When supply chains are agile and responsive to changing market conditions, companies are better positioned for growth. But growth brings complexity, and some businesses struggle to make that leap forward.
For FE&S dealers and suppliers, this visibility allows for: • Proactive issue resolution by identifying delays or disruptions early • Accurate delivery forecasting, improving customer satisfaction • Real-time tracking, which enhances accountability and operational transparency
Automating Key Processes An example of how TMS solutions
are helping companies manage their supply chains is the renewed interest in reshoring and nearshoring prompted by ongoing geopolitical complications. This practice usually results in shorter distances between the point of production, distribution and end user, which can reduce supply chain volatility, increase velocity and help bypass tariffs. Reshoring and nearshoring accelerate the transportation segment of supply chains, removing anywhere between 10 and 40 days of transit (if importing commodities via sea freight from foreign countries). Generally, a faster supply chain can be a significant advantage but nearshoring and reshoring come with a new set of challenges that force distributors and manufacturers to adapt their operations. Companies must be ready to quicken their reaction times to keep pace. For example, faster inbound transit times can lead to enhanced customer delivery windows and alternate inventory management strategies, but it also cuts a few weeks of manual planning time from the process. Without the proper tools, this compression can hinder operations. A TMS helps address these challenges by automating essential functions such as carrier selection, route optimization, load planning, and freight
42 FEDA News & Views
auditing. This automation reduces administrative overhead while ensuring more efficient and cost-effective results — critical advantages under reshoring and nearshoring scenarios.
Integrating Data Enables Growth Digital integration across the supply
chain means breaking down silos and ensuring that systems communicate seamlessly. A modern TMS supports API and EDI connectivity, enabling smooth data exchange between internal systems (ERP, WMS, order management) and external partners (suppliers, third-party logistics providers and carriers). This integration:
• Facilitates synchronized planning between production, warehousing and transportation
• Supports collaborative logistics, allowing better coordination with partners
• Reduces data entry errors and improves data accuracy, leading to better decision-making Once data is being shared with key partners and components across the supply chain, companies can focus on the next step: supply chain agility. A TMS platform supports supply chain agility by collecting and analyzing transportation data to provide actionable insights into costs, performance and efficiency. Dashboards and reports enable supply chain managers to identify trends, measure KPIs such as cost per shipment and on- time delivery, and uncover opportunities for improvement.
Advanced TMS solutions take this a step further by tapping into predictive analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities. Using those new technologies, a TMS can forecast demand, optimize shipping schedules
and even suggest corrective actions in case of anticipated disruptions. When implemented correctly, these features can help distributors and manufacturers optimize their supply chains and operate more effectively with less human interference.
When supply chains are agile
and responsive to changing market conditions, companies are better positioned for growth. But growth brings complexity, and some businesses struggle to make that leap forward. Scalability becomes critical. Fortunately, companies that embrace data integration are already equipped to overcome that bottleneck. Cloud-based TMS solutions are built on an elastic infrastructure, so they can scale resources up or down based on the current shipping or sales volume, without requiring costly physical investments in equipment such as on- site servers. Further, TMS platforms often include standardized APIs and integration tools that streamline the onboarding of new partners and simplify data sharing. By offering complete supply chain visibility and heightening the ability to react to disruptions, TMS solutions can be a catalyst for digital integration between distributors and manufactures. Investing in the right TMS unlocks new levels of efficiency and agility while helping to elevate the quality of data within the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. By centralizing data, automating processes and enabling seamless communication across systems and stakeholders, a TMS empowers organizations to not merely keep up with the demands of the modern supply chain, but to lead it.
About the Author Kevin Brink is the vice president of LTL solutions for Kuehne+Nagel, a FEDA business services member that provides sea freight, airfreight, road, and rail logistics in more than 100 countries. Learn more at
us.kuehne-nagel.com. Brink can be reached at
Kevin.Brink@
Kuehne-Nagel.com.
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