Computerized TMS

The evolution of logistics IT in companies, dates to remember.

The first functionalities

As early as the 1960s, organizations realized the immense benefits they could derive from IT tools. The ability of computers to process gigantic volumes of data in record time soon made manual processing obsolete. Initially limited to large organizations (institutions, banks, multinationals), the use of computers gradually spread to smaller companies, and then to the individual.
By the end of the 1960s, the most modern IT tools were capable of performing a wide variety of tasks, such as accounting, payroll management and financial operations, followed by sales management and sales forecasting. For companies specializing in logistics, these operations naturally contributed greatly to the growing efficiency of the supply chain.

The birth of ERP

The history of ERP ("Enterprise Resource Planning") began in the 1960s, under the impetus of American engineer Joseph Orlicky and his MRP ("Materials Requirements Planning") concept. The latter was a response to the growing need for companies to implement efficient planning solutions. History will record that Toyota was the first organization to adopt such a system Driven by the latest technological discoveries, ERP tools gradually integrated new functionalities, such as route optimization (1975) and, a few months later, finance, sales and human resources.

The history of TMS

Functional evolution from 1980 to 2000

In 1980, the first WMS ("Warehouse Management System") and TMS were launched. They have continued to evolve right up to the present day, in response to market pressures and new consumer needs. From a technical point of view, it's interesting to note that TMSs - with the exception of the route optimization function - only appeared when IT subsystems became communicative and capable of exchanging information with each other. At that time, most remote access came from workstations connected to local networks. There were also dial-up connections using modems and analog telephone lines Route optimization was the first function used by TMSs. To this day, it remains a popular feature for the general public. In the early 1980s, the first transportation software programs appeared. They were designed to facilitate customer invoicing and track payments as closely as possible. By 1985, these tools were able to manage vehicle fleets efficiently, thereby reducing maintenance costs.

In 1990, the appearance of loader software enabled logistics companies to better control their transport costs. The internationalization of trade and the growing complexity of the supply chain then made it necessary to create dedicated software capable of managing their multiple activities. We were in the middle of the 1990s.

TMS challenges in the 21st century

At the beginning of the 21st century, complex logistics portals appeared on the scene. Their objective? To share data in real time, in the face of the constraints of globalization Market evolution, the democratization of the Internet and the rise of the digital age encouraged companies to call on the most innovative technologies. Today's TMSs no longer function in the same way as they did in the early 2000s. Transport label edition and delivery tracking, tariff administration, pre-invoicing as well as tariff and tender simulation are just some of the functionalities offered by the most efficient TMSs. These tools also enable all evaluation criteria to be taken into account when choosing a carrier, including transport plans, lead times, cutoffs, rates and quotas.

To control the price/performance ratio in transport, all companies need to find the TMS that matches their commercial and logistical choices, market constraints and the nature of their business.