Recently, I was struck by how many companies under utilize their TMS software only to execute day to day freight management activities as opposed to implementing, managing and measuring results of transportation strategies.
Order processing, route creation, carrier selection, tendering, settlement etc. are all base functions of most TMS. However, does your TMS allow you to quickly implement, manage and measure results of transpotation management strategies? An example would be senior management wanting to implement an inbound freight management program that would reduce landed cost by 15%.
Can your TMS handle these kinds of requests without consuming a large part of your time and requiring the use of Excel Spreadsheets? If it can, maybe you never implemented "Phase II" of your TMS Project. If it cannot, you should evaluate the ROI of upgrading to a TMS that can!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
TMS in the MS Azure Cloud
We are extremely pleased to announce our move to Microsoft's Azure Cloud Services at this year's Dynamics ERP user conference Nov 9-11 in Las Vegas, NV. Dynamics ERP users will now have the option to use the DynamicsTMS NEXTrack Internet Collaboration Portal either in an "on-premise" or a "Microsoft Azure Cloud" offering. Being an early participant in the Microsoft Azure CTP, AzureTMS is written exclusively to leverage all Azures functionality including AzureSQL, AzureStorage, AppFabric along with exceptional Azure's global redundancy and scalability features.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
When Is A TMS Not A TMS?
Transportation expenses as a percentage of sales continues to climb and need to be managed on a strategic as well as a transactional basis. Consequently, we have seen an explosion of companies requesting and utilizing (TMS) transportation management software to help them decrease costs and improve customer service for inbound, outbound and transfer freight movements.
Unfortunately, many of the existing enterprise ERP and "supply chain" solutions do not adequately address all the present and future transportation management needs. Enterprise level transportation management requirements and customers have become much more sophisticated.
In recent demos we have conducted with prospects, the claim that one solution can be "all things to all people" is being seriously challenged.
Concurrently, it seems that our definition of what comprises a TMS varies tremendously. The term "TMS" itself has degenerated into a catch all phrase that encompasses anything and everything in transportation just like "Cloud" now means everything Internet. See Wikipedia's TMS Definition.
Certainly, each company has different transportation requirements which range widely in complexity, but respectfully, for software to be considered a true transportation management solution, or for software vendors to "tag" their software as a TMS, it should have more functionality than loading a truck, assigning a carrier or costing out a load.
Unfortunately, many of the existing enterprise ERP and "supply chain" solutions do not adequately address all the present and future transportation management needs. Enterprise level transportation management requirements and customers have become much more sophisticated.
In recent demos we have conducted with prospects, the claim that one solution can be "all things to all people" is being seriously challenged.
Concurrently, it seems that our definition of what comprises a TMS varies tremendously. The term "TMS" itself has degenerated into a catch all phrase that encompasses anything and everything in transportation just like "Cloud" now means everything Internet. See Wikipedia's TMS Definition.
Certainly, each company has different transportation requirements which range widely in complexity, but respectfully, for software to be considered a true transportation management solution, or for software vendors to "tag" their software as a TMS, it should have more functionality than loading a truck, assigning a carrier or costing out a load.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 & FreightMaster TMS 5.0: A Perfect Match
In their recent 2011 Dynamics Technology Conference in Redmond last month, Microsoft unveiled their new flagship ERP, Dynamics AX 2012. The new ERP software has undergone a major upgrade leveraging Microsoft technologies such as SQL 2008R2, SQL Reporting Services (SSRS)and application integration utilizing Visual Studio 2010.
The great news is that it is exactly the technology that FreightMaster TMS 5.0 utilizes. Written to leverage .NET 4.0 and WCF as well as other core Microsoft technologies, TMS can now be launched from within the new and improved AX Business Portal making it the perfect "kissin cousin" to AX 2012 in look, touch, feel and technology.
See both at the upcoming Dynamics Convergence 2011 Conference in Atlanta this April.
The great news is that it is exactly the technology that FreightMaster TMS 5.0 utilizes. Written to leverage .NET 4.0 and WCF as well as other core Microsoft technologies, TMS can now be launched from within the new and improved AX Business Portal making it the perfect "kissin cousin" to AX 2012 in look, touch, feel and technology.
See both at the upcoming Dynamics Convergence 2011 Conference in Atlanta this April.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
NGL's Partner Referral Program Continues To Get High Demand and High Returns
We are very pleased that our technology partners earn generous revenue dollars for the leads they provide!
Technology Partner Benefits Include:
1) Commissions on sales that you refer
2) Access to the NGL educational library
3) Qualify to earn higher referral dollars based on performance
Eligibility:
Fill out the on-line Referral Partner Application
Technology Partner Benefits Include:
1) Commissions on sales that you refer
2) Access to the NGL educational library
3) Qualify to earn higher referral dollars based on performance
Eligibility:
Fill out the on-line Referral Partner Application
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Best of Breed TMS vs All in One ERP Suites
Over the last several months, I have noticed many white papers and blogs detailing the advantages of licensing a single enterprise software suite that will solve all your supply chain needs from a single source.
Although many of the large corporate software companies have "beefed up" specific offerings thru a flurry of acquisitions, there are many legitimate arguments for building best of breed modules around a solid ERP software package instead of the "all in one" approach. Here are just a couple.
First, most best of breed TMS or WMS software modules have their foundation deep in a specific supply chain decipline (domain expertise) that their founders and developers are known experts. This domain expertise is eventually lost via acquisition as the visionaries "cash out" move on to other opportunities.
Secondly, with the current cross platform computer technologies, interfaces to legacy and other ERP software can be very cost effective and developed extremely radipdly. Yet we see that enterprise corporate environments still buy into the old integration scare tactics.
Thirdly, how many times have you heared "small organizations cannot compete with the big guys"? Again this old argument is no longer valid. Small organizations are not burdened by paying for the "goodwill" of their acquisitions and have virtually unlimited access to capital. Further, as a percentage of sales, entreprenuers invest a much higher level in R&D for their niche product. The result many times is that you will get a better product for less money.
There are good reasons for pursuing a solid base ERP system such as Microsoft's Dynamics ERP suite. A one size fits all approach, even with detailed configuration, is not always the best approach for an organization. It certainly does not guarantee the best functionality at a reasonable cost.
Although many of the large corporate software companies have "beefed up" specific offerings thru a flurry of acquisitions, there are many legitimate arguments for building best of breed modules around a solid ERP software package instead of the "all in one" approach. Here are just a couple.
First, most best of breed TMS or WMS software modules have their foundation deep in a specific supply chain decipline (domain expertise) that their founders and developers are known experts. This domain expertise is eventually lost via acquisition as the visionaries "cash out" move on to other opportunities.
Secondly, with the current cross platform computer technologies, interfaces to legacy and other ERP software can be very cost effective and developed extremely radipdly. Yet we see that enterprise corporate environments still buy into the old integration scare tactics.
Thirdly, how many times have you heared "small organizations cannot compete with the big guys"? Again this old argument is no longer valid. Small organizations are not burdened by paying for the "goodwill" of their acquisitions and have virtually unlimited access to capital. Further, as a percentage of sales, entreprenuers invest a much higher level in R&D for their niche product. The result many times is that you will get a better product for less money.
There are good reasons for pursuing a solid base ERP system such as Microsoft's Dynamics ERP suite. A one size fits all approach, even with detailed configuration, is not always the best approach for an organization. It certainly does not guarantee the best functionality at a reasonable cost.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
FreightMaster TMS® 5.0 Embraces Microsoft Windows 7 Light Up Features
Next Generation Logistics, Inc. announced today a new release of their flagship transportation management software suite, FreightMaster TMS® 5.0. The new version leverages the new Light Up features of Microsoft's new Windows 7 client as well as being certified for Microsoft Windows 2008R2 and SQL 2008 servers. http://www.DynamicsTMS.com
Windows 7 "Light-Up" features such as:
-Jump Lists
-Progress Bars
-Icon Overlays
-Custom Categories in the Jump List
-Thumbnail Previews
"After meeting with Next Generation Logistics at Convergence, I convinced them that they could take their WPF application and make it even better by utilizing the full power of Windows 7. Next Generation recognized the opportunity and got to work immediately. In a few weeks Next Generation has been able to deliver a product that now works perfectly with Windows 7 and takes advantage of many of the key features." - John O'Donnell, Microsoft
The published interview can be viewed at http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/jodonnell/Transportation-Management-and-Windows-7-with-Ari-Smith-from-Next-Generation-Logistics/
About Next Generation Logistics, Inc. Next Generation Logistics, Inc. is a leading Supply Chain Consulting, Managed Freight Services, and Technology provider. For the past 22 years, NGL has worked with companies in the Food & Beverage and Consumer Products Industries, recommending and implementing proven repeatable concepts, strategies, and software technology that drive down costs and improve operating efficiencies within their customers supply chains. http://www.nextgeneration.com
About Microsoft DynamicsThe worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions with a mission to help people and businesses realize their full potential. http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics
Windows 7 "Light-Up" features such as:
-Jump Lists
-Progress Bars
-Icon Overlays
-Custom Categories in the Jump List
-Thumbnail Previews
"After meeting with Next Generation Logistics at Convergence, I convinced them that they could take their WPF application and make it even better by utilizing the full power of Windows 7. Next Generation recognized the opportunity and got to work immediately. In a few weeks Next Generation has been able to deliver a product that now works perfectly with Windows 7 and takes advantage of many of the key features." - John O'Donnell, Microsoft
The published interview can be viewed at http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/jodonnell/Transportation-Management-and-Windows-7-with-Ari-Smith-from-Next-Generation-Logistics/
About Next Generation Logistics, Inc. Next Generation Logistics, Inc. is a leading Supply Chain Consulting, Managed Freight Services, and Technology provider. For the past 22 years, NGL has worked with companies in the Food & Beverage and Consumer Products Industries, recommending and implementing proven repeatable concepts, strategies, and software technology that drive down costs and improve operating efficiencies within their customers supply chains. http://www.nextgeneration.com
About Microsoft DynamicsThe worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions with a mission to help people and businesses realize their full potential. http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics
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