How a modern cloud-based ERP can enhance your Transport Management System
Transport Management Systems (TMS) were designed to help freight and logistics companies meet the demands of their industry with unique functionality for planning, tracking and management of freight, inventory, fleets, and warehouse operations. Additionally, they often have some low level legacy or manual integration feeds into the business’s financial package. However, this high level data transfer doesn’t provide a single source of truth or oversight across the various business functions. What this generally means for companies in the transport and logistics sector is a reliance on disparate systems to manage their business challenges.
While ERPs function as a single source of truth for other industries, they cannot replace a TMS - nor should they try. Instead, companies should integrate to a modern, cloud based ERP solution with a TMS to work together seamlessly across all functions. Let's take a closer look at how TMS and ERPs can work together to streamline and optimise operations for companies in the transport and logistics sector.
The need for a modern cloud-based ERP in freight/logistics/ transport management
Cloud-based ERPs offer real-time data access from anywhere, anytime, making it easier for businesses to operate across multiple locations and time zones. The use of mobile devices and cloud technology in these systems enables businesses to track and manage their inventory, fleets, and warehouse operations more efficiently. Additionally, cloud-based ERPs provide greater flexibility and scalability, allowing businesses to adjust to changing needs and grow more quickly. Modern ERPs also provide better data accuracy, improved financial management, and enhanced customer satisfaction. By utilising a modern, cloud-based ERP system, businesses in the transport and logistics industry can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and gain a competitive advantage.
It's essential to have a modern and efficient integration between the company's source of revenue, i.e., the TMS, and the ERP system. By integrating the two systems, businesses can still reap the benefits of having a single source of information. The goal is to respect the need for a dedicated TMS and propose integration, ideally reusing work from existing integrations. This approach allows companies to streamline their processes, minimise duplication of data, and improve data accuracy.
So which ERP solution is capable of this kind of integration? Which one has the necessary functionality to bring work efficiently and productively with an TMS?
The functional depth of MYOB Advanced for the transport and logistics industry
MYOB Advanced is pure cloud - an ERP solution that was born in the cloud. It offers extensive functional depth specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of the transport and logistics industry. It provides capabilities such as robust inventory management, real-time visibility into warehouse operations, streamlined purchasing processes, and efficient financial management, among others:
- Reporting structures – multiple divisions, profit centre reporting, dimensions
- Fleet financial performance insights
- Integrated Workforce Management including payroll
- Automation and Self-service
- Project Management, claims and retentions when required
- Integrated Purchasing and Servicing
- Expense Management
In a nutshell, MYOB Advanced has everything a company in the transport and logistics industry needs to keep moving.
Endeavour's TMS ERP integration expertise
Integrating an ERP system with a company's existing TMS can be a complex and challenging process. This is where our extensive integration expertise comes in. We have worked with companies across a wide range of industries, and our expertise spans across various ERP systems. Here’s what we’ve done with some of our clients in the transport and logistics sector:
- Migration from Rees and JobPlus to MYOB Advanced Business – Financials
We worked with a century old trucking business providing transport, construction and earthmoving services. They were using Rees and JobPlus for their transportation and financial system needs, which were causing challenges to the efficiency of daily operations. They also required workarounds to achieve reliable and timely information. Month-end closing could take weeks to achieve, and as their business and transaction volumes grew, the old systems proved to be a constraint. They were looking for a more modern and integrated system to replace Rees and integrate with JobPlus. They partnered with us, and we implemented MYOB Advanced Business. We delivered an efficient, integrated system that provides granular revenue from their TMS and allows them to see financial reporting of profitability down to a Vehicle and Department level. - Integration with a TMS
This project was with one of the major freight, warehousing and logistics management companies in New Zealand. One of their key requirements was for a cloud ERP system that could integrate seamlessly with their third-party Transportation Management System (TMS) and IMS Payroll. We deployed MYOB Advanced Business and integrated it with their TMS. - Integration with MyTrucking
Two other companies - one transport, one leasing - also had MYOB Advanced Business implemented and integrated to their TMS - MyTrucking.
Transport and logistics businesses need purpose built ERP integrations
Businesses in the transport and logistics industry need purpose-built solutions that cater to their unique needs. While TMS’ provide essential functionality that ERP systems can't replace, modern cloud-based ERPs offer real-time data access from anywhere, anytime, making it easier for businesses to operate across multiple locations and time zones. With over 30 years of integration and ERP development experience, Endeavour can seamlessly integrate ERP systems with TMS to become a source of revenue for businesses, as seen in the successful implementations of MYOB Advanced and their preferred TMS with several clients in the transport and logistics sector.
Eager to see MYOB Advanced in action? Get in touch today and we’ll have a chat about your requirements and how MYOB Advanced can help your business succeed.
