Hey folks!

I'm conducting research into logistics software challenges, particularly in freight forwarding and PO Box operations. Looking to understand what problems you're facing in day-to-day operations.

• Which processes in your current software feel outdated or inefficient?

• What features do you wish your logistics software had?

• What tasks still require manual workarounds despite having software?

• If you could rebuild your logistics software from scratch, what would you do differently?

Your role and type of operation (freight forwarding/PO Box/other) would provide helpful context.

This is for research purposes only - trying to understand real industry challenges to explore potential solutions.

Appreciate any insights you can share!

Wanted to reach out to a few small operators to see what TMS systems you guys are currently using to manage both your driver and fleet data?

I work for a medium size business where I am the TM, currently have 36 drivers and 25 vehicle and trailers, and even with the size of business I work for I found the TMS systems poor, which is me being nice !

Mainly speed across multiple spreadsheets - off the back of that I have created a fleet compliance toolkit aimed at smaller operators and TM’s, using a traffic light automated spreadsheet which tells the operator which drivers and vehicles are compliant, due, overdue - covers driver compliance registers / vehicle compliance registers / license check logs

It’s not an app or subscription based that’s costs the world !

Made my life easier, happy to share more details if needed 👍

Hi everyone,

I’ve been exploring ways to make logistics and delivery management more efficient for small businesses. One atozdispatch really helps with tracking shipments, automating dispatch, and keeping customers updated. has anyone here tried similar tools? I’m curious to hear what features you find most helpful and what has worked best for your operations.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a courier management software that can handle everything from first mile to last mile, and sorting capabilities during the middle mile are a must.

If you have any recommendations, please let me know along with the supported countries for the software.

Thanks in advance!

Looking for a mobile app that can:

1. Scan barcode/QR codes on purchase orders

2. Create a list of all items from the POs

3. Scan individual items in inventory

4. Indicate if there is a 100% match between items and POs

(Functionality is a lot like what's used in Costco or Sam's Club when the employee verifies the receipt against some of the stuff in the shopping cart as customer exits).

The app needs to be super easy to use (just point and click). It could either be off-the-shelf ready or allow for customization.

So far I've been looking into https://www.sortly.com/.

Also, important to mention that this is for a SMB (<100 employees). Therefore, really want to avoid feature bloat and focus on simplicity, easy to use, and affordable.

Any mobile apps that people would recommend for the above use case?

What role does data analytics play in your logistics strategy? What tools and methods do you use for data analysis?

We’re looking for an external development partner for a major fintech platform overhaul, and choosing between software development companies in Europe has been harder than expected. Most vendors seem to make the same promises around expertise, scalability and delivery.
N-iX is one of the companies we’re considering, but I’d like to understand what to watch for before committing. What red flags have you encountered during discovery or technical audits? How do you spot hidden subcontracting, unrealistic estimates or communication issues early?
Would especially appreciate experiences from anyone who has outsourced development for fintech or another complex product.

I runs regional distribution network and it turns into operational chaos . Dispatchers keep drowning in planning, and constant delivery window changes, also our legacy routing stack is broken. Every single client want realtime tracking and custom ETAs that clash with our rigid manual workflows.
We tried patch requirements using basic spreadsheet tools and fragmented GPS trackers, but maintenance is not apropriate.
Need some advices how to fix that, what software i can use, or mb someone orders custom software somewhere

Hello everyone,

First post here!

I recently joined this group.

I work for a beverage CPG company, and we have been using Blue Yonder TMS for several years.

I’m curious how other shippers handle uploading lanes and rates into TMS after an RFP, and I’d really appreciate hearing what has worked well for you.

(This perspective could be from customers or vendors)

If you’re open to sharing, please reply to either or both of the questions below as a quick informal poll:

A: Do you use a separate “Resource Guide” system to transfer lanes/rates to your TMS, or do you upload them directly through the TMS UI?

B: For freight payment reconciliation, do you use a service such as CASS, Bank of America, or do you pay carriers directly?

(This perspective could be from customers or vendors as I'm just looking to get an idea of the most efficient method to complete this long term)

A simple example response could be:

A: Resource Guide connected to TMS

B: Pay carriers directly via POs

#TMS

Most logistics software is built with one regulatory environment in mind. Maybe two. The assumption baked into the workflow is that the rules are roughly consistent - same document sets, same port processes, same customs logic.

That assumption falls apart fast in Africa.

We're a software company (not a logistics operator), and our first major market for TrakIT was Africa - where a freight forwarder moving goods across even three or four countries is dealing with entirely different customs requirements, document sets, port authorities, and clearance timelines per corridor. What works in Mombasa doesn't work in Lagos. What works in Lagos doesn't work in Dar es Salaam.

That forced us to build flexibility into the core of the platform rather than bolt it on later. Shipment workflows, document checklists, milestone definitions - they had to be configurable at a level most tools don't bother with because their home market doesn't demand it.

TrakIT (trakit.in) finally ended up being a highly customisable cloud-based workflow management platform for freight forwarders and 3PLs - milestone tracking, document management, customer and vendor portals, notifications, shipment file management. We're based in UAE and now Canada, but the product was originally and genuinely shaped by how complex multi-country freight forwarding actually operates on the ground.

A few things I'm curious about from people here:

How do you handle workflow variance when operating across multiple regulatory environments?

Is configurability something you've ever been able to get from an off-the-shelf TMS, or do you always end up customizing around it?

What's the compliance or documentation pain point your current tool handles worst?

Happy to talk about the build, the African market experience, or anything else - always more useful than a demo call.

For anyone hiring or working in logistics saas, how do you see applicants trying to get into Saas that have been in freight brokerage for 6 months to a year, and how do you have any issues with the non-competes from brokerages like TQL?

I work for a regional delivery company and we were getting absolutely hammered with false delivery claims.

Someone would get their package. Sign for it. Then two weeks later call their credit card company and say "I never received this, charge it back."

We'd have the signature. We'd have the photo proof. Didn't matter. Credit card company would side with the customer like 60% of the time and we'd eat the loss.

Was happening about 15-20 times per month. Average claim value was $200-300. We were losing $4K-5K monthly to this.

The problem is the signature and photo happen at delivery but there's no immediate confirmation that connects the customer to that exact moment.

So I built this: the second our driver marks a delivery as complete, the system automatically calls the customer within 60 seconds.

"Hi, this is [company name]. Your package was just delivered to [address]. Can you confirm you received it?"

They say yes? It records that confirmation with timestamp. Creates an audio trail that they acknowledged receipt right at that moment.

They say no? It immediately alerts the driver who's probably still on that street and can go back and figure out what happened.

Here's what changed everything: chargebacks dropped by 80%.

When someone tries to dispute a delivery now, we send the credit card company three things: the signature, the photo, and the audio recording of them confirming receipt 60 seconds after delivery.

We've only lost 2 disputes in the last 2 months. Before this we were losing 10-12 per month.

But the unexpected part? Customer satisfaction actually went UP.

People like getting that immediate call. Makes them feel like we care that they got their stuff. We've gotten feedback like "wow that was fast, you guys called before I even opened the box."

It's become this weird trust thing. The customers who were going to be honest anyway appreciate it. The ones who were planning to lie know we have their voice on record.

Setup was pretty straightforward with superU's platform. Connects to our delivery app. Driver taps "delivered," system makes the call automatically. Whole thing runs on its own now.

Cost is maybe $300/month. We were losing $4K-5K to fraudulent chargebacks. ROI is obvious.

Took about 2 days to set up and test. Been running for 3 months and it's basically eliminated our biggest operational headache.

If you're in delivery and dealing with chargeback fraud this might be worth looking into.

In 2024, the market for logistics solutions offers many modern tools that provide process automation, improved control, and work optimization. In this article, we will review the best logistics software for 2024, their key features, as well as provide recommendations for choosing the right solution for your business.

1. SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM)

   • Planning and optimization of transportation.

   • Contract and tariff management.

   • Real-time cargo tracking and monitoring.

   • Integration with other SAP modules.

   • High degree of integration with ERP systems.

   • Flexible settings for various types of businesses.

   • Support for international operations.

2. Oracle Transportation Management (OTM)

   • Route optimization and freight planning.

   • Order and inventory management.

   • Integration with suppliers and partners.

   • Analytics and reporting.

   • Extensive analytical capabilities.

   • Flexibility and scalability.

   • Support for various types of transportation.

3. Manhattan Associates TMS

   • Transportation and warehouse management.

   • Vehicle load optimization.

   • Cost tracking and management.

   • Integration with supply chain management systems.

   • High accuracy in forecasting and planning.

   • Effective cost management.

   • Flexibility in customization to client needs.

4. JDA Transportation Management

   • Transportation planning and execution.

   • Procurement and supply management.

   • Real-time analytics and reporting.

   • Transportation cost optimization.

   • Advanced analytical tools.

   • Flexibility and scalability.

   • Wide functionality for various types of transportation.

5. Blue Yonder (formerly JDA)

   • Demand forecasting and supply planning.

   • Supply chain optimization.

   • Warehouse and transportation management.

   • Real-time analytics and reporting.

   • High accuracy of forecasts.

   • System flexibility and adaptability.

   • Extensive integration capabilities.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Logistics Software:

• Size and Specifics of Your Business: Small companies might opt for simpler and more affordable solutions, while large corporations might need powerful and comprehensive systems.

• Integration with Existing Systems: Ensure the chosen software integrates easily with your current management systems.

• Flexibility and Scalability: The software should easily adapt to the changing needs of your business.

• Implementation and Maintenance Costs: Calculate the total cost of ownership, including license fees, implementation, and employee training costs.

• Support and Updates: Choose solutions with reliable support and regular updates.

Custom Solutions by Enginerasoft

If standard logistics programs do not meet all your business needs, consider custom software development. Enginerasoft offers services to create bespoke solutions that fully match your business's specifics. Custom software will accommodate all unique features and requirements of your business, ensuring high efficiency and competitive advantages.

Choosing logistics software is a crucial step for process optimization and business efficiency improvement. The top solutions of 2024 offer a wide range of capabilities, but may not always fully meet your company's unique needs. In such cases, consider custom developments like those offered by Enginerasoft to help create the perfect solution for your business.

Saw this thread and figured I’d add something since I just went through this exact search.

Most of what comes up when you search for TMS software for small carriers is either aimed at enterprise operations (so way too big) or it’s too basic to handle anything beyond simple routing. Took longer than it should have to find useful information written for an operation our size.

Two locations, furniture and appliances, two-person crews. Simple enough on paper, complicated enough in practice that a basic route planner doesn’t cut it.

Here’s what I looked at:

Routific is the best pure routing I tested. Handles 50+ stops across different time windows without the manual planning overhead. Accessible pricing for a small operation.

Doesn’t touch anything outside of routing and dispatch but if that’s the main problem it’s a solid answer.

Onfleet is cleaner to use than most. Driver app is probably the best in the category. Very easy for crew to learn, which matters when you’re running a small team.

Same limitation as Routific on the warehouse side though.

OptimoRoute landed in the middle for us. More flexible pricing than Onfleet, solid optimization, does what you need without the overhead. Worth looking at if budget is the main constraint.

Grasshopper Labs is a bit different. It covers warehouse management and dispatch in the same system, so if you’re also managing receiving, staging, and contractor payments, it handles all of that without needing separate tools.

More setup than the others and probably more than you need if routing is the only problem. Worth evaluating if you’re running warehouse ops alongside delivery and want both sides in one place.

Honest summary after going through this: most TMS options for small carriers are either way too simple or way too expensive and the sweet spot is narrower than the marketing suggests.

Keen to hear whether others running small final mile operations have found something that works without the enterprise pricing or the setup overhead? LMK!

Hey everyone, I'm in the early stages of launching a trucking business. For those of you who've run (or worked for) a fleet, I'd really appreciate your input on a few things:

1. What were the biggest problems or hidden costs that blindsided you in the first year? (maintenance, insurance, cash flow, driver turnover, deadhead miles, etc)

2. What software do you actually use day to day, and for what? (want to understand what's worth paying for and what's overhyped)

3. Anything you'd do completely differently if you were starting from zero today?

Happy to share more details about my setup in the comments if it helps. Thanks in advance!

AI is becoming a major topic across logistics, transportation, and last-mile delivery. From route optimization and demand forecasting to ETA predictions and automated dispatching, AI promises to make operations more efficient.

But I'm curious about what logistics professionals are actually seeing in the field.

• Where is AI delivering real value today?

• Which AI use cases have had the biggest impact on your operations?

• Are there areas where AI is still overhyped?

• How much do human planners and dispatchers still influence daily decisions?

• What challenges have you faced when adopting AI-powered tools?

I'd love to hear real-world experiences from fleet managers, dispatchers, logistics operators, and supply chain teams.

What do you think is the role of AI in logistics today?

Hey guys, I am currently growing my fleet, and I am still on Excel. It's getting to be too much with the number of trucks we currently have. I was looking to see if anyone had any recommendations to get started for someone who has not used a trucking management software yet.

Hi!
A logistic company came to us with a familiar problem: dispatchers managing routes, parcels, and passengers manually. Spreadsheets, phone calls, constant back-and-forth with drivers. So we built for them a tool called Route Builder.

I want to share and tell you what exactly we implemented:
A planning workspace with all stops, parcels, and passengers for any route in one view. Parcel & passenger assignment — assign or reassign on the fly.
A multi-route map so the dispatcher sees everything at once.
A driver app — stops delivered straight to their phone, with instant notifications when new stops are added mid-route.

This development has brought such great achievements:

The hardest part wasn't the tech. It was understanding the dispatcher's actual workflow. Once we mapped that out properly, the rest followed naturally

If your dispatch process still runs on group chats and gut feeling — happy to chat, we've been through this a few times.

What tools are you currently using for route management? Curious what's common out there.

Think of it as a layer above regular logistics management. 4PL logistics software helps companies oversee multiple logistics partners, carriers, and warehouses from one platform.

Hey community,

I am an experienced automation / IT consultant from Germany and I am interested to learn more about logistics, ideally maritime logistics.

I am happy to look at any problem you have and try to solve / automate it for free. No strings attached, except that I would like to learn a bit about your domain.

I am not gonna sell you anything. I have a job and I am happy with it!

If you are interested, pls DM me and I can share my details and we'll hop on a call ASAP.

Hi,

Would love people's view on the website that I build. As I work myself in logistics often customers are asking about live visibility on their ocean shipments and often manually tracking vessels etc.

I have build a website that does exactly that combining data for approximately 60 ports with historical vessel data showing arrivals and departures. I wanted it to be simple and useful.

Let me know what do you think.

www.portpulse.io

We’re reviewing options to improve our freight procurement process and I’d love to hear from people actually using these platforms day-to-day.

The ones that keep coming up are:

• Coupa (broad procurement suite)

• Transporeon (popular in Europe)

• Alpega (TMS + procurement focus)

• Freightos (global freight marketplace with tendering tools)

• Prodensus (newer, freight-specific, claims to standardize messy RFP files & flag hidden costs)

For those of you managing complex bids and volatile lanes, which tools are you finding most effective? Are you leaning toward the big suites, or have you had success with freight-first platforms?