A Key Tool to Improve Transportation Management System Reporting

Transportation management systems and reporting challenges

Transportation management systems (TMS) are crucial for logistics and transportation companies, aiding in route planning, carrier management, payments, and load optimization. However, when it comes to reporting and applying analytics to the vast amount of data within a TMS, the process can be challenging and time-consuming.

While most systems offer reporting capabilities, building custom reports and applying basic analytics can be difficult. Some organizations resort to manually creating reports in tools like Microsoft Excel, which can lead to human error, lost reports, and issues if the report creator leaves the company.

Your organization may be struggling with TMS reporting in areas like:

• Data silos — Transportation management systems often operate in isolation, making it difficult to integrate data from various sources.
• Complex data — Logistics data is inherently complex, involving multiple variables such as routes, fuel costs, delivery times, and more.
• Manual reporting — Many companies still rely on manual processes for reporting, which are time-consuming and prone to errors.
• Lack of real-time insights — Traditional systems may not provide real-time data, leading to delays in decision-making.
• Customization issues — Standard TMS reports may not meet the specific needs of your business, requiring additional customization.

Benefits of leveraging business intelligence software

Business intelligence (BI) software integrates with your current systems to collect, analyze, and present data to help you make informed business decisions. It focuses on data analysis, reporting, and visualization.

Leveraging BI capabilities may help your organization significantly enhance operations, leading to better overall performance and profitability. Consider some of the benefits:

• Improved decision-making — Provides data-driven insights to help you make more informed and accurate decisions.
• Increased efficiency — Automates data collection and reporting processes, saving time and reducing manual errors.
• Enhanced visibility —BI tools can analyze and visualize TMS data alongside other business data to provide a holistic view of logistics performance and its impact on overall business operations, enabling better monitoring and management.
• Competitive advantage — Facilitates long-term planning and helps you stay ahead of the competition by identifying market trends and opportunities.
• Cost savings — Uses tools like cost analysis and budget forecasting to identify areas where savings can be achieved and efficiencies can be improved.
• Custom reporting — Use your data how you want and build your own custom reports and dashboards.