For trucking companies, transportation management software (TMS) is one of the best ways to ensure your business is operating as efficiently as possible. Implementing this type of software allows fleets to streamline and organize their day-to-day operations, saving significant amounts of time and money.
Learning a new TMS can come with a learning curve, whether a company is switching from a different software or using a TMS 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 a certain way.
Implementing a TMS helps ensure your company is operating at peak efficiency for maximum profitability. Below, we’ll discuss what you can expect when implementing trucking software for the first time or switching providers.
Before implementation
Before implementing transportation management software or switching from your current TMS, it’s helpful to research which solution best suits your company’s needs. Fleet managers and owner-operators should define the needs and challenges of their operation before asking how trucking software will help them.
A key factor to consider is the different features and integrations that software offers. One benefit of a TMS is the ability to integrate various 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 questions.
You should also consider the reputation of the company you’re partnering with and the value of the software they provide. Similarly, you should consider how that partner approaches service and support. Although you need to trust that your TMS will work properly, no software is perfect or immune to problems. There will be instances where you need implementation assistance, training and ongoing support. Consider these exercises:
- Look at reviews
- Get to know the team
- Ask about the implementation process
It’s imperative that the support team you work with quickly responds to your needs and solves issues. Extended downtime or other problems with the software not only makes it harder to run your fleet with efficiency, but it can actively cost you money.
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 critical 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, it will have the option to choose between several distinct plans, none of which require contracts or long-term obligations. Plus, the ProTransport implementation team will be available to assist and answer questions during and after the initial onboarding process, ensuring long-term success with our software.
Frequently asked questions
Below, we’ll go over some of the most common questions related to ProTransport implementation.
- How long will it take me to learn the system? Following implementation, we’ll provide 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 encounter an issue or have a question, we provide support that ensures your business is well-equipped for lasting success. Because a TMS 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, maintenance and more.