How Dock & Yard Management Integrates With Your Transportation Management System

Consumer demands have forced entire industries to rethink and dramatically enhance their supply chains. Supply chain processes are complex, containing many moving parts that make modern industry and commerce possible. While logistics like procurement, production and inventory management are important, transportation is one commonly overlooked supply chain process that can always benefit from improvements.

Getting goods and resources from Point A to Point B as quickly and efficiently as possible makes all the difference. Inefficient operations can cause bottlenecks and delays, ultimately wasting time and money. Better transportation management can help supply chains move more efficiently than ever.

Dock and yard management software is a great start, streamlining shipping and receiving processes. Platforms like Conduit bring warehouse management to the 21st century, benefiting operators, managers, drivers and more. However, additional software tools can add even more capabilities. Integrating your yard and dock management software with a transportation management system can provide an eagle-eye view of your entire operation, helping you plan and execute the movement of goods while improving every relevant touchpoint.

In this post, we'll explore how dock and yard management integrates with a transportation management system for better overall transportation efficiency.

What is a Transportation Management System?

A transportation management system (TMS) is software that focuses exclusively on freight movement. In the past, transportation was largely opaque to stakeholders with no direct involvement in the physical movement of goods and resources. Once products left the loading dock, there were few ways to track movement, ensure shipments were compliant, etc. Most of the compliance and documentation logistics occurred in the yard, and companies didn't have many ways to access real-time information.

TMS changed that. A great TMS provides enhanced visibility over the entire shipment process, providing relevant data to stakeholders like manufacturers, distributors, third-party logistics providers and customers. 

Think of a TMS as a software-based control tower. The system can capture data about the shipment process in real-time, making it far easier to plan and execute transportation logistics from start to finish. 

The logistics industry faces many challenges. Operators are constantly battling high transportation costs, issues with fleet management, compliance problems, improper documentation and more. All those challenges lead to inefficient operations that cost parties up and down the supply chain.

TMS aims to provide greater transparency, allowing operators to make improvements across the board. Choosing to integrate a TMS with dock and yard management software substantially improves planning and execution, offering a one-two punch of efficiency.

How a TMS Works to Improve Your Logistics

Dock management integration with transportation management systems can improve your logistics in several ways. Features vary from one system to the next, but most include features that can enhance how you move and track goods.

For example, a solid TMS can help with everything from order management to fleet management. It can manage transport request orders before a carrier and driver even enter the equation. It can manually or automatically create new orders, tender shipments, plan loads in individual trucks to maximize space and more. 

Once transportation begins, a TMS can help manage large fleets, settle documents, analyze routes and track movement. A TMS's visibility is a game-changer, helping you understand every facet of the transportation process.

The transparency and data-driven approach to modern transportation management paves the way to substantial efficiency improvements. From a business intelligence standpoint, a TMS is an indispensable tool that can help save time, money and resources.

Instead of relying on old-school spreadsheets and paper documentation to gather information from different systems and providers, operators can gather real-time analytics and generate various reports from one place. This easy access to data can help them better understand their transportation process, giving them the insight needed to make positive changes.

A TMS can highlight potential kinks in transportation that cost money or lower efficiency. Ultimately, companies that integrate yard management with transportation management have what they need to improve operational workflow. It's your ticket to maximizing efficiency, avoiding delays and lowering costs. Not only does it help to strengthen dock and yard productivity, but TMS integration can also enhance the entire supply chain.

Why Integration is Beneficial

TMS integration improves supply chain efficiency, providing many benefits that boost your bottom line.

Better Warehouse and Yard Efficiency

Dock and yard management platforms like Conduit do a lot to help you effortlessly control shipping and receiving. Integrating a TMS into the mix can lead to even more improvements in productivity. Operators can spend less time managing freight.

Furthermore, details like dock scheduling become far more predictable. As a result, yards can cut waiting times, getting drivers in and out quicker than ever before. A TMS can also help align deliveries with dock schedules, improving transportation processes while optimizing efficiency.

Lower Shipping Costs

Any opportunity to save money is always a plus. Transportation management systems help manage costs in several ways. The biggest is by optimizing routes. However, you can filter cost and expense data in countless ways, highlighting the financial factors of every logistic route. Use that information to find the most cost-effective approaches and transportation routes.

Enhanced Customer Service

The right transportation system can also improve the customer experience. A TMS can consolidate orders to maximize transportation efficiency, ultimately lowering costs and preventing delays. Pair that with the ability to track movement and collect data in real-time, and you provide customers with greater transparency to alleviate worries.

Powerful Business Intelligence

The data collected from a TMS can play a crucial role in helping you improve operational workflows. In any industry, even small improvements can lead to major positive changes in efficiency. Find the best way to move goods and resources, turning your operation into a well-oiled machine.

More Transportation Visibility

More visibility benefits the entire supply chain. Logistics managers and operators can access data and generate reports using TMS integration. The information collected can help leaders spot potential difficulties, empowering them to take action to avoid delays and provide solutions before they impact the rest of the supply chain.

Reduced Paperwork

Transportation is a documentation-heavy process. A TMS can automate accounts, reducing the amount of paperwork required to keep things moving. Generate digital bills of lading, perform freight auditing, streamline invoicing tasks and more. 

The best part is that automation removes the element of human labor. Therefore, you can reduce costs while improving accuracy.

How to Make the Implementation Seamless

Transportation management systems typically exist as part of a larger IT ecosystem. However, integrating a TMS with other powerful tools isn't always easy. Dock and yard management platforms complement TMS software in countless ways, allowing you to harness greater capabilities for maximum transportation efficiency. Smooth and seamless integration ensures you can take advantage of the power of a TMS without the growing pains.

The best way to make the implementation seamless is to use scalable, modular and API-based software. Conduit is a platform built to easily integrate with other software like a TMS. The Conduit API is scalable to other systems, effortlessly communicating with other software to exchange information and give you greater control of shipping, receiving and transportation.

What to Look For in a TMS

Today's market offers a wide array of TMS options, each with its own unique features and capabilities. This variety ensures that you can find a system that perfectly fits your business's needs and goals.

The key to choosing one right for your business is considering your needs. What features would be the most transformative to your current operations? Look into the future and consider how you want your existing transportation processes to evolve.

Look for features like real-time data analytics, automation and visibility. A TMS should help with transportation logistics, such as order and fleet management. Meanwhile, accessibility features like cloud-based portals can provide greater transportation to all shareholders.

Pay attention to the types of insights a TMS can provide and how harnessing them could help you improve your business. Choosing a TMS with the right capabilities will make the integration a wise investment that continually provides a high ROI.

Another consideration is how a system can integrate with your dock and yard management tools. Scalable solutions that easily exchange information with your existing platform are ideal. You want your TMS to improve the supply chain and facilitate better yard management. Smooth integration unlocks greater capabilities and insights to help you manage your dock and yard more successfully.

Get Started With Conduit Today!

Ready to flip the script on outdated dock and yard management processes? Conduit is a scalable platform that provides enhanced operational visibility and powerful data analytics. It allows you to put dock scheduling on autopilot, collaborate with drivers, track compliance issues and more, all from one easy-to-use platform. 

Conduit is a versatile tool that can integrate with a transportation management system, helping you refine how you move goods. Invest in better operational efficiency and take your dock and yard management practices into the digital age. Reach out today to learn more about Conduit!