Yard management is one of the single biggest challenges facing trucking companies. Yes, we’re all aware that things are tight on capacity and getting worse, and your customers are always asking for something new.
Before diving into all the systems and tools available for yard management, remember that it’s not about the software. Having one ensures you can make informed decisions yourself or with your team. Here are three key steps you should consider before you even think about shopping:
What Is The Right Solution For Your Business?
The best way to decide what solution is right for your business is to look at how much money you want to spend on inventory management software, how many employees you have, and what kind of inventory you manage. For example, an ERP system may be right if you manage a high-volume inventory. On the other hand, if you only manage small quantities of inventory and not much more than that, you might only need a simple excel spreadsheet.
How Often Do You Update Your Inventory?
The second step is to figure out how often you need to update your inventory. If it changes every day, then an automated system would work great because it will automatically update itself as soon as there are any changes. You’ll be able to keep track of everything and run reports to see how well your business is doing.
However, the approach would be different if it doesn’t often change, maybe once per week. Then, having someone enter the new information manually each time there are updates might be easier and more cost-effective than having an automated system that automatically updates itself every day or every few days.
Whether To Invest in A System Or Use Software Already in Place
Another thing to consider when setting up a yard management system is investing in a custom solution or using existing software. There are pros and cons to both approaches.
Using existing software may be cheaper and easier than building your custom solution. Still, it could also mean that your data isn't easily accessible by other departments within your company. On the other hand, a custom-built system allows greater flexibility, but it may cost more upfront and require higher maintenance costs.
Once you've decided whether or not to build your system, it's time to start thinking about how much functionality is needed and the best solution to deliver what you need.
Yard Management Systems: Partnering With AMS
Depending on the size of your business, adding a yard management system to your equipment line could be something you would want to consider. YMS systems are designed to make yard operations more efficient while providing a great return on investment.
We believe that yard management systems are a unique and effective tool for achieving your goals here at AMS. We're proud of our systems and know that they can be a great asset to your company, under your control, as you implement them and keep them running smoothly.
