Container Transportation Management System — Overview

• Global network size
• Document sharing and storage capabilities
• Ease of use
• Real-time tracking capabilities
• Ability to react to exceptions
• Integration capabilities with other existing systems
• Level of automation offered
• Reports and analytics
• Security against data breaches

The total cost of ownership of a transportation management system can vary quite a bit. Many go up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are multiple factors to be considered. First there are the TMS licenses to account for. In addition, companies may need to pay annual maintenance, support, or training fees for some TMS solutions. Hence, it is important to read the fine print when choosing a transportation management system, and find a solution with a straightforward payment structure.

Using a container transportation management system has several benefits including:

• Easier comparison of routes and rates to reduce freight expenses.
• The ability to compare available allocations and rates by different carriers helps make the most of these contracts.
• Real-time visibility over movement of cargo lets you maintain control over operations and take informed decisions to minimize delays in case of exceptions.
• More data becomes available to evaluate and understand the performance of internal teams and third-party carriers.
• End-to-end visibility and control helps provide better customer service and communication. 

A general TMS helps organizations manage the transportation of goods over land, air and sea. That said, when it comes to ocean shipping they may not have the specialized knowledge and network required to optimize these operations. A container specialized TMS like BuyCo overcomes this hurdle by connecting shippers to multiple carriers from a single dashboard. It allows businesses to view rates and schedules by different carriers, book directly with the carriers, manage documents, and gives end-to-end visibility with the ability to track container movement. 

A general TMS is not connected to ocean carriers. Hence, businesses need to look up carriers individually to get rates and schedules. It also limits the tracking capabilities to information shared by the carrier. 

On the other hand, a maritime transportation management system like BuyCo is connected to 97% of all ocean carriers. In this way, businesses can view rates and schedules by different carriers side by side and choose the best route for their goods. It also takes into account the allocations available with different carriers to make the most of their contracts. A centralized document exchange ensures that all players have access to the latest documents. Further, once goods are on the move, it offers end-to-end visibility by tracking container movement against movement in and out of ports and other checkpoints.

There are several transportation management systems available. The best solution is not only one that suits your budget but also a software that can be integrated with other existing systems. If your goods are frequently transported over ocean routes, a maritime transportation management system like BuyCo is ideal. It connects you to 97% of all ocean carriers, gives you the option of automating several tasks and provides end-to-end visibility and control over shipping operations. 

Choosing the right transportation management system can play a big role in helping you meet sustainability goals. First, it helps you choose routes according to, not only rates, but also other KPIs such as the shortest route and vessels with the lowest carbon emissions.  Having end-to-end visibility over container movement helps businesses spot opportunities for order consolidation and splitting so as to reduce empty miles. Once the goods have been delivered, the reports provided by your TMS can help assess the operations impact on your overall carbon footprint and identify areas and processes that can be optimized.