Carrier & Customer Portals: How Cloud-Based TMS Is Changing Logistics Collaboration

Technology puts logistics collaboration in the palm of your hand.

Many working components are needed to keep the modern supply chain operating smoothly and efficiently. This requires constant focus and attention on logistics collaboration between all parties, particularly carriers and customers, especially as rates increase across all modes.

For instance, consider the recent increases among less-than-truckload (LTL) rates, which have been historically seen as the best way to avoid rate hikes in truckload.

According to FreightWaves, LTL contract rates climbed to $37.71 per 100 pounds as of September’s end. Still, it would seem rates are declining due to a 42-day lag in reporting, reaching $33.29 per 100 pounds in early November.

Such indicators imply that freight transportation demand is starting to balance with technology and reduce strain on the industry. Yet, that’s not the end of rate increases, and technology can help organizations work together to figure out which modes and carriers fit in the just the right way for every shipment.
Technology, particularly cloud-based transportation management systems (TMS), is rapidly reshaping the face of how logistics services providers (LSPs) and shippers interact and collaborate. It’s important to understand a few things about these interactions.

Read on to see the full impact collaborative logistics and TMS mobility can have on customer and carrier network relations.

What Are Carrier and Customer Portals?

Carrier and customer portals are digital meeting places that allow parties to collaborate and communicate in real-time.

With integrated platforms and tools, on-demand communication with carrier networks and customers becomes more manageable. From updating shipping status to tweaking delivery routes to accommodate disruptions, logistics collaboration becomes more straightforward with these digital cloud-based portals and platforms.

A well-designed carrier portal creates a place where both shippers and carriers can interact online. The space is accessible to everyone from the moment of order submission to final delivery. Management can handle any questions, concerns, or issues in real-time, and all decisions made are based on accurate information and data.

Similarly, for an LSP, a customer portal ensures shippers and end-users know what’s happening, when, and why.

How a Collaborative Platform Makes Reporting, Management, Invoicing, and Other Critical Tasks Easier

Collaborative logistics remains a vital part of your supply chain. Maintaining good collaboration between customers and carriers with a custom portal setup can streamline critical processes:
  • Reporting throughout the supply chain becomes more simple and accessible, allowing faster and more accurate data collection and analysis.
  • Data management becomes more straightforward with proper collaboration and communication between all necessary parties.
  • Invoice and payment management, maximized ROI, and expense budgeting benefit from carrier portals and online platforms.
  • TMS systems can be better utilized and accessed by carriers, shippers, brokers, and any third-party vendors involved in a particular order or shipment.
  • A host of other critical yet repetitive tasks such as capacity procurement, RFP reviews, communications, and more are improved.

Calculate your potential Saving While Using an enterprise TMS

Cloud-Based Tech Yields Strong Carrier and Shipper Benefits, Better Logistics Collaboration

At the heart of logistics collaboration is building better relationships and strong connections. Embracing technology and utilizing cloud-based tools and software makes it easier for shippers and carriers to collaborate more efficiently.

In the end, this means increased profits for them and increased savings for customers. Improving cloud-based omnimodal TMS platforms with collaborative tools and on-demand portal access allows for more robust and longer-lasting connections to be formed.

Shipper and carrier of choice status remain attainable. Customer satisfaction and loyalty also remain higher with the right system in place.

Create a More Effective Supply Chain with Optimal Logistics Collaboration

Logistics managers make logistics collaboration between carriers and customers a primary focus.

Cloud-based carrier portals and transportation management platforms are rapidly changing how carriers and shippers interact.

While essential, the process of waiting for communications and chasing down information can be one of the biggest productivity weak points in the entire supply chain. When multiple carriers handle numerous loads, managing all of the texts, emails, chat messages, phone calls, and inquiries can quickly throw processes and timelines into a tailspin.

Prevent this by partnering with experts in supply chain logistics and collaboration. Learn more about how TMS can modernize your supply chain and support logistics collaboration in our eBook TMS 101.

Discover how logistics collaboration and other efficiencies are accessed through a TMS.

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