Transport Management Software for the Africa region
Ripples-FMS – among the best Transport Management Software (TMS software) designed to streamline and optimise various aspects of logistics operations. Enhance on-time delivery performance with TMS, provide real-time delivery updates to customers., Improve communication with shippers and consignees, reduce delivery exceptions and customer complaints.
Key Features and Benefits of Transport Management Software
- Real-Time Visibility: Gain real-time container tracking insights into your entire supply chain, including vehicle tracking and cargo status
- Optimised Routing: Utilise intelligent algorithms to plan efficient routes, reducing fuel consumption and minimising travel time.
- Automated Workflows: Streamline tasks such as scheduling, dispatching, and invoicing, freeing up valuable time and resources.
- Improved Fleet Management: Monitor vehicle performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance schedules to optimise fleet utilisation.
- Enhanced Customer Service: Proactive communication, real-time updates, and transparent operations lead to higher customer satisfaction.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Insightful reports and analytics to identify trends, measure performance, and make informed decisions.
- Reduced Costs: Optimise routes, minimise idle time, and streamline processes to reduce operational costs.
- Increased Revenue: Enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction to attract more business and boost revenue.
- Improved Compliance: Ensure adherence to regulations and industry standards with automated compliance checks.
- Reduced Paperwork: Minimise paperwork and manual processes, streamlining operations and reducing errors.
- Enhanced Security: Robust security measures protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorised access.
- Scalability: Easily adapt to growing business needs and changing requirements.
How Ripples-FMS TMS software works:
- Consignment Booking: Seamlessly book consignments from existing logistics providers or independent orders.
- Optimised Truck Scheduling: Efficiently schedule trucks to maximise resource utilisation and minimise turnaround times.
- Real-Time Tracking: Monitor the movement of vehicles and container cargo with real-time tracking devices
- Automated Documentation: Generate and manage shipping documents, invoices, and other paperwork.
- Data-Driven Insights: Utilise analytics to identify trends, measure performance, and make informed decisions.
Why Choose Ripples-FMS TMS Software?
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy to learn and use, even for non-technical users.
- Mobile-First Approach: Access and manage your operations on the go with the user-friendly mobile app.
- Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrate with other systems and platforms.
- Robust Support: A dedicated support team to assist you with any questions or issues.
Enterprise Logistics & TMS Solutions for the African Transit Corridors
Navigating the Pulse of African Trade
In the rapidly evolving landscape of African logistics, efficiency is determined by more than just engine power. From the bustling Port of Mombasa to the strategic industrial hubs of the Zambian Copperbelt, the ability to move cargo across borders with precision is the ultimate competitive advantage. Software Associates provides a localised suite of digital solutions, including our flagship Transport Management System (TMS), specifically engineered to thrive in the unique operational environments of the EAC and SADC regions.
Digitalising the Northern and Central Corridors
The Northern and Central Corridors are the lifeblood of East African trade, yet they present significant hurdles: unpredictable border turnaround times, fuel security risks, and connectivity gaps. Our technology acts as a digital bridge across these challenges.
Automated Cross-Border Compliance
Traditional manual documentation is a leading cause of delays at the Malaba, Busia, and Nakonde border posts. Our logistics ERP for Africa automates manifest generation and pre-arrival clearance protocols. By integrating directly with regional customs requirements, we help fleet owners reduce stationary time by up to 40%, ensuring that your trucks keep moving while others sit in queues.
2. Fuel Security & Asset Integrity
With fuel accounting for nearly a third of operational costs in long-haul trucking, “leakage” is not an option. Our real-time asset tracking modules feature advanced capacitive fuel probes and geofencing. This system provides instant alerts for unauthorised fuel drops between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka, reconciling “Litres vs. Kilometres” to ensure total driver accountability and profit protection.
3. Last-Mile Precision in Urban Hubs
As cities like Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala continue to expand, the “address gap” becomes a barrier to growth. Our smart routing tools leverage local landmark-based geofencing and offline-capable mobile apps. This ensures that even in areas with inconsistent digital mapping or 4G signals, your drivers have the tools to complete deliveries on the first attempt, supported by digital Proof of Delivery (POD).
The Software Associates Advantage: Local Insight, Global Tech
We don’t just offer software; we offer a partnership rooted in regional success. Our work with industry giants like J&J Africa has allowed us to refine our modules for the “African reality”—where multi-currency accounting, offline data synchronization, and robust hardware are non-negotiable.
Whether you are a 3PL provider in Kenya, a heavy-haulage firm in Zambia, or a distribution specialist in Tanzania, our scalable platform is designed to grow with you. We help you transform fragmented data into actionable intelligence, turning the challenges of African logistics into a streamlined roadmap for growth.
Transport Operations
Problem
Limited visibility into order information.
Solution
There should be a way to access order information along with its current status.
Features
Customer Order Management.
Benefits
– Full visibility into the current status of each order and its pending tonnages.
– Helps with planning load schedules and organising truck arrangements.
Inefficient Utilization of trucks.
– There should be a mechanism to monitor available trucks in the yard, those in the workshop, and trucks returning from trips, along with their expected arrival times.
– Loads availability information from different locations.
– Reduce breakdowns and accidents through preventive maintenance plans.
– Comparison of full load kilometres and empty returns.
– Truck Availability Reports.
– Loads Availability & Trip Planning.
– Maintenance Checklists.
– Timely alerts on return loads.
– Making prompt decisions regarding older trucks, whether to scrap them or utilize them for short hauls.
– Maximum utilization of trucks and improved business volume handling.
– On time deliveries and customer satisfaction.
– Increase the life of assets (trucks, trailers etc).
Reduce unwanted costs on older trucks.
– Reduce empty kilometers and increase the revenue.
Lack of visibility on driver expenses.
– Configuring tariffs and rates through top management control.
– Standard Practices on Expense Disbursement Control.
– Timely alerts on delay charges and pending expenses.
– Real-time visibility on the company’s fund flows and cash balances.
– Automatic calculation of trip expenses based on the configured tariffs.
– Optimize costs through predefined route-based allocation of expenses.
– Multi-level approval system for disbursing amounts.
– Automatic alerts on delayed expenses, cash balance statuses.
– Reduce theft and manipulations.
– Minimize unnecessary revenue loss.
– Ensuring smooth running of day-to-day operations.
– Better visibility on cash flows and balances.
Incurring additional demurrage costs and delays at border crossings.
– Ensure the accuracy of all documents, including those about the truck, cargo, and driver.
– Monitor the cargo delivery time.
– Ensure trucks are in good condition.
– Access the history of driver performances.
– Pre-clearance documents management and checklist.
– Timely Alerts on cargo delivery delays.
– Preventive maintenance checklist.
– Driver performance history.
– Minimize unnecessary expenses and enhance revenue.
– Minimize the turnaround time for trucks, contributing to enhanced revenue generation.
– Improved Customer Satisfaction.”
Inefficient Load Planning & Underutilized Capacity.
– Implement a load planning solution that optimises vehicle capacity and delivery schedules with criteria like cargo weight, volume, etc.
– Real time load optimization algorithms.
– Automated route and capacity planning.
– Dynamic scheduling based on cargo and vehicle availability.
– Maximises vehicle capacity, reducing fuel consumption and costs.
– Enhance delivery efficiency, leading to on-time deliveries.
– Increases overall fleet utilisation, improving profitability and reducing operational costs.
Driver Management
Problem
Unable to monitor the expiration of driver documents.
Solution
There should be an option to store and access driver documents digitally.
Features
Driver document management with its expiry dates.
– Timely alerts on driver document expiry.
– Automated validation checks when assigning the driver to trips.
Benefits
-Prevent unnecessary expenses such as fines.
– Helps ensure the on-time delivery of consignments to customers.
Unable to track the performance of drivers.
Detailed information on driver performance, such as behaviour, punctuality of deliveries, cargo shortages/damages, and fuel efficiency.
Driver ranking reports.
– Retrieval of truck operations by drivers.
– Trip closing with mileage shortage recoveries.
– Proper tracking of cargo and fuel shortages.
-Identify the good drivers and retention plans for them.
– Increased life of assets (trucks, trailers etc).
– Reduce unwanted expenses.
Fuel Management
Problem
Poor Fuel Inventory Management.
Solution
– Standard practices for bulk fuel purchases.
– Monitor fuel levels in the tanks.
– Monthly stock auditing.
– Stock replenishment plans.
– Assess the future fuel quantity needs.
– Understand the price volatility.
Features
A multi-level approval system with stages such as quotation → purchase order → purchase, etc.
– Stock management reports.
– Monthly stock verification.
– Re Order level settings & notifications.
– Forecasting the fuel quantity requirements for future periods.
– Analyze fuel price fluctuations using demand forecasting.
Benefits
-Reduce theft and manipulations.
– Effectively manage fuel expenses and minimize unnecessary costs.
– Eliminate the risks of overstocking and understocking fuel.
– Lowering the risk of making last-minute purchases at higher prices.
Inefficient utilization of fuel in vehicles.
– Track the fule issues from inside the branches and during the trip in-transit.
– Efficient management of balance fuel.
-Issue fuel against the trips for trucks.
– Calculate mileage shortages at the time of trip closing and recovery from the driver.
– Tracking of fuel issues to different types of vehicles like truck, company car etc.
-Cut down on unnecessary fuel consumption and save costs.
– Realtime visibility on the fuel usages.
– Optimized utilization of the fuel.
Invoice Management
Problem
Inaccuracies and delays in the generation and collection of invoices.
Solution
Setting up automatic calculation of customer rates.
– Timely alerts on the pending invoices and collections.
Features
Customer rates management.
– Automatic alerts on pending invoices and ageing reports.
Benefits
– Eliminate inaccuracies from invoices and expedite the receiving process.
– Reduce the revenue leakages through wrong invoices.
– Timely receival of revenue will ensure the smooth running of business.
– Improved customer satisfaction.
Inefficient utilization of fuel in vehicles.
– Track the fule issues from inside the branches and during the trip in-transit.
– Efficient management of balance fuel.
-Issue fuel against the trips for trucks.
– Calculate mileage shortages at the time of trip closing and recovery from the driver.
– Tracking of fuel issues to different types of vehicles like truck, company car etc.
-Cut down on unnecessary fuel consumption and save costs.
– Realtime visibility on the fuel usages.
– Optimized utilization of the fuel.
Sub Contractor Management
Problem
Coordinating with outside transport companies is challenging.
Solution
There should be an option to manage the charges and commission percentages for hired transporters.
– Options to handle separate invoicing for external transport companies.
Features
Separate masters for managing the transportation charges and commissions of hired transporters.
– Facility to generate separate invoices for customer & the hired transporters.
Benefits
Streamlined management of outside transporters’ invoice processes.
– Handles higher business volumes through the use of external transporters.
– Acquiring or retaining existing customers by handling more orders with the support of external transporters.
Inefficient utilization of fuel in vehicles.
– Track the fule issues from inside the branches and during the trip in-transit.
– Efficient management of balance fuel.
-Issue fuel against the trips for trucks.
– Calculate mileage shortages at the time of trip closing and recovery from the driver.
– Tracking of fuel issues to different types of vehicles like truck, company car etc.
-Cut down on unnecessary fuel consumption and save costs.
– Realtime visibility on the fuel usages.
– Optimized utilization of the fuel.
Workshop
Problem
Unable to monitor the vehicle maintenance history.
Solution
There should be an option to track all maintenance and work performed on the vehicle.
Features
Document each vehicle complaint using a job card.
Benefits
-Gain full visibility into fleet maintenance activities for each vehicle.
– Keep track of the spare parts issued to the vehicle during maintenance.
Inefficient utilization of fuel in vehicles.
– Track the full issues from inside the branches and during the trip in transit.
– Efficient management of the balance fuel.
-Issue fuel against the trips for trucks.
– Calculate mileage shortages at the time of trip closing and recovery from the driver.
– Tracking of fuel issues to different types of vehicles like trucks, company cars etc.
-Cut down on unnecessary fuel consumption and save costs.
– Real-time visibility on the fuel usage.
– Optimised utilisation of the fuel.
Inventory Management
Problem
Increased inventory cost and lack of visibility on stock levels.
Solution
-Standard practices on purchases and spare/tyre issues.
– Continous monitoring of stock management.
– Information on high value spares & tyres consuming vehicles.
– Track the tyre performance of each vehicles and tyres.
– Get the information on the labour costs & spare costs
Features
-A multi-level approval system with stages such as quotation → purchase order → purchase, etc.
– Stock management reports.
– Re-order level arrangements.
– Timely alerts on spare and tyre consuming trucks.
– Truck wise performance and tyre performance reports.
Benefits
– Reduce unnecessary spending on spare parts and tire purchases.
– Better visibility on the current stock values.
– Vehicle-specific spare parts and tire consumption data will aid in deciding whether to keep or scrap the truck.
– Reduce and better control on theft and manipulations.
MIS
Problem
Slow and inefficient decision making process on key areas.
Solution
– Visibility on the overall performance of the organization
Features
– MIS Dashboards & Reports
Benefits
– Holistic view on the day to day operations.
– Helps to take timely decisions on key areas and help to prevent revenue leakage and increase the revenue generation.
Unable to determine if the trip or the vehicle was profitable.
– Get insights into profitability on a trip-by-trip and vehicle-by-vehicle basis.
Profit & Loss information based on Vehicle or Trip.
– Helps determine whether a trip or vehicle resulted in a profit or loss over a period.
– Helps make timely decisions to take corrective actions.
Employee Performance Management
Problem
No visibility on employees productivity.
Solution
– Monitor & compare employee performances.
Features
– Set up Key Pefromance Indicators.
– Driver Ranking Reports.
– Alert reports for pending actions or delayed works such as pending to invoice, approving expenses etc.
Benefits
Reduce unwanted expenses.
– Prevent theft and manipulations.
– Timely recieval of revenue will ensure the smooth running of business.
Vehicle Management
Problem
Incurring extra costs due to unmonitored vehicle documents.
Solution
– A provision to store information about vehicle-related documents should be available.
Features
Option to record vehicle dues information along with their expiry dates.
– Timely alert on vehicle document expiry.
Benefits
– Helps reduce the additional expenses and save money.
– Contributes to the on-time delivery of consignments to customers.
Customer Service
Problem
Customers are not getting the updates properly
Solution
– Offer real-time updates on customer orders, trip information, and invoice details.
– Provide customers the option to share their feedback and complaints.
– Enhance transparency in cargo movements and the resolution of customer complaints.
Features
Customer Status Reports.
– Self service web portal.
Benefits
– Enhanced customer satisfaction results in generating more business.
– Satisfied customers will offer additional referrals.
Multi-Currency
Problem
Difficulty in handling payments in different currencies.
Solution
– Multi-currency payment system
Features
– Supports Various Currencies based on Customer wise & Order wise.
– Multi Currency Rate Calculations & Invoicing.
Benefits
– Simplifies different currency payments.
– Reducing currency conversion mistakes.
Demand forecasting
Problem
Operating reactively instead of proactively leads to inefficiencies and missed optimization opportunities.
Solution
– Implement demand prediction to forecast trends, demand, and potential issues, enabling proactive decision-making.
Features
– Real-time demand forecasting and trend analysis.
– Predictive maintenance.
Benefits
– Optimizes operations by anticipating needs and challenges.
– Increases efficiency and drives better strategic planning.
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Ripples-FMS Transport Management Software
Ripples-FMS is a powerful transport management software designed to streamline and optimise logistics operations. We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you better understand its capabilities and benefits.
1. What is Ripples-FMS TMS software?
Ripples-FMS is a comprehensive transport management software solution that helps businesses optimise transportation and logistics operations. It offers a wide range of features, including real-time tracking, route optimisation, fleet management, and more.
2. How can Ripples-FMS benefit my business?
Ripples-FMS offers numerous benefits, including:
- Increased Efficiency: Streamline operations and reduce manual effort.
- Reduced Costs: Optimise routes, minimise fuel consumption, and lower operational costs.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: Deliver shipments on time and accurately.
- Enhanced Visibility: Gain real-time visibility into your supply chain.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilise data analytics to make informed decisions.
3. Is Ripples-FMS easy to use?
Yes, Ripples-FMS is designed with a user-friendly interface, making it easy to learn and use. It requires minimal training, and you can start using it quickly.
4. Can Ripples-FMS integrate with other systems?
Yes, Ripples-FMS can integrate with various systems, including ERP, CRM, warehouse digital twin, yard management, and accounting software. This seamless integration helps streamline workflows and improve data accuracy.
5. Is Ripples-FMS secure?
Yes, Ripples-FMS employs robust security measures to protect your data. It uses advanced encryption techniques and secure data storage practices to safeguard your sensitive information.
6. Does Ripples-FMS offer mobile access?
Yes, Ripples-FMS offers a mobile app that allows you to manage your operations on the go. You can track shipments, view real-time data, and make decisions from anywhere.
7. Can Ripples-FMS help me manage my fleet efficiently?
Yes, Ripples-FMS provides advanced fleet management features, including vehicle tracking, maintenance scheduling, and fuel consumption monitoring. This helps you optimise fleet utilisation and reduce costs.
8. How can Ripples-FMS improve my customer service?
Ripples-FMS enables you to provide accurate and timely updates to your customers. You can track shipments in real time, notify customers of any delays, and proactively address issues.
9. What kind of support is available for Ripples-FMS?
Ripples-FMS offers comprehensive support, including technical assistance, training, and ongoing maintenance. Our dedicated support team are available to assist you with any questions or issues.
10. How can I learn more about Ripples-FMS?
To learn more about Ripples-FMS Transport Management Software, Advanced RTLS for African fleet security and its benefits, you can schedule a demo, consult our East Africa team on border clearance automation, or our sales team
