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Monica Wooden, Co-founderThe solution was first implemented at a large electronics company with complex, high-volume transportation needs, resulting in savings of millions of dollars. The solution suite continues to be a cornerstone of the MercuryGate’s technology, which over the years has added bells and whistles, besides being scalable to meet the growing needs of enterprises.
“By offering a single cloud-based platform that serves all modes with an integrated set of logistics partners, MercuryGate TMS provides users with a holistic view of data, real-time control tower visibility and decision support,” says Monica, a sports enthusiast and an active sportswoman herself. “All of our MercuryGate employees are geared toward putting customers into production. We call those touchdowns. And we are focused on getting in the red zone and never, ever settling for a field goal,” she adds.
Designed as an operations level, mission critical planning and execution logistics solution, MercuryGate TMS automates the shipment management process with a range of functional modules such as 3PL TMS, Brokerage, Shipper, Mojo, Freight Forwarder, Carma, MercuryProcure, MercuryFleet and RateFriend.
All of our MercuryGate employees are geared toward putting customers into production
Similarly, Carma automates carrier data management so companies can focus on managing their businesses, and MercuryGate allows companies with private fleets to manage drivers, equipment and operations with a single system, MercuryFleet.
Despite steady and rapid growth, MercuryGate remains an organization with complete focus on continued technology improvements and customer satisfaction. “Our employees make it their mission to streamline the global supply chain, one client at a time,” says Monica, who is also member of the Committee of 200, an invitation-only membership organization of the world’s most successful women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
“MercuryGate is poised to expand the company’s services to support fleet managers and freight forwarders, besides widening its eco-system of technology partners who bring niche capabilities such as telematics, GPS, geo-mapping and other technologies,” says Monica.
“We are at a juncture requiring us to scale the company to accelerated growth, so executive owners have been named for critical areas,” she says. “The expansion of our executive team is a strategic move on the part of MercuryGate to prepare for continued growth, accelerated innovation and ongoing service to our customers in the transportation and supply chain software sector.”
Company
MercuryGate
Management
Monica Wooden, Co-founder and Stephen Bough, Co-founder
Description
Creates world class transportation management solutions to align technology
with real-world dynamics for its customers
2. Modern transportation management system software has emerged as a potent tool to assist companies in navigating the complexities of moving goods within a network. This software provides a competitive edge for logistics service providers and in-house shipping teams by streamlining operations, enhancing visibility, and improving overall performance and efficiency.
3. Transportation management system software, abbreviated as TMS, is a digital solution positioned between the order management system (OMS) and warehouse management system (WMS). A state-of-the-art TMS aids in maintaining optimal inventory levels at each node by optimizing delivery schedules and holding carriers accountable. It serves as a logistics platform, offering shippers, carriers, and their partners a digital platform to share critical, real-time data on all orders in transit.
4. The roots of transportation management system software can be traced back to the 1970s and the widespread adoption of barcodes. Initially a module within larger enterprise resource planning systems (ERPs), today's leading TMS software systems employ a software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription model and application programming interface (API) connections, eliminating prolonged implementation timeframes and high license fees.
5. The significance of TMS software lies in providing shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs) with three distinct advantages over manual transportation management processes:
6. Greater Efficiency: Rising fuel costs continually impact company profit margins. TMS software, through optimized routing for shorter transit distances and freight consolidation, contributes significantly to cost savings.
7. Improved Visibility: Shippers and LSPs require up-to-the-minute visibility into various aspects of freight in motion. Modern TMS software can track and manage day-to-day transportation operations, trade compliance information, and documentation.
8. Customer Satisfaction: Regardless of whether customers are B2B, B2C, or a mix of both, they demand the highest level of performance. Implementing TMS software improves on-time delivery performance, fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty.
9. Key components and capabilities of TMS software solutions offering cloud-based transportation management include:
10. Carrier Management: A modern TMS helps manage every aspect of carrier management across all partners, especially important as transportation costs fluctuate.
11. Transportation Procurement: Simplifying the process of collecting, analyzing, and benchmarking carrier data, transportation procurement software within a TMS aids in identifying ideal candidates.
12. Route and Load Optimization: Advanced AI technology in TMS software streamlines operations, facilitating rerouting and data-driven load planning to eliminate inefficiency and waste.
13. Freight Execution Platform: TMS software includes a freight execution platform that handles multi-modal scheduling, tendering, and automated exception management.
14. Visibility, Reporting, and Analytics: Providing real-time visibility, reporting, and analytics, a state-of-the-art TMS software system enables more informed decision-making.
15. Supply Chain Communication Control Tower: A control tower within a TMS helps shippers and LSPs quickly view dynamics to reroute and manage freight assignments when adverse events occur.
16. Logistics and Supply Chain Data Repository: Acting as a "single source of truth" for data on freight rates and helping manage supply chain disruptions, a TMS software system enhances accuracy and efficiency.
17. Freight Settlement for Audit and Pay: Automated freight settlement within a TMS closes the loop from origin through final payment, eliminating manual handling of reconciliation.
18. Invoicing Functionality: TMS software with integrated freight billing and invoicing, driven by APIs, automates the billing process, saving time and effort.
19. Reporting and Business Intelligence (BI): A modern TMS offers customizable report templates and rich BI tools, eliminating the need for time-consuming data extractions and spreadsheets.
20. The practical advantages of implementing a TMS software system include:
21. Greater Efficiency: Features such as load optimization, carrier selection, and route planning in TMS software contribute to significant reductions in transport costs, waste elimination, and return on investment (ROI).
22. Enhanced Visibility: Tools providing shipment visibility and dynamic workflows enable real-time tracking and improved inventory management, critical capabilities for efficient operations.
23. Satisfied Customers: A TMS software system, facilitating improved on-time performance and adherence to service-level agreements, reduces the likelihood of customers shifting to competitors.