Clarkston Consulting Featured by Inbound Logistics on Unlocking Transportation Efficiencies

Durham, NC | May 11, 2021

Current TMS solutions offer more capabilities than those of even a few years ago. For instance, today’s rating engines are expected to include multiple transportation modes, and TMS platforms’ increasing need to integrate with a range of other parties, including carriers and brokerages, says Jeff Lokant, director of technology operations with logistics management company Transportation Insight.

Several shifts in the business world have boosted interest in TMS solutions. The pandemic highlighted both the volatility and importance of the transportation function. Many TMS platforms can provide routing optimization, visibility, traceability, and other capabilities that businesses need to compete in a post-pandemic landscape, says Sebastian Valencia, partner with Clarkston Consulting.

Given the democratization of TMS solutions, do they make sense for all organizations, big and small? “Size isn’t the key determining factor,” Valencia says. More relevant are the importance of managing transportation costs and/or meeting customer expectations. If these run high, even many small companies can justify investments in TMS solutions.

Even as TMS solutions continue to advance and offer value to a broader range of organizations, there’s still room for improvement. It’s hard to find a single application that can cover all services with the depth most organizations need, in all regions of the world, Valencia says. Shippers often patch together multiple solutions to get all the capabilities they need.

Even as TMS solutions continue to improve, many businesses can benefit from investing in one sooner than they typically have. “Businesses stand to gain a significant competitive advantage if they consider investing in a TMS solution much earlier in their digital journey,” Valencia says.

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