For trucking companies, transportation management software is one of the best ways to ensure your business is operating as efficiently as possible. Implementing this type of software allows fleets the ability to streamline and organize their day-to-day operations, which can save them significant amounts of time and money.
Learning new software can come with a learning curve though, whether a company is switching from a different software or using it for the very first time. It can be intimidating for some, particularly if they’ve grown accustomed to performing all of their day-to-day operations in a certain way.
The benefits of implementing transportation management software help ensure your company is as operating at peak efficiency for maximum profitability. Below, we’ll discuss what you can expect when implementing software for the first time or switching your transportation software.
Prior to implementation
Before you make a decision to implement transportation management software, or switch from your current software, it’s important to research which software solution will best suit the needs of your company. Fleet managers and owner-operators have to clearly define the different needs and challenges of their operation before asking how specific software will help them.
One of the most important factors to consider is the different features and integrations that software offers. A major benefit of transportation management software is the ability to integrate numerous different aspects of trucking operations into one centralized platform. If you’re unsure about how the software will work for your fleet, consider scheduling a demo where a subject matter expert can walk you through the ins and outs of the system and answer any questions that you may have.
You should also consider the reputation of the company you’re partnering with and the value of the software they provide. Similarly, you should also consider how that partner approaches service and support. Although you need to trust that your software will work properly, no software is 100 percent perfect or immune to problems. There will be instances where you need implementation assistance, training and ongoing support. Look at reviews, ask about the implementation process and talk with the teams you’ll be working with to get a feel for their level of customer service.
When you do, it’s imperative that the support team you work with quickly responds to your needs and solves the issue. Extended downtime or other issues with the software not only makes it harder to run your fleet with efficiency, but it can actively cost you money. You need to know that you can trust your software provider to get your issues resolved quickly and correctly.
The implementation process
Once you’ve selected the transportation management software that best fits your company, the next step is to initiate the process for implementing that software. As you can probably guess, this process will vary significantly depending on which company you partner with.
If you’re switching from a different software provider to a new one, it’s particularly important to ensure that you are no longer under contract with the previous company. You will need to wait until the contract expires, or find a way to break the contract beforehand, to avoid any penalties or legal consequences.
If a company decides to implement ProTransport software, they will get to choose between three different options that don’t require contracts or long-term obligations. These options are ProTransport Basic, ProTransport Premium and ProTransport Enterprise (PTE).
Both ProTransport Basic and Premium are monthly, pay-as-you-go subscriptions that offer the same universal features to all companies who sign on. As its name implies, ProTransport Premium includes more advanced capabilities and offers expanded features. Basic and Premium are known as “click and play” systems that will require the user to review training videos and enter new data.
ProTransport Enterprise, meanwhile, is an SaaS model that gives customers a more extensive solution with the ability to purchase add-on services and integrations. This solution comes with implementation support from a dedicated team and offers ongoing training opportunities and customer service. The amount of time it takes to completely implement software will vary depending on a variety of factors but can take up to 30 days to complete.
Frequently asked questions
Below, we’ll go over some of the most common questions we receive related to ProTransport Enterprise implementation.
- How long will it take me to learn the system? Following implementation, there will be ongoing support as fleets learn the flow and functionality of the system.
- Will I still receive support after implementation? Yes! Our team works with companies from the point of first contact through implementation and beyond. If you ever run into an issue or have a question, we provide support that ensures your business is set up for lasting success. Because this software is so important for the health of your business, we encourage customers to ask for help when questions or challenges arise.
- Do you work with both small and large fleets? ProTransport is designed to be fully configurable to the customer, meaning that we work with fleets of all sizes and can adapt the implementation process specifically to them.
- Can I add integrations even after implementation? Yes! ProTransport is constantly offering new integration features and add-ons to help with tasks related to accounting, administration, dispatch, safety and maintenance. Current integration options include fuel cards, QuickBooks, ELDs and more.
- What can I do if I still have trouble learning the software? If you find yourself struggling to understand how to use ProTransport, our team offers a wide range of different training sessions throughout the year! These remote training courses cover the different functionalities within the software and can be very valuable to both new and experienced users alike. Simply sign up for your preferred course when it’s available!