What Do TMS Buyers Really Want?

It's no secret. Every prospective TMS buyer has one ultimate wish when they commit to a purchase, and that one wish is affordability. But what if cost weren't an issue? What if, at the end of the day, the month-to-month or annual license fees were all relative? Well, it's our opinion that the market has already shaped up to be that way: You get what you pay for.

To put it into terms, think of this worst case scenario:

You're a high volume shipper or 3PL and you're looking to ditch the phone/email rat race for the modern, more sleek and efficient ways of the transportation management system (TMS). Product price is your main concern, followed by practicality and usability. So, you opt for the lowest cost TMS only to discover in a few months that you've outgrown the system or need it to work with some specificity. If only you've gone for the mid-priced TMS, you would've saved yourself the time and expense of implementing the system and paying for a product you can't use. We won't mention what that can do to your business' bottom line if you're contracted with the TMS provider for a year.

How is the average TMS buyer supposed to know which TMS is right for them? Well, that's where handy sites like Software Advice come in to play. Based on your needs and budget, they match you to the best possible TMS. Pretty cool, huh?

Upon surveying potential buyers, it's no wonder how Software Advice, a TMS research and reviews site, discovered that "twenty-four percent of buyers are still using manual methods (e.g., pen and paper) to handle transportation management needs."

In fact, Software Advice uncovered all sorts of insights about a TMS buyers' needs, wants and concerns. Check out this chart showing current freight management methods and the percentage of prospective buyers that currently employ them.

Current Methods of Freight Management

courtesy of Software Advice

Knowing that the majority of those surveyed still use pen and paper to manage their freight, is it no surprise that TMS buyers want to stop wasting time and money just getting a quote, let alone tracking shipments, and optimizing routes? Software Advice asked prospective buyers to tell them which features they were looking for in a TMS and as shown in the chart below the top two requested features relate to route optimization and tracking.

Top-Requested TMS Software Features

courtesy of Software Advice

If you're in the market for TMS software and you're using multiple methods or components to manage freight transportation, than consider opting for a single-platform solution. There are very few on the market - and most come at astronomical costs - but imagine how easy managing your freight can be when using one system to do it all.

Is your current method or "wish-list" feature not listed in these charts? Tell us in the comments.