Is the term “legacy” creeping into discussions about your transportation management system (TMS)? While it might seem like a compliment to a system that’s served you well, it’s often a subtle acknowledgment that replacement is on the horizon.
Even if “legacy TMS” isn’t part of your company’s vocabulary yet, there are telltale signs that your current system may be falling behind. As these signs accumulate, so does the urgency to plan for an upgrade. The critical question is: Can your current system and vendor meet your present and future needs?
Transitioning from a legacy system to a modern TMS is a significant undertaking that requires careful research and preparation. To help you navigate this decision, we’ve identified 10 clear signs that your TMS may be outdated, along with solutions offered by modern systems like TrueTMS with its TrueLiquid extension for fuel and bulk liquid transporters.
- Lack of New Developments and Updates
Legacy Sign: Some TMS providers have not released significant product enhancements in recent years. Their fuel and liquid bulk hauler customers need access to new features and necessary levels of support to meet industry challenges.
Modern Solution: Regular updates and enhancements to stay current with industry trends and technological advancements.
- Outdated Database Technology
Legacy Sign: SQL-based structure with limited capabilities for handling increased data volume and complexity. This causes performance bottlenecks and difficulties with flexibility and scalability.
Modern Solution: Use modern database structures like MongoDB for improved flexibility, scalability, and performance to ensure efficient data management and retrieval.
- Limited Trailer Compartment Management
Legacy Sign: Basic capabilities for assigning orders to equipment without considering trailer compartment configurations. This carries risks that cause inefficient trailer utilization and cross-drops.
Modern Solution: Orders are right-sized for each trailer compartment configuration to optimize utilization. This detailed load planning process is essential for using trailer space efficiently.
- Inadequate Commodity Assignment
Legacy Sign: Assign commodities to tanks in the ground but not to specific trailer compartments. The oversight created by a lack of functionality increases the risk of incorrect loading, resulting in hazardous spills and cross-dropping.
Modern Solution: Assign commodities to both trailer compartments and ground tanks at consignees. This reduces the risks of incorrect loading and cross-dropping by ensuring drivers load the correct products into designated compartments and tanks.
- Basic Routing and Scheduling
Legacy Sign: Simple presentation of loads on a board without optimization features for planning routes that maximize delivery volumes and minimize deadhead and total route miles.
Modern Solution: Advanced route planning algorithms with live tracking updates for more accurate and efficient scheduling.
- Limited Real-Time Tracking
Legacy Sign: Limited real-time tracking capabilities negatively impact fleet visibility and control. Additional licensing is required for fleet location tracking within the TMS.
Modern Solution: Integrated robust real-time tracking features for enhanced fleet visibility and better decision-making.
- Inflexible Integration Capabilities
Legacy Sign: System integrations require significant customization or development resources. Legacy TMS providers often say they partner with a particular vendor only to require custom development for the integrations to work.
Modern Solution: Seamless integration capabilities with easy-to-install partner extensions. System integrations typically only require installing an extension and entering your login credentials. The system does the rest, allowing for smooth transitions and enhanced functionality.
- Outdated User Interface
Legacy Sign: Less intuitive screens that hinder productivity and complicate training, especially for new employees.
Modern Solution: User-friendly, intuitive interface that enhances productivity and reduces training time.
- Lack of Native Driver App
Legacy Sign: Reliance on expensive add-ons or third-party driver apps with imaging for proof-of-delivery document capture.
Modern Solution: Integrated native driver app for scanning delivery documents and digital invoice creation, eliminating the need for third-party imaging software.
- Limited Support and Customer Service
Legacy Sign: The product is no longer actively enhanced, and vendors restrict support options and charge additional fees for assistance.
Modern Solution: Comprehensive support with a dedicated team for prompt issue resolution, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum efficiency
A Better Path Forward
While legacy TMS platforms have served the industry well, their limitations in ongoing development and outdated infrastructure can hinder business growth and scalability in today’s dynamic environment.
Modern solutions like TrueLiquid by TrueTMS offer a robust alternative with:
- Regular updates and advanced features
- Superior flexibility, scalability, and performance through modern SaaS environments
- Efficient load matching and commodity assignment
- Enhanced operational efficiency and accuracy
Is your current TMS keeping pace with your growing demands? Discover how TrueLiquid by TrueTMS can modernize your technology and elevate your operations to new levels of efficiency. Schedule a demo today and take the first step towards a more streamlined, productive future of transportation management.