The coronavirus has succeeded in bringing the world to a standstill and disrupting the global supply chain. Many borders have been closed, operations disrupted, demands down and stocks up. Indeed, the logistics sector was put to the test. Adaptation had to be quick.

It is true that in the world of transport, the logistics process is still not very digital. Interactions are mainly based on telephone calls between principals and carriers, so when Covid-19 struck - with repeated lockdowns - the logistics sector was taken by surprise.

Indeed, in this period of confinement, we realised all the more that collaboration between the teams was essential in order to develop the company's activity. We noticed that the absence of teams on site to ensure the calls as well as the decrease in the capacity of the carriers able to honour the transport orders had an impact on the activity.

The agility, reactivity and rigour of the logistics teams were not enough; a solution had to be found to overcome these contextual difficulties.

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TMS: Transport solution in Covid-19 period

The TMS tool enables information from all the players in the supply chain to be gathered on a single platform. All data is therefore digitised and shared instantly with all stakeholders.

Several advantages of using a TMS can be noted:

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• Traceability of flows

The supply chain is made up of a multitude of flows and operations taking place at national but also international level, making the logistics chain extremely complex. Numerous modes of transport are also used: road, rail, sea, air, etc., requiring a certain amount of organisation and rigour in order to reach the end customer on time. However, despite a strict organisation, hazards are often unpredictable, thus endangering the good execution of the Supply Chain. This is why end-to-end traceability of the transport of orders remains an option that is not negligible. Thanks to the TMS, it is possible to track the transport, trace and monitor the progress of the production of goods and visualise the date and time of the 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, delays or advances.

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• Cooperation of all employees

In addition to the improved visibility of its flows, the TMS allows for improved collaboration between all employees. The TMS becomes the control tower of the company's activity. Thanks to this software, all data can be centralised on the same platform. This data centralisation feature will allow teams to work better together as all information will be collected and grouped in one place. This gives all Supply Chain actors the possibility to transmit essential elements concerning the progress of goods from point A to point B. Moreover, 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 safety for all employees. The application of the barrier gestures is indispensable in these times of Covid-19. And we know that this will not stop any time soon, even when the curfew is lifted. The restrictions may seem to be easing, but the barrier gestures will remain. This is why digital technology - with the use of TMS - could strengthen the security of the sector's players.

The use of the TMS makes it possible to limit waiting times at the 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 enable all documents to be digitised, physical interactions to be reduced and flows to be made more fluid thanks to improved collaboration.

The players in the supply chain will now be able to carry out their activities in a more serene, organised and, above all, collaborative manner.

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• Cost control and customisation

The Covid crisis has once again proven that not everything goes according to plan. External hazards can occur during logistics operations that are often unpredictable. However, some things can be predicted if the right tools are used.

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

Thus, a good visibility of its Supply Chain would allow a financial gain by optimising its goods shipments.

Moreover, the use of tools - such as the TMS - is a major asset for companies because they are now modular. The customer can choose the functionalities he wants according to his needs, the size of his company, etc.

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• Managing and controlling 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.

On average, a heavy goods vehicle emits 4 to 5 times more CO2 than a light commercial vehicle per kilometre driven.

Thanks to the real-time visibility of its transport, you will be able to know and improve your carbon footprint. As the TMS allows for the optimisation of flows, the tool will be able to propose several delivery schemes so that you can draw up the most effective action plan over time. You will therefore be able to optimise your loads and choose the best carrier for your needs - all with a view to reducing your carbon footprint.  

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In conclusion, Transport Management System solutions, such as Everysens TMS, enable the optimisation of the logistics chain and transport flows. This enables operations to be planned, costs to be controlled, quality of service to be improved and therefore customer satisfaction. At Everysens we offer a predictive and collaborative visibility platform to plan and monitor all your supply chain flows in real time.

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Want to learn more? Schedule a meeting with our team.