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Sterling TMS Features

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Question

Sterling TMS Features

Answer

Sterling TMS Features

Sterling TMS providesthe following features and advantages which shipper organizationscan use to manage their transportation business and reduce costs:

  • Hosted As-a-Service system
  • Improved planning and automation
  • Accurate shipment rating and settlement

Hosted As-a-Service System

As a hostedas-a-service system Sterling TMS provides thefollowing advantages:

  • Your users and carriers all access Sterling TMS using a singleWeb site that is kept up to date with the latest features enhancementsand corrections.
  • Our hosted architecture allows shippers carriers suppliersand customers to collaborate online to meet their transportation needs.
  • The hosted solution is operated in our state-of-the-art corporatedata center and eliminates the cost of purchasing and maintainingan internal on-premise TMS.
  • The hosted Sterling TMS architectureis engineered to process thousands of orders shipments and invoicesevery day. Sterling TMS processesmore than 5 million shipments 14 million order updates 103 millionstatus updates and 3 million invoices each year.
  • More than 12000 carriers are configured to use Sterling TMS. When youset up your Sterling TMS accountyou identify the carriers you do business with.
  • Sterling TMS isintegrated with other IBM? productsincluding the IBM SterlingB2B Collaboration Network IBM SterlingSupplier Portal and IBM SterlingSupply Chain Visibility.You can use these products to provide end-to-end support for yourinbound and outbound logistics operations.
  • Sterling TMS providesseamless access to third-party software tools such as SMC RateWareSMC CarrierConnect PC Miler and MileMaker.

Improved Planning and Automation

Sterling TMS supports high-volumeshipping operations. Sterling TMS provides thefollowing features shippers can use to plan and automate their logisticsworkflow.

  • Do centralized planning which controls the carriers you use ineach region and how much you pay for shipping. Your corporate headquarterscan set up electronic contracts and route guides which specify howcarriers should be selected and how much to pay for shipping.
  • Do de-centralized load planning and execution at each of yourmanufacturing plants or distribution centers. Your transportationdepartment can plan tender and track shipments based on the ratesdefined in the centralized contracts and route guides.
  • Use the Sterling TMS optimizerand Load Builder to automate the consolidation of orders and smallshipments into larger more cost-effective shipments.
  • Use the Freight Payment module to streamline the settlement processand automatically pay carrier invoices that fall within your definedtolerances.

Accurate Shipment Rating and Settlement

Sterling TMS provides thefollowing features that shippers can use to manage their shippingrates and accurately control the charges they pay to their carriers.

  • Use the Contract Management module to collaborate with your carriersto update shipping rates and charges.
  • Use the Freight Payment module to manage the accounting and settlementprocess with your carriers. Carriers can submit their invoices andyou can configure Sterling TMS toautomatically approve the invoice for payment.
  • Sterling TMS cangenerate accrual invoices which provide an estimate of shipping charges.You can import these pro forma charges into your accounts payablesystem.
  • Set up base rates which define the target rates for each shippinglane based on mode equipment type and other attributes. When youtender shipments to carriers you can compare the actual carrier ratesto the base rates.
  • Use the Average Rate Calculator module to to analyze historicaldata about your transportation expenditures so you can plan your futurecosts.
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Document Information

Modified date:
08 December 2018

UID

ibm10752689

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