TMS Integrations: Common types, complexity, costs and common challenges

TMS Integrations: Common types, complexity, costs and common challenges

TMS Integrations: Common types, complexity, costs and common challenges

Integrations are a core component of modern transportation management systems going beyond the simple database function of storing data. Here’s why: 

Integrations are a core component of modern transportation management systems going beyond the simple database function of storing data. Here’s why: 

1

Integrations create the basis for unified data across multiple tools. The lack of unified data usually means that there are multiple sources of the truth in your company, for instance on trip sheets, in excel sheets and in your legacy TMS. This creates repeat work, the need to reconcile data and usually is the main culprit for bloated back-office operations in fleets.

1

Integrations create the basis for unified data across multiple tools. The lack of unified data usually means that there are multiple sources of the truth in your company, for instance on trip sheets, in excel sheets and in your legacy TMS. This creates repeat work, the need to reconcile data and usually is the main culprit for bloated back-office operations in fleets.

1

Integrations create the basis for unified data across multiple tools. The lack of unified data usually means that there are multiple sources of the truth in your company, for instance on trip sheets, in excel sheets and in your legacy TMS. This creates repeat work, the need to reconcile data and usually is the main culprit for bloated back-office operations in fleets.

2

Data that flows seamlessly across systems via integrations allow for seamless and automated workflows. Rather than you entering data multiple times into multiple softwares, you enter it once and then it synchronizes across into other platforms.

2

Data that flows seamlessly across systems via integrations allow for seamless and automated workflows. Rather than you entering data multiple times into multiple softwares, you enter it once and then it synchronizes across into other platforms.

2

Data that flows seamlessly across systems via integrations allow for seamless and automated workflows. Rather than you entering data multiple times into multiple softwares, you enter it once and then it synchronizes across into other platforms.

3

Seamless data and workflows enable real-time optimization. Integrations make it possible that you can apply real time algorithms and guide dispatchers in their dispatch decision at the very moment when they are about to assign a truck and driver to a load.

3

Seamless data and workflows enable real-time optimization. Integrations make it possible that you can apply real time algorithms and guide dispatchers in their dispatch decision at the very moment when they are about to assign a truck and driver to a load.

3

Seamless data and workflows enable real-time optimization. Integrations make it possible that you can apply real time algorithms and guide dispatchers in their dispatch decision at the very moment when they are about to assign a truck and driver to a load.

4

The rapid spread of API connections has started to make it easy, reliable and cheap for systems to connect with and transfer data between each other.  This simultaneously has made it less attractive to have one big, all-in-one system. As a result, we see many mid-sized and large fleets to move away from an all-in-one TMS-accounting bundle to using a best-in-class, professional accounting system and a best-in-class transportation management system. If you’d like to learn more about the big trend of “software unbundling”  in today’s “api economy”, read this article in Harvard Business Review.

4

The rapid spread of API connections has started to make it easy, reliable and cheap for systems to connect with and transfer data between each other.  This simultaneously has made it less attractive to have one big, all-in-one system. As a result, we see many mid-sized and large fleets to move away from an all-in-one TMS-accounting bundle to using a best-in-class, professional accounting system and a best-in-class transportation management system. If you’d like to learn more about the big trend of “software unbundling”  in today’s “api economy”, read this article in Harvard Business Review.

4

The rapid spread of API connections has started to make it easy, reliable and cheap for systems to connect with and transfer data between each other.  This simultaneously has made it less attractive to have one big, all-in-one system. As a result, we see many mid-sized and large fleets to move away from an all-in-one TMS-accounting bundle to using a best-in-class, professional accounting system and a best-in-class transportation management system. If you’d like to learn more about the big trend of “software unbundling”  in today’s “api economy”, read this article in Harvard Business Review.

ERP Integrations

For some fleets, their existing dispatch software is part of their ERP.  This results in manual processes where human effort, keystrokes, and paper make up for the shortcomings of the ERP.  This is very a common bottleneck that is mostly solved by deploying more manpower - a complete deterrent to growth.  


Today these very often menial tasks can be automated freeing your team to work on the business rather than just in it. Common ERPs include SAP, Oracle, IBM, TMW's Innovative or TL2000, and others. These systems may reside on older servers or mainframes, predating the widespread use of APIs. Connecting with them often requires careful thought of data flows beyond simple ODBC connections or screen scraping.

Complexity

Moderate to High - In terms of one-time software development these can be extensive and then there is maintenance as the connections can be brittle - ERP could stand for Executive Revenue Pulverizer in some cases but each one is different and depending on the scope may be that bad.

Complexity

Moderate to High - In terms of one-time software development these can be extensive and then there is maintenance as the connections can be brittle - ERP could stand for Executive Revenue Pulverizer in some cases but each one is different and depending on the scope may be that bad.

Complexity

Moderate to High - In terms of one-time software development these can be extensive and then there is maintenance as the connections can be brittle - ERP could stand for Executive Revenue Pulverizer in some cases but each one is different and depending on the scope may be that bad.

Relative ROI

High - Imagine eliminating thousands of hours of manual work that costs money, demoralizes teams, produces errors, and disappoints customers - There you have why this type of connection is often worth the cost.

Relative ROI

High - Imagine eliminating thousands of hours of manual work that costs money, demoralizes teams, produces errors, and disappoints customers - There you have why this type of connection is often worth the cost.

Relative ROI

High - Imagine eliminating thousands of hours of manual work that costs money, demoralizes teams, produces errors, and disappoints customers - There you have why this type of connection is often worth the cost.

Cost

Moderate to High

Cost

Moderate to High

Cost

Moderate to High

Degree of Maintenance

Moderate - it breaks and you might to involve technical resources to fix it.

Degree of Maintenance

Moderate - it breaks and you might to involve technical resources to fix it.

Degree of Maintenance

Moderate - it breaks and you might to involve technical resources to fix it.

Benefits

ERPs are the backbone of many businesses. By integrating your ERP with BeyondTrucks, you gain the power of modern fleet management capabilities without a complete system overhaul. Your ERP remains in place while BeyondTrucks becomes the streamlined conduit for connecting all your other point solutions –  ELDs, fleet management, paperwork digitization, and more. The graphic on the right provides an example of a how we can integrate into SAP eliminating reams of paper waste, and manual processes.

Example: BeyondTrucks connection to SAP through an API was a first earning us the praise from their team (see quote in graphic.) 

EDI Integrations

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) remains the time-tested standard for structured communication within the trucking industry - it’s how Ross Perot made much of his fortune.  In simple terms, it's a set of technical standards for exchanging load tenders, shipment updates, and more. EDI's strict formatting ensures reliability but can also introduce rigidity.  In the 1990s, there were claims that XML was going to replace EDI but, as it stands today EDI appears to maintaining its place in the trucking.

Example: A majority of our customers have EDI connections either we at BeyondTrucks maintain or are managed by a third party.  Carriers are often rated by shippers on their EDI responsiveness so monitoring that you are sending the right signals is crucial.

Complexity

Moderate to High - This depends on who handles it for you and your team’s technical ambition.

Complexity

Moderate to High - This depends on who handles it for you and your team’s technical ambition.

Complexity

Moderate to High - This depends on who handles it for you and your team’s technical ambition.

Cost

High to Moderate - It’s on a per-transaction basis.

Cost

High to Moderate - It’s on a per-transaction basis.

Cost

High to Moderate - It’s on a per-transaction basis.

Relative ROI

Moderate to High - Some of your customers may require it.

Relative ROI

Moderate to High - Some of your customers may require it.

Relative ROI

Moderate to High - Some of your customers may require it.

Degree of Maintenance

Low to Moderate - this is not something you would do on your own.  Some carriers have 100s of EDIs and companies like Cleo can play the role of middleware provider.

Degree of Maintenance

Low to Moderate - this is not something you would do on your own.  Some carriers have 100s of EDIs and companies like Cleo can play the role of middleware provider.

Degree of Maintenance

Low to Moderate - this is not something you would do on your own.  Some carriers have 100s of EDIs and companies like Cleo can play the role of middleware provider.

API Integrations

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are considered a modern, flexible way to exchange data in real time. BeyondTrucks's cloud architecture enables us to offer seamless integrations with numerous partners.  This connectivity is one of the core values of a multi-tenant cloud system. Once an integration is built between two multi-tenant SaaS providers (say BeyondTrucks and  ELD providers like Samsara or FMS solutions like Fleetio), the two platforms can connect users without building an integration each time a user needs to cost. This is highly cost efficient and convenient, since users only need to enter their API key (i.e. a  uniquely identifying password) to connect their systems and then route their data.

Samsara and BeyondTrucks Integration
Samsara and BeyondTrucks Integration

We offer a library of API connections

Example: In our library of integrations, you select your vendor and input your API key and it the connection is virtually instant.  Compared to integrating with a legacy TMS this is a breath of fresh air.

Complexity

Low to Moderate (depending on the partner)

Complexity

Low to Moderate (depending on the partner)

Complexity

Low to Moderate (depending on the partner)

Cost

Low to Moderate (often reduced due to pre-built integrations).  

Cost

Low to Moderate (often reduced due to pre-built integrations).  

Cost

Low to Moderate (often reduced due to pre-built integrations).  

Relative ROI

High - The value is directly related to the data you can capture and submit.  But, just because a vendor or business partner offers an API for your TMS to connect with does not mean it will provide all the data points you need.

Relative ROI

High - The value is directly related to the data you can capture and submit.  But, just because a vendor or business partner offers an API for your TMS to connect with does not mean it will provide all the data points you need.

Relative ROI

High - The value is directly related to the data you can capture and submit.  But, just because a vendor or business partner offers an API for your TMS to connect with does not mean it will provide all the data points you need.

Degree of Maintenance

Low - this is impacted when, for example, a vendor changes their code and it impacts the API.  If they are committed to that interoperability, it may just be a simple restart of the connection - a few clicks from a non-technical user on your team.

Degree of Maintenance

Low - this is impacted when, for example, a vendor changes their code and it impacts the API.  If they are committed to that interoperability, it may just be a simple restart of the connection - a few clicks from a non-technical user on your team.

Degree of Maintenance

Low - this is impacted when, for example, a vendor changes their code and it impacts the API.  If they are committed to that interoperability, it may just be a simple restart of the connection - a few clicks from a non-technical user on your team.

Flat File Integrations

You are probably using this method throughout your business (marketing, payroll, inventory, etc) and it’s questionable to be considered an integration but it deserves mention.  Flat files (CSV, Excel) still have their place for simple data transfers or when connecting disparate systems internally or between customer and carrier.  For instance, a customer might send their carrier a list of orders in a consistent format.  BeyondTrucks is realistic and knows work outside TMS will always happen and we make uploading to our system easy.

Import Spreadsheet in TMS feature
Import Spreadsheet in TMS feature

Complexity

Low

Complexity

Low

Complexity

Low

Cost

Low

Cost

Low

Cost

Low

Relative ROI

Moderate - It eliminates a lot of keystrokes.

Relative ROI

Moderate - It eliminates a lot of keystrokes.

Relative ROI

Moderate - It eliminates a lot of keystrokes.

Degree of Maintenance

Low  - Changes in tables are the one area that has an impact on this.

Degree of Maintenance

Low  - Changes in tables are the one area that has an impact on this.

Degree of Maintenance

Low  - Changes in tables are the one area that has an impact on this.

Example: A customer may send you a spreadsheet of all the orders every Thursday.  We could automate that ingestion or you could have your team upload it with two clicks (see graphic).

If you have questions about integration possibilities with BeyondTrucks please contact us at 205-881-3975 or info@beyondtrucks.com

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