Solving Supply Chain Problems Outside the TMS

Performance a TMS Couldn’t Deliver

Transportation management systems (TMS) have long been the solution to making continuous improvements in a company’s freight management operations.

Yet many companies say they struggle to justify a return on the investment.

That may be changing. Rockwell Automation, a Milwaukee-based industrial automation products manufacturer, said it has found a way to reap the benefits of a TMS without a full-blown investment in the software.

Through a partnership with logistics software provider RateLinx, Rockwell is using a Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution to better manage domestic less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, a program that has helped the company improve visibility across its shipping network, reduce costs, and streamline operations, according to Jeffrey Dudzik, Rockwell Automation’s global transportation manager.

“This is a dynamic way of doing something without taking on the heavy investment [of a TMS],” said Dudzik, noting that Rockwell Automation’s monthly DaaS fee is a fraction of the cost of the hardware, software, and related services associated with a TMS.

“It was a minimal risk for Rockwell Automation as an organization - a somewhat small investment to create better visibility and control over my freight network.”

Rockwell Automation faced all the challenges that a TMS is designed to resolve. It struggled to improve transport performance because of a lack of visibility and access to clean data.

A Data-First Approach

Enter RateLinx, which offers an à la carte approach with its Data-as-a-Service software.

Download the Rockwell Automation/RateLinx Case Study paper now!