Transportation Management

Target Audience and Users of Transportation Management Systems

The changing demands of recent years have given rise to new consumption patterns, directly impacting the logistics sector as well—a fact we at sedApta are well aware of. Fluctuations in demand, shorter sales cycles, delivery tracking, and supply chain integration have driven growth in the TMS transportation segment, refining the concept of the extended supply chain. The answer to these needs lies in the NextRoute solution.

Transportation Management Systems (TMS) are essential for a wide range of companies for which the need to effectively manage the movement of goods is a fundamental requirement. In the past, the primary users of TMS software were companies with significant shipping challenges and costs. Today, with the advent of cloud-based TMS solutions, even small businesses can reap the benefits of transportation management, making their supply chains more efficient and competitive. Transportation management plays a key role in ensuring the success of the entire supply chain.

From shipping to planning: how it works 

• Transportation planning integrated with the production plan: transport orders are generated directly from sedApta’s Resource & Supply Planning, and Factory Scheduling modules, without the need for manual adjustments between systems.
• Rate Management System: configurable purchase contracts for each carrier feed into the automatic selection algorithm. The system compares price lists and service parameters in real time, without the need for Excel spreadsheets.
• Automated Smart Tracking: direct connection to transportation services and major cloud platforms. Tracking information is updated automatically and fed into the O.S.A. control tower
• Multi-Tenant Collaborative Platform: Freight Service Providers are natively integrated into the platform, from booking to online check-in, all the way through document management and invoice verification.
• Automatic CO2 emissions calculation: Each shipment is assessed for its environmental impact based on the mode of transport, route, fuel, and volume. The data can be exported for ESG reports.
• Exception management with end-to-end visibility: the platform detects deviations from the transportation plan in real time, quantifies the impact on production and customer orders, and triggers realignment workflows—all from the control tower’s single interface.

Services Offered by Transportation Management Systems (TMS)

The solution that sedApta offers to address and resolve today’s business needs is the result of integration and collaboration with the Group’s innovative startup dedicated to supply chain and logistics execution, NextChain.

The innovative strength of the solution stems, first and foremost, from an in-depth understanding of advanced supply chain processes, thanks to the expertise of the initiative’s key personnel, which enables the enormous potential offered by cutting-edge technologies to be translated into innovative solutions.

Starting with Big Data management tools, which enable the real-time conversion of massive amounts of data into concise information to support complex decision-making processes, through Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning systems, which automate entire process components, bringing execution speed closer to the demands of an increasingly real-time market.

To assist customers in their digital transformation, each component is complemented by the O.S.A.+ (Orchestrator – Skillaware – Analytics), a true simulation-based Control Tower capable of integrating various business processes and synchronizing people, while remaining highly flexible to easily manage exceptions by generating real-time alerts, discussions, and dashboards that combine information from different departments (logistics, as well as production, quality, and maintenance). An environment where simulations can be prepared, run, and analyzed to evaluate alternative scenarios, thereby rapidly supporting the decision-making process in an end-to-end manner.

• Planning and Scheduling: An effective TMS transportation system is essential to help companies select the most appropriate shipping mode and carrier, taking into account various factors such as cost, type of goods to be transported, distance, transit times, carbon footprint, etc. This process includes optimizing multi-stop routes, ensuring full visibility into every stage of the supply chain. A well-designed TMS therefore enables more strategic and informed planning and scheduling of transport operations.
• Operations Management and Communication: This aspect covers a range of critical functions, such as load matching and interaction with carriers, as well as document management and shipment tracking. Advanced systems such as sedApta Nextchain go a step further, offering real-time tracking and tracing services. This significantly improves the exchange of information between carriers, distributors, warehouses, and customers. In addition, the system is capable of comprehensively managing all legal and tax documentation related to transportation.
• Data Analysis and Optimization: The optimization features offered by a TMS typically include advanced tools for performance evaluation and monitoring, such as detailed reports, dashboards, in-depth analyses, and the use of transportation-specific intelligence. These tools are essential for enabling companies to continuously refine and improve their transportation processes, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing costs. Integration with other solutions (ERP systems and/or EWM solutions) enables sophisticated data analysis and the resulting optimization of transportation processes.