A transportation management system (TMS) can provide the framework for a “superhighway to savings and efficiency,” according to Worldmetrics.com.
Of course, not all highways are super. Some are plagued by inefficient interchanges, like Atlanta’s notorious Spaghetti Junction. It’s the same with TMSs. Seamless integrations with other disparate systems in the supply chain are necessary to create synergies and enhance efficiency, visibility, and decision-making.
A Supply Chain Game Changer blog called an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system “the central element of almost every business today.”
It said an ERP system “provides a view of the working processes in the company. It is a kind of hub for the functional groups of procuring, financing, resource distribution, and management. In the context of logistics, many of these functions become even more critical, as the whole point of the business is transporting goods and tracking them during the transportation.”
However, the article noted that “ERP functionality is rarely enough to cover all the aspects of a full-fledged transportation management business. That is why logistics companies often look for some additional solutions with broader functionality.”
Integrating a TMS and ERP can improve overall operations “in a number of critical ways,” Supply Chain Game Changer said. “When the tasks are properly defined, and the data for processing is handled by each system in the most optimal way, then combined integration of the ERP and TMS gives you a comprehensive platform that results in a significant competitive advantage in the field.”
Together, TMS and ERP systems can provide a holistic view of supply chain operations:
Systems integration creates supply chain synergies in myriad ways, including end-to-end visibility, improved inventory management, and cost reduction. Nearly every company in the world is looking to achieve those synergies, including Wendy’s. The fast food restaurant chain announced in early August that it was partnering with AI systems provider Palantir Technologies “to create an integrated supply chain network.”
Integrated systems provide a comprehensive view from order creation to delivery to payment. In addition, real-time visibility and tracking can increase asset utilization and reduce idle time.
Synchronizing inventory levels and demand forecasting ensures better stock management. Integrated systems can help improve the timing of shipments and thus reduce warehousing costs.
Integrated systems can reduce costs through the automation of manual processes, optimized route planning, enhanced load optimization, automated invoice auditing, and more.
TMSs track logistics data, ERP systems track financial and production data, and warehouse management systems (WMSs) track inventory data. “The most effective supply chains connect all this information – as well as external data such as weather patterns, market signals, and partner and competitive data – and make it easily accessible to business users,” Oracle explained. “They also use analytics to analyze massive amounts of data, uncovering trends and issues that help supply chain teams answer crucial questions, such as ‘Why are my goods delayed?’ ‘How long will they be delayed?’ ‘What’s the impact on customers?’”
Owlery’s TMS software seamlessly integrates with other ERPs, including Oracle NetSuite, WMSs, and order management systems (OMSs), to provide comprehensive and customizable solutions to automate and streamline logistics processes, ensuring accurate, timely, and cost-effective operations.
We also integrate with such ERPs as SAP, Microsoft D365, Sage, Katana, Wherefour, Fishbowl, and Cin7; warehousing providers such as Flexe, Radial, Lineage, and Americold; and freight brokerages such as C.H. Robinson, Uber Freight, Coyote, and Priority1.
Owlery tailors integration solutions to meet specific business needs and requirements.
With Owlery, users can set up customized rules tailored to their specific operational processes. This includes automating tasks such as generating bills of lading, building loads, sending orders, and scheduling appointments.
We also provide users with a dedicated onboarding team as well as ongoing customer success reps for continuing collaboration.
Owlery is an end-to-end TMS supply chain platform designed to handle every aspect of shipping from order to payment. We are committed to providing businesses with the tools they need to achieve real-time visibility, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency.
We’re different from other TMS providers. We stand apart with our shipper-first approach, data management and free vendor integrations, easy customizations, world-class partner support, and end-to-end features.
