It’s easy to think about freight orders in terms of stages. Whether you’re selecting a transportation provider or auditing a shipment, it’s natural to focus on whatever phase of the process your order is in, but it’s essential to recognize each phase as an integral part of a bigger picture.
Solving the logistics puzzle to create the best possible outcome requires consideration of each piece within the context of the whole. End-to-end order management de-siloes process data and combines it through the holistic lens of a powerful transportation management system (TMS).
Removing Silos from Your Supply Chain
Looking at order management in segments is natural for those who are part of the chain of custody. The warehouse manager doesn’t need to think beyond where they are sending a pallet. Truck drivers aren’t concerned with where the freight came from or where it’s going beyond their own pickup and delivery destinations.
But shippers need forethought and a big-picture perspective of how these segments fit together. They need to orchestrate the handoff of intermodal freight to an OTR transportation provider in real time while accounting for that inventory through warehousing, regional distribution, and last-mile delivery. De-siloing the supply chain sheds light on the logistics required to transport freight efficiently. When you understand the process from end to end, you can more effectively plan for every sequence.
A TMS Solution Improves Order Management
A TMS is key to aligning order management regardless of the complexity of the supply chain. From planning to execution and fulfillment, a TMS provides visibility and quantifiable data across channels to inform decision-making throughout the order management process – up to and including everything that occurs after delivery, such as freight payments, audits, or claims.
You can’t process a claim, for instance, if you don’t record order data in your TMS with a potential claim in mind, and you can’t engage in route planning if you don’t have a current grasp of rates and fee structures for different transportation provider types. To collect provider information, you need to solicit RFPs or engage in procurement activities, which also happen more efficiently via TMS.
Each step breaks through an order management silo to enhance visibility across your entire shipping process. A powerful TMS is the lynchpin for cultivating, capturing, and leveraging essential data.
Realize the Benefits of Integrated Order Management
From the outset, shippers must be mindful of an order’s entire journey within the context of a well-managed supply chain. Perceiving the whole chain of custody ensures order accuracy, efficiency, expedience, and transparency. As supply chains are continually strained, it’s especially critical for companies to understand how a holistic order management approach puts everyone in a position to succeed.
The solution to enhanced end-to-end order management is a comprehensive TMS and habitual use of its resources for freight planning and order oversight. Use your TMS to recognize and break through data silos with centralized, accessible data for improved decision-making.