More than six in 10 transport managers say the public does not understand the role of an HGV driver.
You wouldn’t rely on outdated vehicles, computers or phones to run your business. So why rely on an outdated TMS?
Here are 12 signs it might be time for a change.
1. It doesn’t integrate with your other systems
How much time does your team spend moving between different platforms or hunting for information?
A good TMS should integrate with other modern systems via API. In many cases, providers will already have integrations available for platforms such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), ERP solutions and accounting software.
If yours doesn’t, you could be left with information sitting in different places, leaving your team wasting valuable time trying to find it.
2. You’re worried about cyber security
Cyber security isn’t something you can afford to overlook. If your supplier isn’t providing regular security updates, your TMS could be at greater risk of a cyber-attack.
It’s worth asking: when was your system last updated?
3. It struggles when plans change
Any TMS worth its weight should be good at transport planning. But anyone working in transport knows that even the best-laid plans can change.
Traffic congestion. Road closures. Changing customer requirements.
When something unexpected happens, your TMS needs to keep up. That means responding quickly and producing an updated plan that remains as efficient and effective as possible.
If it can’t, it might not be doing enough for your operation.
4. Customers want information you can’t provide
Customer expectations have changed. Increasingly, customers want greater visibility of their loads, better tracking and more accurate ETAs. And that information should be at your fingertips.
A modern TMS can even give customers access to a portal where they can log in and see the information for themselves. So if answering a simple “where’s my delivery?” question still involves phone calls, emails or chasing colleagues for updates, it could be time to look elsewhere.
5. You can’t make informed decisions in real time
Transport operators often need to make decisions quickly.
When a problem arises, having the right information available can be the difference between a minor disruption and a much bigger issue.
If your TMS doesn’t give you the data you need to make informed decisions, in real time, you could be putting customer relationships – and your company’s reputation – at risk.
6. It isn’t scaling with your business
Your business probably doesn’t look the same as it did 10 years ago. So does your TMS still fit?
If you’re regularly spending time, and money, asking your developers to reconfigure a system to meet increasingly complex requirements, it may be worth considering something more flexible.
Modern TMS platforms are often modular and available through a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, making it easier to scale your technology up or down as your business changes.
Your TMS should support your growth, not stand in its way.
7. You’re struggling to control costs
With inflationary pressures squeezing margins, efficiency matters more than ever.
And when margins are under pressure, improving productivity and controlling costs become even more important.
If maintaining profitability is becoming increasingly difficult, consider whether a modern TMS could help you work more efficiently while reducing costs.
8. You can’t easily work remotely
Older TMS platforms were often installed directly onto company servers. That meant accessing them usually required being on-site.
Modern systems are cloud-based, allowing users to access them from anywhere.
With remote and home working now much more common, relying on a legacy system that can only be accessed from the premises can create unnecessary limitations.
9. You’re not getting the support you need
Technology should make your job easier – and when something does go wrong, you need to know there’s someone there to help.
Users of cloud-based TMS platforms typically experience fewer issues because the provider is responsible for maintaining and regularly updating the system. But the quality of customer service can still vary significantly between providers.
If you’re unhappy with the support you receive, look for a supplier with a proven track record in customer care.
10. Customer disputes are difficult to resolve
A customer says their delivery was late. Or perhaps they’re questioning whether it arrived at all.
How quickly can you prove what happened?
A modern TMS can integrate with electronic proof of delivery, giving you the information you need to resolve these conversations quickly and helping to avoid disputes in the first place.
11. It isn’t helping you improve road safety
A modern TMS can go beyond simply planning and managing transport.
Today’s systems can include driver behaviour monitoring and telematics, helping operators further embed a culture of road safety and strengthen compliance control.
If your existing system isn’t contributing to the wider safety of your operation, it could be worth asking whether it should.
12. You’re not getting enough from your data
Your TMS shouldn’t just help you run today’s operation. It should help you make tomorrow’s better.
Modern platforms offer data analytics and reporting capabilities that can help you understand performance and identify areas for improvement.
If your TMS gives you plenty of data but very little useful insight – or doesn’t provide the reporting and analytics you need at all – you could be missing out.
