Implementation 6 min
The 3 biggest pitfalls when implementing a TMS
Transport software exists to make work easier. But only if you implement it the right way. These are the three biggest pitfalls you would do well to avoid.
Buying a TMS? Avoid these mistakes
Did you recently buy a Transport Management System (TMS), but is adoption within your transport company falling short of expectations? Or are you considering a TMS and want to make sure your employees actually embrace it? Completely understandable. Transport software exists to make work easier. But only if you implement it the right way. So read on to learn the three biggest pitfalls during this process!
Implementing a Transport Management System
In theory you could implement a TMS you buy today as early as tomorrow. But of course that is not how it works in practice. Your planners, drivers, finance staff and all other users are people, not robots. So you cannot expect them to work in a completely different way from one day to the next without effort. On the contrary, a successful TMS implementation calls for patience, time and space. But that is not all. It also asks more of you as the driving force. You are pulling the cart, so you have to make sure the rest of your colleagues climb on board too. Of course you do not have to do this entirely on your own. Because if you choose our TMS in the cloud, we are happy to guide you and protect you from these three pitfalls.
1: Too little time for proper testing
Who has time to test a TMS thoroughly? Exactly, nobody. And yet you have to make time for it. This is in fact the single biggest pitfall when implementing transport software. And surely you want to prevent the TMS from working poorly on a technical level, failing to do functionally what it should, or leaving users unable to work with it? That is why it is important to spot shortcomings at the earliest possible stage. Are you missing something or is a feature not working as it should? Then we can fix it before the transport software goes live. In the end, thorough testing does not cost you time; it actually saves you time and money. Tip: decide in advance what the TMS must be able to do at the very least, and check that this is the case during every test round.
2: Not all users are involved
It is not only important that testing happens, but also who does it. After all, you want every user to recognise and benefit from the advantages of the TMS as quickly as possible. The transport software should not be seen as a chore, but as a tool that makes their work easier. So before the implementation process even starts, involve as many of the people who will eventually work with it as you can. And by having the TMS tested by employees from different departments, you simultaneously lower the threshold for the eventual training. Tip: appoint one person within each team or department as an ambassador. That person knows the TMS inside out and is in direct contact with the end user.
3: No training, or only a single session
You already read it: training. This is the way to get employees to actually use the TMS. So no training at all is a no go from the start. But something else we see a lot is that there is a training, after which users do nothing more with it. They forget the knowledge and practical pointers. A successful TMS implementation calls for routine. Repeat, repeat and repeat some more. So make sure another training is scheduled after a certain period, for example six months. In the meantime, create clear instructions and ask your ambassadors to safeguard everyone’s proficiency. Make sure they get enough time and space to help colleagues get going and to answer questions. Tip: is the transport software live? Then do not forget to phase out the old systems. That way you prevent them from being used out of habit after all.
Is our cloud TMS something for you?
So you implement a TMS largely yourself. But of course we are glad to help. That is why our website offers all the frequently asked questions, handy documents and video tutorials. On top of that, our support department is always there for you. So do you feel like making your TMS implementation a success together with us? Then try our Transport Management System for free first!
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