The rapid evolution of supply chain management is partially due to a search for the most efficient options. Since rail freight is one of the most important and cost-effective methods of moving freight, the logistics of rail shipping has seen an increased focus on optimization and efficiency. Among the innovations that have been released to help rail shippers, the rail software Rail Transportation Management Systems (Rail TMS) stand out as one of the most transformative solutions that redefines how goods are moved across sprawling rail networks.
Table of Contents
- Conventional Methods of Managing Rail Logistics
- Rail Software – Efficient Technology and Interconnection
- Key Benefits of a Rail Transportation Management System
Conventional Methods of Managing Rail Logistics
The traditional approach to rail logistics long relied on manual processes that are inefficient and overly complicated. Rail shippers are all too familiar with the rote work of carefully monitoring railcar locations, combing through data to find insights, and managing databases based out of disconnected systems. As you can imagine, this usually results in significant time and financial investments. In an era where every second and penny counts, these manual methods are not just a challenge – they’re slowing down your ability to optimize and grow your business.
Inefficiencies appear in various forms: delays in communication lead to slower response times, human errors can find their way into processes, the inability to adapt swiftly to changing scenarios can mean missed opportunities, and an incorrect conclusion pulled from manual data can have drastic reproductions. This leaves you struggling to keep up with the demanding responsibilities of managing rail logistics while trying to find what went wrong and where. Often this means sacrificing the time you could be spending optimizing operations, finding opportunities to save, or disputing charges.
Rail Software – What is a Rail TMS?
Enter the Rail TMS, system solutions that offer a seamless integration of logistics operations through sophisticated technology. A Rail TMS isn’t only about replacing paperwork with digital records (though that is an aspect); it’s a comprehensive management tool designed to interconnect every element of the rail shipping process.
This technology offers a more intelligent approach to rail shipping logistics. With a Rail TMS, you can access an integrated platform that provides visibility over your entire rail shipment lifecycle. From automating routine tasks and optimizing tracking to generating comprehensive data visualizations, a Rail TMS streamlines the complexities of rail logistics into manageable components, allowing you to focus on what you do best – moving your business forward.
In our forthcoming exploration, we’ll delve into the benefits that Rail TMS offers and talk about why these systems are having such a significant impact on the rail shipping world. For our examples we’ll use Rail Command®, our Rail TMS that our rail shipping team built specifically for anyone who ships by rail.
Key Benefits of the Rail Software Rail TMS
Though the benefits of a Rail TMS like Rail Command are many, we’ll break them down into roughly three pillars: Integrated, Automated, and Empowered.
Integrated refers to the comprehensive nature of a tool like Rail Command. All the information you need for your rail supply chain is in one place and talks to each other. That’s where Automated comes in; when the system talks to itself, or other systems, it does so in a way that reduces the amount of manual work you have to do on your end, saving time and money while reducing the likelihood of errors. And Rail Command Empowers you to optimize your rail shipping with automated data visualizations that help you, at a glance, manage your logistics while also finding areas for improvement.
Integrated Logistics Network
At the heart of a Rail TMS lies its ability to create an integrated logistics network. For example, Rail Command contains features for managing your rail rates, demurrage, railcar tracking, patterns and execution, railcar maintenance, and more. Having all of these capabilities in one place provides more opportunities for you to focus on managing your logistics rather than traveling from system to system manually.
However, it’s not enough just to have everything in one place; it also needs to talk to itself. Rail Command achieves this integration by weaving together data that is relevant to one another within the system. For example, as long as you’ve uploaded your equipment into the Rail Command equipment feature, that information will be used when you are developing shipments. If you input a capacity above a saved railcar’s maximum capacity, Rail Command will flag that for you. Or if you want to ship a hazardous commodity, Rail Command alerts you if the equipment you’ve selected is not able to handle the commodity.
This level of integration ensures that data—historically siloed and prone to discrepancies—is now a cohesive, reliable foundation for decision-making.
The real power of this integrated network becomes apparent when we think about data and information being presented in near real-time. Accessibility to up-to-the-minute information empowers you to move from reactive to proactive. Whether it’s finding out about an unexpected delay so you can reach out to a client or work with the rail carrier to facilitate movement, the immediacy of data at your fingertips means decisions are timely and informed.
Comprehensive Automation
Next, we’ll take a look at the power of automation in a Rail TMS. As we’ve discussed, manual methods bring with them the danger of human error and significant time spent. Automation capabilities minimize human error while boosting the overall operational efficiency of your rail logistics. By automating critical activities, a Rail TMS like Rail Command ensures your logistics stay on track and reserves the need for manual attentions for critical interventions.
For instance, Rail Command is built so that exception logs are automated and automatically identify potentially delayed or problematic railcars. This allows for more immediate corrective measures than if you were monitoring that rail car manually. Rail Command’s automation provides a dual benefit: they reduce the scope for errors that can happen with manual operations and enable a more agile response to potential logistic challenges. This means that you can maintain a smooth, efficient flow of goods, ultimately leading to enhanced service reliability and customer satisfaction.
Empowered Data Insights
With rail software like a Rail TMS, the power of comprehensive integration and automation come together to provide powerful data insights. Solutions like Rail Command are equipped with sophisticated data visualization tools, giving you the ability to more easily interpret complex data sets, which leads to faster and more informed decisions. Rail Command comes standard with a plethora of data visualization Key Performance Indicator reporting and a grid view customer report builder.
By automating processes and reducing the necessity for manual analysis, these tools in Rail Command contribute to the ability to find areas of your supply chain you can optimize. Rail Command includes data visualizations for dwell, fleet turns, historical shipment volumes, lane performance, and more. These actionable insights take data that you would have had to interpret manually and give you a quick glance to judge your rail logistics performance.
For instance, in Rail Command’s equipment feature, you can input the expiration dates of your leased equipment. Once inputted, a lease expiration data visualization is created; this timetable warns you of upcoming lease expirations so you can be proactive with your equipment. Another example is the demurrage dashboard, which uses reports from your logistics to power a filterable data visualization that shows cars in actual placement, cars accruing demurrage or charges, and more.
A Rail TMS like Rail Command is designed to bring you Integrated Automation that Empowers your rail logistics. By adopting a Rail TMS, you can save time and money on your rail shipping operations, all while finding new areas that you can optimize. And as the industry continues to move more towards efficiency and optimization, it’s time to consider a comprehensive Rail TMS.
Interested in learning more about our Rail TMS, Rail Command? Explore more now and command your rail shipping.
