TMS for Food & Beverage: Optimize Perishable Goods Logistics

Food and beverage businesses have complex supply chains with many unique characteristics: tight margins, fresh products that may spoil, expiration dates on products, complicated inbound requirements, and more. Getting the right volume of products at the right time and location is no easy task. Visibility into and control of supply chain processes will allow food and beverage businesses to address these challenges while meeting business goals. 

At FreightWise, we understand the specific nuances of food and beverage supply chains and are ready to provide state-of-the-art cloud-based TMS services to support these needs.

A Specialized TMS for the Food & Beverage Supply Chain

1. Rate, Book & Track: Real-Time Freight Comparison for Perishable Goods

Seamless rating, booking, and freight tracking, coupled with an intuitive user interface, enable users to save time and increase service levels. By comparing rates side-by-side, users can easily choose the best rates for their freight to impact their bottom lines positively. After comparing their rates, users can book their freight and track it all in one place using the Kuebix technology. This eliminates the need to go to multiple carrier websites to make changes to and access critical information. And with the ability to connect to Kuebix’s extensive carrier network in minutes, shippers can begin realizing efficiencies immediately.

2. Automated ERP Integration for Accurate Order & Shipment Visibility

Kuebix allows shippers to automatically integrate their purchase orders directly from their ERP systems via flexible API connectivity into Kuebix TMS. This facilitates the rapid creation of shipments by avoiding the need to re-key long lists of order line items and decreases labor costs while increasing order accuracy by letting technology automatically populate order details. Tender information is integrated into the ERP system so all stakeholders can see the shipment details and costs for every SKU.

3. Collaboration Portals

Communication with suppliers and carriers is necessary when shipping the demanding freight characteristics to the food and beverage industry, communication with suppliers and carriers is essential. Collaboration portals enable shippers to receive critical information from carriers and suppliers regarding promise dates, short shipments, and delivery. This level of visibility ensures shippers always know the status of their loads and what they will receive.

4. Appointment Scheduling Module to Maximize Warehouse Efficiency and Carrier Flow

Scheduling appointments at the dock can be a logistical nightmare without the right technology. With Kuebix’s appointment scheduling, food and beverage companies can give their carriers access to easily book appointments to enable efficiencies at the warehouse. The company accepts appointment requests, and any special requests can be evaluated, and schedule adjustments can be easily managed.

5. Automated Freight Pay & Audit for Food & Beverage Cost Control

Freight pay and audit can be tedious and expensive. With Kuebix, shippers can integrate their carrier invoices directly into the TMS, automatically enabling Kuebix to use logic to match rates to invoices to compare and quickly identify discrepancies. Kuebix identifies the specific exception reason to expedite the handling of these invoices. This automated auditing process allows shippers to only look at the incorrect invoices and always know where the discrepancies lie to handle disputes efficiently.

6. Reports and Analytics

Kuebix captures every shipping transaction, which can be summarized and analyzed in Kuebix’s reports and dashboards. Shippers can access actionable reports and analytics that help them understand every detail of freight spending and their carrier performance. Financial analytics, carrier scorecards, and shipment trends strategically position food and beverage companies to reduce freight expense and improve customer service.

FreightWise services food and beverage companies nationwide, providing specialized TMS technology for food and beverage freight and managed services to help rapid-turn food and beverage supply chains get the most out of their carrier contracts and determine the right mix of carriers.