with delays, penalties, and reputational damage,” Miller says. “Our solution ensures that all parties adhere to agreed- upon terms—from shipping protocols
the shipper and carrier relationship in mind to make it easy for them to work together,” Burdette says. “That’s important to us.” That emphasis includes a comprehensive mobile app that is part of the TMS and that both shippers and carriers use. It also means the TMS is multimodal, including both truck and rail capabilities, with plans to introduce barge capabilities later in 2024. Princeton TMX’s customer base includes those working in lumber and building supplies, mining and raw materials, metals, and paper and packaging; the company also is expanding into the food and beverage space. Those customers lean on different transportation modes to get materials and products where they need to go. “We stress being able to execute different transportation modes within the TMS so you don’t have to go to disparate systems or sign out to sign onto another system,” Burdette says. “It’s important to us that clients can do everything they need in our system.” In addition, Princeton TMX released a sustainability module, an enhancement that will help shippers who are looking to strengthen operations in that area. Burdette says the TMS will provide metrics around sustainability at the point of execution, which can help shippers weigh sustainability when making decisions about transportation options. of execution, which can help shippers decisions about transportation about transportation options.
This is one example of the role data from Princeton TMX’s TMS can play in supporting shippers. “We move more data than we do shipments today. Customers are looking not only for the data but also how they can use the data to make decisions, improve forecasting and get a big picture of their overall network,” Burdette says. “That’s what we help them to do.” TRANSPORTGISTICS: Helping Shippers Prioritize Compliance In the complex world of the modern supply chain, transportation management systems serve a critical purpose, ensuring that goods ow in the most ef cient, optimal way possible. Within that framework, supplier compliance is a critical component of an effective TMS, serving as the linchpin for operational ef ciency, cost- effectiveness and customer satisfaction, notes Alan Miller, president of TransportGistics, based in Mount Sinai, New York. TransportGistics’ TMS solution (TGI- TMS) features tools that allow shippers to prioritize compliance and excel in that critical component of managing their supply chains. “TGI-TMS is equipped with robust compliance capabilities and enforces standards and regulations across the supply chain, mitigating risks associated
to delivery timelines—fostering a harmonious and predictable ow of operations.” NON-COMPLIANCE CAN BE COSTLY
Taking an inadequate approach to compliance can be costly. “Simply negotiating, executing, and implementing new transportation rates and pricing does not guarantee delivery of the anticipated cost savings,” Miller says. “A lack of compliance and nonstandard business processes costs companies millions of dollars each year in excessive transportation and handling expense.” Because of the direct impact on the bottom line, the importance of supplier compliance in a TMS “cannot be overstated,” Miller says. “By ensuring that suppliers meet contractual obligations, businesses can avoid costly inef ciencies and maintain a competitive edge,” Miller says. “Compliance checks and balances within a TMS can automate the monitoring and reporting of supplier performance, providing real-time insights that drive continuous improvement. “In an era when transparency and accountability are paramount, a TMS that prioritizes supplier compliance is indispensable,” he notes. Nvidia, a California-based technology company, is among the clients bene ting from using TGI-TMS, including through the software’s capabilities bolstering supplier compliance. “TransportGistics, through their RoutingGuides.com module, has provided Nvidia with a secure platform to store our valuable information and shipping instructions,” says Aayush Ghand, global supply chain analysis & design, Nvidia. “It has helped improve our vendor Nvidia with our valuable instructions,” supply chain “It has helped compliance and ensure only registered vendors are able to access our shipping instructions. In addition, it has automated several processes for us to ensure the experience of internal and external users compliance vendors are instructions. several processes experience “In an accountability that prioritizes indispensable,” Nvidia, company, from using the software’s supplier “TransportGistics, RoutingGuides.com
Princeton TMX’s transportation management system optimizes freight spend by enabling users to automatically request quotes, compare rates, and assign loads.
52 Inbound Logistics • May 2024
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