The TSL sector has always been affected by the dynamic market environment and requirements of ever-changing lead times. Time of response to offer contests is crucial in attracting new customers and winning new tenders. Fast operating and well-prepared offer means a greater chance of winning a buyer or a tender. No less important is the analysis of data from the past and current activities of our company and our competitors.
As managers of transport companies indicate, the most important challenge is coordination of all operations in an efficient and fast way. Keeping terms of all tenders that are about to end can be a big challenge, for example when the driver did not arrive on time due to the prolonged border control, the cargo had been damaged, and we have to look for two additional drivers to for replacement . It is important to have tools that support everyday work, while helping to organize all relevant information and deadlines in an approachable way. Thanks to modern IT tools it is possible to significantly improve management of a transport company. Database of current projects and orders, company resources and deadlines available in one system helps to save valuable time and makes it much easier to coordinate all activities.
Another challenge for a company may be complex process of building an offer, often prepared by a group of people. If so, ensuring efficient internal communication becomes crucial. It is also important for the employees to have constant access to a sorted list of tasks, in order to improve agility of work. IT solutions, thanks to integration with popular work tools, such as Microsoft Office, enable efficient communication between people as well as common, simultaneous preparation of documentation during the tender process.
An important aspect for companies in each industry is the analysis of competitor’s activities and profitability of tenders in which we plan to take part. Knowledge of previous tender activities and prices offered by our competitors facilitates preparation of an effective offer in subsequent proceedings. Such information will also allow to assess potential profitability of entering a given tender by estimating the ratio of our proposal along with our margin to the expected prices of competitors.
One of the solutions that will potentially improve the operations of a logistics, shipping or transport company may be the TSL tool from Intersys. It is a system created in cooperation with the owners of transport companies, prepared in order to respond to the needs of the industry and improve functioning in the TSL sector. The tool allows to archive realized orders, contacts assigned to specific orders or tenders as well as all requirements of the proceedings in which we plan to participate.
This solution in the main management panel contains analytical tools in the form of constantly updated amount and number charts. Information on the tenders won during the last 12 months, sorted according to the share in the company’s or client’s revenue, as well as information concerning ongoing tenders according to the estimated order value are directly available in the panel. Analytical functionalities support effective bidding and business decisions in subsequent tender procedures, helping to optimize costs and margins planned for future offers.
Efficient operation of a transport, shipping or logistics company requires agile management, good analytics and the possibility of prompt delegation of tasks, and at the same time consideration for the specificity of activities that are implemented in it. This is why it is worth choosing a customized tool not only for the company, but also for the industry. The TSL solution from Intersys is based on a functional, flexible system of CRM class – Microsoft Dynamics 365. Moreover, all the collected information are stored in Microsoft Trust Center, data center equipped with security features of the highest class. Data privacy is guaranteed by the TLS protocol, which protects and encrypts information transmitted over the Internet and eliminates threats in the process of file transfer. Microsoft Dynamics 365 cloud platform, based on Azure Active Directory technology, secures authentication of the person logging into the system. We cannot ignore the fact, that the security level of the tool allows us to meet legal requirements specified in GDPR and other regulations concerning personal data. Dynamics 365 as the ground of the solution also guarantees seamless integration with popular work tools, such as Microsoft Office, in order to assure fluent work within the company.
Specificity of TSL industry requires quick business decisions, efficient preparation of apt offers that will enable fast acquisition of new orders as well as resistance to changing market conditions and legal regulations that exacerbate requirements concerning IT systems. However, as we have shown, there is a solution that meets these needs and is tailored to the needs of the TSL industry.
