Introduction
When considering buying new trucking software, there are so many points to cover and must be taken proper care of. This includes customer support as well as an understanding of the levels of support offered by each provider. In this write-up, we here will talk of costs, something that is of utmost importance to everyone.
One needs to know and be aware of the fact that you will not be, in any case, able to procure the information of exact costs, if you do not carry the understanding of what you need and what you do not need. You will need to contact a representative so that you learn the actual cost of trucking management software or new trucking software.
There are both similarities and differences among all LTL carrier’s business models, staffing skills and operational requirements. And all these aspects will impact the overall costs. Again, technology is now becoming affordable to even the smaller fleets. This is happening with software becoming more common. This is also with the companies and technology developing dashboards and other interfaces, helping smaller fleets to wade through all data.
Understand the fundamental differences between the costs attached with each TMS provider’s package
Now, we will discuss with you the costs and the differences in them, so you can gather the right information and ask the right questions. It will empower you with knowledge about the costs for the new owner operator trucking software platform upfront and year to year.
Before starting, you may also know that costs are based upon the applications, features and programs that you select as well as the number of licenses you purchase and users.
Let us now come to the costs you need to inquire about.
Costs you will need to inquire about
1. Activation and Implementation
You need to inquire what costs are upfront as well as whether the rates are variable or fixed. Finding out the cost attached with an on-site implementation. This is when some providers bring the staff on the site for helping to implement their trucking management software.
2. Training and continued education
It happens many times providers consist of training along with implementation costs. This also is added with the charging of an additional fee. You will need to determine if continuing education is included or not. Determine whether you need to train your new hires on trucking management software procedures.
3. Customer support
Various carriers think that customer support is included. But, sometimes this may not be as thought. So you will need to put up the question that how is your customer support billed.
Next in trucking software solutions, again there are certain providers with an annual support contract, while others bill case by case. Also, some issues cannot be billed. In such a case you may be charged some extra amount for the weekend or holiday support.
4. Custom Programming
You are going to need custom programming at some point in time. And you can determine the fee structure for the same while it varies with providers. Again, several providers bill by the hour. This makes it important for you to know the rate and also understand the difference between product enhancements and custom programming.
5. Data consumption and usage
Again, we have in trucking software solutions, understanding your data costs is extremely important. For example, in case it stands at 25G for now, it will give additional costs at 30, 40 or 50G. Most of the providers charge fees for sending or/and receiving data of any sort. It can be images, XML, EDI and many more.
6. Updates, releases and versions
This is to suggest you make preparations for yourself for the payment for patches, versions, updates and releases. This is when they are not covered via your plan.
7. Technologies and integrations
At times, the situation may be when you have to spend much for the utilization of technologies such as APIs and EDI. So to help your budget, here you can take help from the understanding of the cost attached with each EDI mapping per partner.
8. Maintenance and hosting
When you find the provider hosting your trucking management software package off-premise, then it is time for you to be aware of maintenance costs. Each of the providers will consist of different services. So it will be great for you to know what you will be getting in addition to yearly maintenance with an owner-operator trucking software provider.
Other costs may be with hardware and devices, changing plans as well as billing structure.
Conclusion
This is a list that you should review when meeting with a trucking management software provider. This list of questions and all information above will help you substantially to ask the right questions and also pick the right partner for the business.
No comments:
Post a Comment