ERP for Logistics Industry

We are independent ERP consultants specializing in ERP for logistics industry, from software selection through to implementation. We do not accept compensation from any vendor or implementer, so our advice is entirely in your interest.

Compare Transportation & Warehouse Management Software

Compare Transportation & Warehouse Management software by scrolling down and across to see their applications/modules, number of customers, underlying technology and critical generic requirements.

Click to filter by Tier, System, Application, Industry, Criteria Category and Criteria Detail.

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Product Information
System
Vendor
Description
Website
Primary Tier
Industries
Applications
Developer Information
Number of customers - all products
Number of customers - this product
Technology
% of application that is web based (just need a browser on workstation)
On premise, cloud or hybrid
Private or Public Cloud
Tenant Architecture
Generic Requirements
Customization/Configuration
Without changing source code
User-defined fields Can define values/dropdowns for fields Used in report selection and ordering Used in workflow
User defined screens Change fields to required, optional or invisible for standard and user-defined field
Multiple Companies
Share inventory across companies
Share customers and suppliers across companies
Automate balancing of transactions across legal entities
PO of 1 company automatically generates the sales order in another company
Multiple Currencies
Maintain source and home currency amount for each transaction
Date effective currency exchange rates
Work Flow
Can apply an approval process to any transaction such as a journal entry or any master file such as a supplier or inventory item
Can generate alerts/escalation if something expected is late or reminders
Configurable approvals or alerts without needing programming
Mobility
Optimized for Android and iPhone
Offline mode and synch when internet connected
Sales tax compliance
Canadian sales tax compliance
US sales tax compliance
Reporting/Business Intelligence
Reporting
Industry standard reporting tool and can change existing reports or add new ones
Ad-hoc reporting (don’t need a programmer) with filtering, sorting and summarizing options
Dashboards
Based on real time updates from all transactions
Role specific
Configurable dashboards - don't need to be a programmer to create or change dashboard
Analytics
Drag and drop dimensions
Visualization/graphic representation of data

Not all ERP systems are created equal. There is a big variance in functionality for a specific industry and for the size of company. Small companies don’t need the complexity required for larger companies. There is also a big difference in the ERP vendors which can be:

Vendors with solutions for multiple industries. These systems are more complicated to setup because of all the industries they support.
Vendors that offer a solution for a specific industry.
Vendors that offer an extension developed by a 3rd party for a specific industry.

This page covers unique ERP requirements for logistics industry, an logistics ERP system comparison across leading systems, and the ERP implementers that specialize in this space. If you would like independent guidance on which direction is right for your company, we would be glad to help.

Transportation & Warehouse Management ERP Software Systems Comparision

ERP Requirements for Logistics Industry

Logistics and warehouse management companies operate with requirements that generic ERP systems rarely support out of the box. The list below reflects what a purpose-fit system needs to handle:

Warehouse Management Software:

– Rate management
– Quotations
– Products are customer specific
– Customer portal
– Storage and handling charges
– Accessorial activity charges
– Rates can vary by customer/consignee/product/carrier
– Restrictions by pallet type, height, trailer temperature…

Transportation Management Software

– Rate management
– Quotations
– Agent and customer portals
– Multiple routes with multiple stops
– Driver management
– Dispatching
– Truck load optimization

ERP Implementers for Logistics Industry

Drill down for information about implementers of Transportation & Warehouse Management Software including number of employees, systems supported and industries supported.

180 Systems conduct dozens of ERP selections every year. With our deep knowledge of ERP for logisitcs and warehouse management industry, we will help you find the right ERP system for your company and the right professional services company to implement it.

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Why Companies Choose 180 Systems as Their ERP Consultant for Logistics Industry

180 Systems Differentiators

1. Independence

We are independent ERP consultants and do not accept any compensation from vendors or implementers.

2. Requirements Analysis

Our analysis is mostly based on business process reviews rather than generic requirements checklists.

3. Strategic alignment

We identify requirements to attain critical success factors (CSFs) and use KPI’s to measure attainment of CSF’s as objectives for an ERP implementation.

4. Transportation & Warehouse Management ERP Experience

We have extensive experience in Transportation & Warehouse Management software selection and implementation with testimonials below.

5. Methodology

We have a documented best practice methodology with numerous proven templates to manage ERP selections and implementations.

6. Efficient

We don’t waste anyone’s time. For example, ERP vendors are asked to only respond to critical requirements in an RFP with the goal of 20% of requirements deemed critical.

7. Cost

Our fees are low because we have little overhead, and don’t exceed a maximum unless there is a change in scope and it has been approved.

8. Trusted Advisors

Our clients know that we will always act with integrity and honesty.

Testimonial

From clients we’ve helped with Transportation & Warehouse Management Software Selection and/or Implementation

We found Michael very detailed and in a nice way a "pain in the ass", he kept on building on the requirements more and more, willing to extract more at times for clarification. Challenges he had, the transportation industry has very limited opportunities for product selection. He could filter the vendors well through his methodology. His approach to get to a smaller pool was a definite benefit, not only me but our IT Department accepted his approach. That's an accomplishment in our world, since our mother company has a lot of project experience, but his methodology was embraced and will be used in the future.

Anonymous

180 Systems is very thorough and gets down to the nuts and bolts of the business to get a thorough understanding of what our user requirements are and understanding of process flows. They ask a lot of good questions about why things are done a certain way and are very good at probing users to discover their issues and formulate requirements that a new system needs to address. 180 Systems gets people relaxed and engaged quickly, focuses on the issues and keeps things moving along. For companies that don't have someone on board that has ERP selection experience, 180 Systems is a great help. They get beyond the "dog and pony show" of vendors, cutting through to the core functionality that does or does not meet your requirements. I'd recommend 180 Systems to any medium sized company where IT resources are scarce, even to larger companies where IT departments don't have the experience with what S/W is out there, whereas 180 Systems has it all and been there done that.

George Czubak, CFORemco

Resources for Logistics Industry ERP Selection and Implementation

ERP Software & Implementers Selection Tool

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ERP Total Cost of Ownership

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What is a logistics ERP system and why does the industry need one?

ERP for logistics is an enterprise resource planning system built or configured to manage the operational and financial requirements of transportation and warehouse businesses. A purpose-fit logistics ERP system connects fleet management, route planning, warehouse operations, order management, and financials in a single platform. Without this integration, logistics companies typically operate on disconnected tools that make it difficult to track costs, utilization, and profitability across operations in real time.

What are the key requirements for ERP in the logistics industry?

The most critical requirements for a logistics ERP system include transportation management, freight billing and carrier management, warehouse management, inventory tracking, customer order visibility, driver and fleet management, and real-time financial reporting by cost centre. The right system depends on whether your business is primarily asset-based transportation, third-party logistics, warehousing, or a combination of all three, as requirements differ significantly across these models.

What is the difference between a standalone warehouse management system and an ERP with warehouse management?

A standalone warehouse management system handles warehouse operations in depth but requires integration with a separate financial and operational system. An ERP warehouse management system consolidates warehouse operations, inventory, order management, and financials into a single platform, reducing integration complexity and giving management a single source of truth. The right choice depends on the complexity of your warehouse operations and whether a unified system or best-of-breed approach better fits your business model.

How much does ERP for the logistics industry cost?

ERP costs in the logistics and transportation industry vary depending on company size, number of users, modules required, fleet size, and whether the system is cloud-based or on-premise. Implementation, data migration, and training typically represent a significant share of the total investment beyond licensing. For a realistic breakdown of what to expect, read our article on ERP Total Cost of Ownership.

Why should logistics and transportation companies use independent ERP consultants rather than going directly to a vendor?

ERP vendors and their implementation partners are motivated to sell their own solution. Independent ERP consultants like 180 Systems do not accept compensation from any vendor or implementer, so the advice you receive is based entirely on your operational requirements. This matters especially in the logistics industry, where vendors frequently position their system as capable of handling both transportation and warehouse management when in practice one area is significantly stronger than the other.