The Case for a Fully Integrated TMS

We designed PowerHouse for collaboration with shippers, carriers, and third-party programs.

Having a fully integrated transportation management system as part of your warehousing strategy ensures that the various moving components will play well together. Ultimately, you’ll benefit from optimal parcel shipping conditions and the most efficient route management and delivery coordination with retailers.

Supply Chain Synchronization

Work entirely within the PowerHouse environment or incorporate your current TMS. Both options will result in a highly connected supply chain and a full suite of transportation solutions. However, an embedded TMS offers clear advantages for a complex omni-channel order fulfillment environment.

  1. The supply chain execution (SCE) module leverages both WMS and TMS functions.
  2. You can access real-time decision support systems, including dynamic routing and dynamic rating and routing.
  3. Supply chain visibility is available within your enterprise and throughout the extended supply chain.
Enhanced Fulfillment Capabilities

Smart fulfillment is about being flexible but also prepared for fluctuating freight flows. You’ll want collective management capabilities for inter-modal, parcel, less-than-truckload (LTL), air shipments, and more. When traffic fluctuations become the norm so should your capacity for rapid response and adaptation.

  1. Review detailed analytics.
  2. Orchestrate an intelligent transportation plan.
  3. Make sourcing decisions backed by advanced data collection.
Last Mile Logistics

An embedded TMS results in the most accurate distribution network assessments and, therefore, the fastest delivery possible. Warehouse and transportation management capabilities operate within a single execution system, enabling access to TMS planning and tasking functionality at any time during the order fulfillment process. The bottom line: your customers have a seamless shopping experience.

Final Word

The case for a fully integrated TMS will become even more evident as your transportation operations transform into a profit center and competitive advantage. As your customer expectations evolve, so should your TMS grow with your business.

PowerHouse extends your control beyond the warehouse.

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
WMS+TMS Capabilities
  • customer-specific routing guides
  • TL, LTL, and parcel shipping
  • rate shopping tables
  • truck loading
  • shipment consolidation
  • compliance documentation
Large-scale Efficiencies
  • fast order fulfillment
  • precision control
  • error prevention
  • enterprise-wide business transparency
  • scalability without modification
System Features
  • certified domestic and international small parcel rating 
  • TL and LTL BOL generation 
  • generic carrier rating, labeling, and electronic manifest 
  • unlimited locations and carrier account numbers
  • automated carrier specific time-in-transit routing 
  • parcel tracking and delivery monitoring 
  • process to hold/future shipping 
  • anywhere-to-anywhere rating 
  • multiple package processing and re-cartonization
  • rate shopping by lowest rate and time-in-transit

Warehouse Operations & Reverse Logistics

Strengthen the chain of custody across your supply chain by achieving complete visibility over your reverse logistics and delivery processes.

PowerHouse syncs your entire supply chain, from inventory management to logistics operations to transportation management systems. Only this level of integration can ensure a seamless, cost-effective process when introducing reverse logistics. Our WMS has the capacity to push products immediately back to market.

Plan for Unplanned Reverse Logistics

A robust WMS system provides the necessary infrastructure to anticipate and quickly react to on-demand movements of products. Significantly, it’s time lost to reprocessing that represents the greatest hit to your bottom line. PowerHouse provides process controls with full visibility, from any point in the supply chain, for the fastest resale possible.

  1. Know the order number—for both logistics provider and retailer.
  2. Identify the reason for a return.
  3. Apply quality and condition codes.
  4. Create and process Return Materials Authorizations (RMA).
  5. Combine demand returns with planned deliveries.
Support Supply Chain Agility

Your chain of supply has the potential to respond quickly and effectively to evolving customer requirements, providing multiple paths for the disposition of goods.

  1. Returns to the manufacturer
  2. Refurbishment
  3. Available and promise inventories
  4. Disposal

PowerHouse process controls move goods back to available inventory or as needed. The comprehensive system allows items to be easily inducted and assigned conditions that will enable system-directed moves to process the inventory efficiently.

Manage the Customer Experience

Understand that your customer is as invested in the returns experience as he or she is in a seamless delivery process.

  1. Provide full visibility over the returns process.
  2. Address operational inefficiencies before your customer is affected.
  3. Automate initial steps, such as return requests, scheduling, barcodes.

PowerHouse captures additional revenues that would have been lost by a less supportive WMS.

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Who’s Impacted
  • distributors
  • retailers
  • logistics providers
  • supply chain managers
  • manufacturers
Key Features
  • high-volume returns processing
  • linked returns process and delivery order
  • reason for a return captured
  • discrete inventory tracking through grading
  • quality standards inspection
Integration Touch Points
  • notifications (RMA)
  • EDI and ASN
  • available/as needed inventory
  • store inventory
Specialty Functions
  • apparel product variants
  • publishing logistics
  • spare parts management
  • recycling/green initiatives
  • hazmat handling directions
  • proof of disposal
  • shelf life information