: adequate rarely delivers competitive advantage. We see this all the time: --> Freight audit processes still need workarounds --> Carrier onboarding is manual and inconsistent --> Rate management feels stuck in 2010 --> Visibility tools are bolted-on, not built-in --> Planning and execution don’t truly talk to each other The root issue? Most organizations evaluate TMS platforms only through a functional lens, not a strategic one. We created this Insider's Guide to help shippers take a more structured, strategic approach to evaluating TMS platforms. It walks you through: --> A structured way to assess your current TMS maturity --> The difference between foundational and differentiating capabilities --> Real-world questions to ask vendors and your own teams --> How to future-proof TMS investments around agility and integration This isn’t about chasing shiny objects. It’s about making sure your tech is aligned with how you compete, now and in the future. Whether you're thinking about replacing your TMS or just want to pressure-test what you’ve got, this guide is a great starting point. If your TMS feels more adequate than strategic, let’s connect. We advise large shippers on how to evaluate where they are today and optimize for efficiency, agility, and future growth.

🛣️ Berg Insight just released the latest edition of our market research covering the Transport Management Systems (TMS) market. Solution vendors range from small specialised TMS developers active in local markets to the major enterprise software providers with worldwide presence.   ✔️ Some of the most notable players on the North American TMS market are Trimble Transportation and McLeod Software. Trimble is a major industrial technology company which offers a suite of TMS solutions following multiple acquisitions, while McLeod has focused specifically on serving the trucking industry for 40 years. Providers of broader supply chain and logistics offerings such as Blue Yonder, Manhattan Associates, e2open (acquired by WiseTech in 2025), Descartes Systems Group and Kinaxis are also competing in the TMS space. Mastery, Turvo, TMSfirst, FreightWise (including Kuebix) and Shipwell are additional examples of players with a primary TMS focus. The global logistics company C.H. Robinson (the former TMC division) is yet another example. Uber Freight also has a TMS business (stemming from the acquisition of Transplace).   ✔️ The major US-based cloud infrastructure and software provider Oracle is active in this space with its Oracle Transportation Management offering deployed across all geographic markets. The Germany-based enterprise application software giant SAP similarly offers SAP Transportation Management globally.   ✔️ The European TMS market is further served by players such as Transporeon (owned by Trimble), Infios, 4flow, proLogistik GmbH, AEB, ecovium, Solvares Group, Soloplan GmbH and LIS based in Germany; the French groups Generix, SINARI and AKANEA; Microlise, Aptean 3T, Mandata and HaulTech in the UK; Alpega headquartered in Austria; BlueRock TMS, Navitrans and Boltrics based in Benelux; nShift, Pagero, AddSecure and Opter in the Nordics; INELO headquartered in Poland; the Italian companies TESISQUARE and SIMA ; Alerce Group in Spain; as well as AndSoft based in Andorra.   🔍 Berg Insight has also recently released a new research paper covering real-time transportation visibility (RTTV) platforms. Players active in this space range from niche visibility providers and more general TMS providers, through broader supply chain and logistics software vendors, to providers of fully integrated business management IT solutions such as ERPs. In addition to project44, FourKites, Inc. and Shippeo which have had an explicit focus on visibility platforms specifically, other major players in this space include Transporeon and Descartes which are also key TMS providers. Visibility can hardly be defined as a product category of its own, and even the specific RTTV platforms are over time adding features increasingly positioning them as TMS players – thus resulting in also an element of competition between TMS and RTTV providers.   #TMS #RTTV #RTTVP #fleetmanagement #transportmanagement #transportationmanagement #supplychain #logistics #visibility

I have seen people go insane trying to choose the right TMS. They have the completely wrong approach. We all make this mistake: We look for the perfect software to solve our problems as they are. We have a process, and then we look for a tool that can execute that exact process for us. But, no tool fits perfectly. So, we settle for something, sign a contract, and spend the next 5 years getting more and more frustrated. The better way to choose a TMS is to look at the options that provide the best features for your business goals. Then, think about how you can adapt your processes to work with this software. Recognize that your business will change, the industry will change, and the software will probably change as well. Look at the software as something to grow with, not something that can solve every issue exactly as it is now. If you are looking for the software that does that, you will be unsatisfied forever. Changing your processes will be uncomfortable, but fighting with your TMS every day because you refuse to adapt is worse. Choose a software for the next 5 years. Think about the cost, your business goals and the potential for value generation. Then, create a plan to optimize this value generation by using the tool to its full potential. Loc leaders- How do you go about choosing a TMS?