11 benefits of a transportation management system for warehouses

What are the benefits of a transportation management system for warehouses? Explore 11 key advantages in our guide.



If you run a warehouse, your primary purpose is to ensure that goods flow from one point to the next.

Achieving this requires a combination of processes. Much of the hard graft goes on within the four walls of the warehouse, where goods are stored, picked, packed and shipped.

But the successful flow of goods is also highly dependent on the transport you use. This often means taking care of transportation management, as well as inventory and fulfilment management.

If you cut corners with transport management, you'll likely face unnecessarily high shipping costs and late deliveries. By using a transportation management system (TMS), however, you streamline outbound logistics and keep the customer satisfied.

Some transportation management systems are available as standalone pieces of software. But they also come integrated with some warehouse management systems.

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a multi-functional piece of software. Our solutions, for instance, give you end-to-end visibility into your warehouse operations and inventory as well as powerful data reporting functions.

Whichever route you choose, transport management tools can help you bridge the gap between inventory and delivery. That means killing the two birds of operational excellence and customer satisfaction with one cloud-based stone.

That's the big picture. But what are the benefits of a transportation management system in more detail? By our count, there are 11 key benefits – and all are included in our WMS solutions.

Key transport management system benefits

1. Electronic proof of delivery

Electronic proof of delivery (EPoD) is a system that replaces paper-based delivery notes with electronic records, and swaps notebooks and ledgers for smartphones and tablets.

The key advantage of an EPoD system is that it provides you and the customer with immediate delivery confirmation. This helps keep disputes with customers to a minimum and is an indispensable tool when trying to make last-mile delivery more cost-effective.

2. Voice-controlled marshalling and loading

Our warehouse management software comes with a powerful voice solution, which brings hands-free control to all aspects of warehouse operations.

In this system, staff wear headsets and receive instructions. They confirm that tasks have been completed with simple, easy-to-learn instructions. This keeps their hands and eyes free – a safer and more efficient way of working than with handheld devices.

3. Vehicle routing and delivery

Efficiency and optimisation are big words. In a warehouse context, however, they're made up of lots of little things.

In the case of route planning and loading, the devil is very much in the details. A transportation management system, whether integrated with a WMS or not, can assist with this by downloading route details to your integrated EPoD device.

4. In-cab management and paperless delivery

Paper is good for many things, from party hats to poetry. In a fast-moving warehouse or delivery environment, however, it's usually more trouble than it's worth.

This is partly because people are prone to making mistakes when in a rush, and their handwriting is likely to be less than exemplary. This can lead to problems with legibility.

A transportation management system, by contrast, makes the delivery process more manageable, more efficient and more accurate. It achieves this with features like in-cab electronic journey lists and delivery discrepancy management tools.

5. Supplier conformance

Taking on a supplier is a risky business – after all, you're relying on them for something as fundamental as supplies. That's why you need supplier conformance – the process of ensuring your suppliers are in line with legal and industry regulations.

A TMS or WMS can help with this by ensuring products arriving at your warehouse meet predetermined standards of quantity, quality, packaging and labelling.

On top of this, you can set customer service level agreements (SLAs), allowing queries on this topic to be promptly answered.

 6. Payment management

One of the beauties of cloud-based software is that it can be used in pretty much any setting – you just need an internet connection.

This is the case with in-cab payment management. The driver is able to manage payments from the driver's seat (when parked safely, of course). This connects the vehicle with the company's financial systems and streamlines payments.

7. GPRS tracking

GPRS provides mobile data connectivity for delivery drivers. A transportation management system gives warehouse administrators real-time visibility into deliveries by connecting them with drivers via GPRS tracking.

8. GPS navigation

One of the main challenges faced by warehouse leaders and drivers is the need to take the most efficient route in an ever-changing landscape. Traffic, roadworks and other disruptions can make route planning feel like herding a particularly skittish cat.

You don't need a transportation management system to use GPS, of course. A driver can simply use their phone or other device.

What a TMS (and WMS) does is connect these mobile devices to the central WMS dashboard, increasing delivery visibility.

9. Onboard camera

Transportation management systems and warehouse management systems are great at integrating existing tech. For instance, deliveries can be accelerated by capturing the delivery with an onboard camera. This is then visible on the central software dashboard.

10. Returns process optimisation

Returns are an essential part of the fulfilment process – and an essential part of a transport fleet's job. A TMS or WMS can help optimise the returns process by providing real-time tracking, optimising returns and batching return orders.

11. Vehicle inspection and legal checks

With a TMS or WMS, drivers can complete inspection checklists on mobile devices or handheld scanners. This information is then instantly synchronised with the central database back at HQ (and available on any device in any location). This streamlines the essential process of ensuring vehicle compliance.

How we can help

At Minster WMS, we've helped businesses streamline their operations with logistics software solutions since 1979.

We provide two cloud-based WMS solutions, both including a fully featured, web-based transport management system:

CORE: our WMS for small businesses – a highly capable solution that provides end-to-end visibility of all warehouse operations and can be deployed within 24 hours.

EDGE: our enterprise WMS, incorporating all the key functionality of CORE, plus extensive customisation support from our dedicated UK development team.

Want to explore how our solutions can help you unlock efficiencies in your delivery and logistics operations? Book a demo with our experts today.