Coronavirus has successfully brought the planet to a standstill and disrupted the global supply chain. Many borders have been closed, business has stopped, demands have fallen, and inventories have increased. Indeed, the logistics sector has been put to the test. The adaptation therefore had to be rapid.

It is true that in the world of transport, the logistics process is still very little digitized. Interactions are mostly based on telephone calls between principals and carriers, which is why when Covid-19 hit - with repeated lockdowns - the logistics sector was taken by surprise.

Indeed, during this period of confinement, we realized all the more that collaboration between teams was essential in order to develop its business activity. We have noticed: the absence of teams on site to ensure calls as well as the decrease in the capacity rates of carriers who can honor transport orders, have had an impact on activity.

The agility, responsiveness and rigor of the logistics teams were not enough; a solution had to be found in order to overcome these contextual difficulties.

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The TMS: Transport solution in the Covid-19 period

The TMS tool makes it possible to gather information from all actors in the supply chain on the same platform. All data is therefore digitized and shared instantly to all stakeholders.

Several advantages of using a TMS can be noted:

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• ‍Traceability of flows

The Supply Chain consists of a multitude of flows and operations taking place at the national but also international level, thus making the logistics chain extremely complex. Many modes of transport are also used: road, rail, sea, air etc. requiring a certain organization and rigor so that this happens on time to the end customer. However, despite a strict organization, hazards are often unpredictable, thus jeopardizing the proper execution of the Supply Chain. This is why end-to-end traceability of order transport remains an option that is not negligible. Thanks to the TMS, it is possible to track transport, trace and monitor the progress of the production of goods as well as visualize the date and time of arrival and departure of orders. Having real-time monitoring of your transport means anticipating hazards and increasing your transport visibility. This visibility will result in improved customer service with more accurate data on arrival times, potential incidents, and also delays or advances.

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• A collaboration of all employees

In addition to the better visibility of its flows, the TMS allows an improvement of collaboration between all employees. The TMS becomes the control tower for the company's activity. Thanks to this software, all data can be centralized on the same platform. This data centralization feature will allow teams to work better together because all information will be collected and grouped in one place. This gives all actors in the Supply Chain the possibility to transmit the essential elements concerning the progress of goods from point A to point B. In addition, the same information will be accessible to all and updated in real time. This allows for collective work.

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• Security to protect employees

This TMS tool also provides additional security for all employees. The application of barrier gestures is essential in this period of Covid-19. And we know for a fact that this is not going to end anytime soon even when the curfew is over. If the restrictions seem to ease, barrier gestures will persist. This is why digital technology - with the use of TMS - could strengthen the security of actors in the sector.

The use of TMS makes it possible to limit waiting times at docks and on site, to reduce physical interactions as well as the exchange of documents by hand. In this period of health crisis, these elements are not negligible. The TMS will make it possible to digitize all documents, limit physical interactions and streamline flows through better collaboration.

Supply chain actors will now be able to carry out their activities in a more serene, organized and above all collaborative way.

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• Cost control and personalization

The Covid crisis has once again proved that not everything always goes according to plan. External hazards may appear during logistics operations that are often not predictable. However, some elements can be used if the right tools are used.

Indeed, supply chain disruptions have an impact on cash flow. During the Covid-19 period, many businesses were faced with overstocks of goods, delayed deliveries, closed borders etc. resulting in additional logistics costs.

Thus, a good visibility of its Supply Chain would allow financial gain by optimizing its shipments of goods as best as possible.

In addition, the use of tools - such as the TMS - is a major asset for businesses because they are now modular. The customer will in fact be able to choose the functionalities he wants according to his needs, the size of his company, etc.

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• Management and control of the carbon footprint

Finally, the use of a TMS will have a direct impact on the carbon footprint of its activity. As you know, transport has a strong environmental impact. Indeed, the transport of goods and people is one of the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions in France but also internationally.

A heavy truck emits on average 4 to 5 times more CO2 than a light commercial vehicle per kilometer traveled.

Thanks to the real-time visibility of its transport, you will be in a position to know and improve your carbon footprint. Since the TMS allows the optimization of flows, the tool will be able to propose several delivery schemes so that you can develop the most effective action plan in time. You will therefore have the opportunity to optimize your loads as well as the choice of the best carrier that meets your needs - all in order to reduce your carbon footprint.

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In conclusion, Transport Management System solutions, such as Everysens TMS, make it possible to optimize its logistics chain and transport flows. This makes it possible to plan operations, control costs, and improve the quality of service and therefore customer satisfaction. At Everysens we offer a predictive and collaborative visibility platform in order to plan and monitor all the flows of your Supply Chain in real time.

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Want to learn a bit more? Plan a meeting with our team.