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If you want to improve your performance, there's no choice but to do away with the silos between WMS software on the one hand, and TMS software on the other. And in between... Excel files, manual re-entry, phone calls to confirm a truck departure.
The result: longer shipping times, accumulating errors, transport margins eaten up by hidden costs.
It's not a tool problem: it's a problem of connection between management systems.
In today's modern logistics environment, with ever-increasing pressure on lead times, costs and service quality, transport, distribution and logistics management companies no longer have the luxury of working in silos.
WMS-TMS integration makes it possible to transform a series of isolated operations into a single workflow, automated and controlled in real time, with increased visibility at every stage...
👉To take transport management a step further, discover our Sinari TMS, the solution designed to connect, plan and pilot your flows with efficiency.
And the results are in:
- +20% productivity on shipments
- Up to -10% on transport costs thanks to targeted cost reduction
- Error rate reduced to less than 1%.
In this article, we'll look at why connecting your WMS and your TMS is an immediate lever for performance and profitability, how to do it effectively despite the complexity of integration, and how Sinari solutions can provide you with the best solution with technical support, an adapted integration tool and proven logistics expertise.
WMS vs TMS: different but complementary functions
When it comes to managing supply chain operations, the WMS and the TMS don't do the same job, but they do contribute to the same objective: delivering the right product, to the right place, at the right time... and at the best cost.
WMS: orchestrating life in the warehouse
The Warehouse Management System (WMS) is the orchestra conductor of the warehouse. This management software manages :
- Goods receipt and storage
- Stock locations and levels (improved inventory management)
- Order preparation, picking and packaging
- Internal traceability of products and for your customers
👉 Find out more about Sinari WMS: a solution designed to offer real-time visibility of each storage unit and simplify the management of your multi-site warehouses.
At Sinari, for example, our Sinari WMS solutions offer integrated management with real-time visibility on each storage unit, facilitating process optimization and automation in a logistics platform environment.
TMS: managing transport flows
The Transportation Management System (TMS) takes over as soon as goods leave the warehouse.
It manages :
- Route organization
- Vehicle and driver assignment
- Route optimization
- Real-time tracking of shipments
- Transport invoicing
With Sinari TMS Ready or Sinari TMS Advanced, you get greater visibility of your shipments, enhanced operational efficiency and integrated flow management.
Integration that doesn't merge, but coordinates
The integration tool doesn't transform the WMS and the TMS into a single piece of software: it makes logistics data flow seamlessly.
- The WMS feeds the TMS with precise data on ready-to-go orders, volumes and constraints, and enables logistics pre-billing elements to be transmitted to the TMS for invoicing.
- The TMS sends the WMS information on pick-up, delivery and any incidents.
The result: fewer re-entries, fewer errors, greater responsiveness, fewer integration problems, fewer operational risks.
Without integration, each system works well... but in isolation. With integration, you get a continuous flow of data, from stock to end customer.
Quantified benefits of WMS-TMS integration
A well-managed WMS-TMS integration, with an experienced integrator, is not just an IT project: it's a strategic integration project that directly improves logistics management for greater operational efficiency.
Productivity: +20% on shipping flows thanks to automation and process optimization.
By eliminating re-entries, double checks and manual file exchanges, WMS-TMS integration delivers an average 20% productivity gain on shipments (up to 25% in complete deployments, according to several studies).
- Transport documents (labels, CMR, packing slips) are automatically generated in the TMS.
- Orders/stock removals are transmitted to the TMS (creation of a TO) as soon as WMS picking is completed.
Transport costs: -5 to -10% on transport costs thanks to improved stock visibility and optimized resource planning.
Integration optimizes vehicle filling and reduces unnecessary kilometers thanks to better coordination between stock releases and transport planning.
Real-time data on volumes and weights avoid sizing errors and limit half-loaded departures.
👉 Result: 5 to 10% reduction in transport costs observed on well-executed projects.
Quality of service: errors < 1% thanks to reliable logistics data and centralized data management.
When WMS and TMS share the same data, delivery anomalies drop drastically:
- Fewer address errors
- Fewer forgotten or reversed parcels
- Fewer customer returns due to preparation errors
Some companies equipped with integrated Sinari TMS-WMS solutions achieve an error rate of less than 1%, with a direct impact on customer satisfaction.
No more double data entry = administrative savings
With integration, all information is entered only once in the original system:
- WMS logistics services invoiced in the TMS via WMS pre-invoicing
- Orders processed in the WMS = data automatically transmitted to the TMS (creation of a TO in the TMS at the end of logistics order picking)
- Transport status updated in TMS = visibility of logistics delivery tracking
Result:
- Less wasted time
- Lower administrative costs
- Teams freed up to focus on higher value-added tasks
👉 In short: a well-managed integration project delivers measurable ROI in less than 12 months, with a triple impact: productivity + savings + customer satisfaction.
Best practices: making a success of your WMS-TMS integration
WMS-TMS integration isn't just a matter of "plugging in two pieces of software": it's a business project that impacts your processes, your teams and your performance indicators.
Here are the 5 key steps to make it a success.
Map data flows and anticipate technical challenges
First and foremost, identify what data needs to flow, in what direction and at what time:
- From the WMS to the TMS: logistics orders to be shipped, destinations, specific constraints (ADR, controlled temperature, etc.).
- From TMS to WMS: delivery tracking.
👉 Sinari tip: with Sinari WMS, flows can be structured to integrate transport constraints as early as the preparation stage, to avoid any unforeseen load breaks.
Choosing the right solution: API, middleware or connectors depending on your ERP system and your needs.
The choice of technology depends on your environment:
- Native API: direct connection, fast, scalable (ideal for SaaS TMS like Sinari TMS Ready).
- Middleware: an intermediary solution (such as iPaaS or an application bus) to orchestrate exchanges between heterogeneous systems, especially where ERP is involved.
- Pre-developed connectors: already tested, they reduce integration time and risk.
Synchronize critical logistics data to avoid inconsistencies and integration problems.
To avoid any errors, the databases must be identical in both systems:
- SKUs / product references
- Stocks and locations
- Customers and addresses
- Orders and status
👉 What to watch out for: data quality is a major success factor. An upstream audit helps avoid inconsistencies that block automation.
Manage with KPIs geared to operational efficiency.
From the outset, definesuccess indicators:
- Lead time between end of preparation and truck departure
- Cost per shipment
- Shipment error rate
- Vehicle fill rate
These indicators need to be monitored before and after integration to measure ROI and adjust processes.
Launch a pilot, measure, adjust - with solid technical support.
Before global deployment :
- Select a site or a restricted perimeter
- Integrate WMS and TMS within this perimeter
- Measure gains, identify areas for improvement
- Deploy progressively
👉 Key to success: involve both warehouse and transport teams from the outset. Successful integration is above all a story of human collaboration supported by technology.
Creating a true business "control tower
WMS-TMS integration doesn't just automate exchanges: it becomes a strategic logistics solution, providing instant global visibility of all your operations.
Real-time visibility of stock and transport
With an integrated WMS and TMS, you get :
- A unified vision: precise inventory and shipment status,
- Live alerts: delivery delays, preparation anomalies, stock-outs.
- Precise, real-time control of transport and logistics flows
- Faster decision-making and better use of resources to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
Faster decision-making
A control tower reduces reaction time to unforeseen events:
- Change of carrier during tour
- Scheduling of stock orders based on order prioritization
- Adaptation of routes according to weather or traffic conditions
Thanks to integration, these decisions are no longer based on manual exchanges or emails, but on reliable, continuously updated data.
Preparing for market changes
Implementing a robust WMS-TMS integration also means preparing your operations for :
- Integrated AI: demand forecasting, dynamic tour optimization.
- Omnichannel: simultaneous management of e-commerce, B2B and marketplace orders.
- 3PL and 4PL: multi-warehouse and multi-supplier management with no loss of visibility.
👉 Sinari tip: solutions like Sinari TMS Ready already offer open connectors, facilitating the integration of new technological bricks as your needs evolve.
👉 In short: a control tower isn't just a supervision tool, it's a lever for resilience and agility. You no longer suffer the unexpected: youanticipate it, and turn it into a competitive advantage.
Conclusion
Integrating a WMS and a TMS is not just a technical choice: it's a strategic decision that has a direct impact on your profitability and customer satisfaction.
By eliminating double data entry, improving data reliability and optimizing flows, you :
- Reduce your transport costs by 5 to 10%.
- Gain up to 20% in shipment productivity
- Deliver a smooth, predictable customer experience
Companies that adopt this approach build more agile, responsive and competitive logistics, ready to integrate new technologies such as AI or omnichannel.
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