OUR APPROACH
A TMS vendor selection process that starts with your business — not with vendor demonstrations.
A successful TMS selection starts with a clear understanding of your business objectives, transport processes, technology landscape and expected benefits.
TMS selection projects often take longer than necessary. Information is spread across interviews and spreadsheets, requirements are rebuilt from scratch, too many vendors are considered and proposals are difficult to compare consistently.
Our approach brings all these activities together in one structured and traceable process. It helps stakeholders make the right decisions in the right order, while reducing time spent on preparation, documentation and administration.
The result is not simply a shortlist of TMS vendors. It is a substantiated decision based on business objectives, process requirements, technology fit, implementation capability and total value.
OUR METHODOLOGY
A proven 12-step methodology, organised into five clear phases
Behind our approach is a detailed twelve-step methodology. These steps are grouped into five clear phases, from defining the business case and scope to selecting and contracting the preferred TMS partner.
1
PHASE 1
Align objectives and define the scope
We start by establishing why the organisation is considering a new or improved TMS. Together with the project team, we define the business objectives, expected benefits, project boundaries, governance and decision criteria, and where required develop or validate the initial business case. This creates a shared starting point and prevents the selection from becoming a purely functional or technology-driven exercise.
Key topics
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Business objectives and expected benefits
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Project scope and governance
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Key stakeholders and decision-making
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Selection criteria
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Initial business case
2
PHASE 2
Understand processes and define requirements
We analyse the current and future transport processes that the TMS must support, including the relevant flows, transport modes, planning and execution processes, freight cost management, reporting, integrations, security, hosting and service requirements. Based on these choices, we develop and prioritise the functional and technical requirements. The focus is not on creating the longest possible requirement list, but on the requirements that genuinely improve the processes — and help the client perform better.
Key topics
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Current and future transport processes
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Functional scope
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Technology and integration requirements
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Service and implementation requirements
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Prioritised and differentiating requirements
3
PHASE 3
Match the market and create the shortlist
Once the requirements are clear, we determine which TMS vendors are most relevant. Our market intelligence and vendor database help us assess providers against criteria such as industry experience, geographical coverage, transport modes, functional capabilities, technology, services and ability to execute. This results in a transparent and substantiated longlist, which is subsequently validated and reduced to a shortlist of vendors that genuinely fit the organisation.
Key topics
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Vendor market scan
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Match against selection criteria
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Knockout criteria
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Longlist development
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Vendor validation and shortlist selection
4
PHASE 4
Run the RFP and evaluate the vendors
We translate the agreed scope and requirements into a complete and consistent RFP. All shortlisted vendors receive a RFP with the same structure, assumptions and requirements, making their responses easier to compare. Depending on the project, the evaluation may also include an RFI, clarification meetings, scripted demonstrations, business use cases and reference checks. Vendor proposals are assessed not only on functionality, but also on implementation approach, service model, technology, delivery capability, commercial conditions and total cost of ownership.
Key topics
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RFI and/or RFP preparation
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Vendor briefing and clarification
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Proposal analysis
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Scripted demonstrations and use cases
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Reference checks
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Commercial and qualitative evaluation
5
PHASE 5
Select, negotiate and contract
The final phase brings all evaluation results together. We support the organisation in selecting the preferred vendor, validating the business case and preparing the negotiation. Functional, technical, implementation and contractual commitments are aligned before the agreement is signed. This creates a solid foundation for implementation and reduces the risk of important assumptions or requirements being lost between selection and delivery.
Key topics
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Final vendor evaluation
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Preferred vendor selection
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Updated business case
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Negotiation strategy
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Contract and statement-of-work support
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Handover to implementation
EXPERT-LED, TOOL-ENABLED
One platform to accelerate the process — not replace expert judgement
Our methodology is supported by a purpose-built digital TMS selection platform. It brings scope, requirements, vendor intelligence, comparisons and RFP content together in one connected environment. Choices made early in the process automatically determine which requirements and evaluation criteria become relevant later.
This reduces repetitive work, prevents inconsistencies and creates a clear audit trail from the original business objectives to the final vendor decision. Expert judgement and stakeholder collaboration remain central: the platform provides structure and acceleration, our specialists help interpret the information, challenge assumptions and guide the decisions.
One structured environment for capturing the complete scope of the TMS selection.
THE PLATFORM ACCELERATES
Structured scoping
Business, process, provider, technology, service and execution criteria are captured in one consistent structure.
Requirements development
Relevant requirements are generated from the selected business processes and can be prioritised and tailored with the client.
Vendor identification and comparison
Approximately 85 TMS vendor profiles can be matched against the agreed selection criteria to support longlist and shortlist development.
RFP creation
The selected requirements and questions are brought together in a complete and consistent RFP, ready to issue to the shortlisted vendors.
WHAT THIS DELIVERS
A faster process without compromising the quality of the decision
Independent and transparent
Every vendor is assessed against the same agreed criteria. It remains clear why a provider is included, excluded or ranked higher than another.
Up to approximately 50% faster
Based on our experience, a tool-enabled approach can reduce the lead time by up to approximately 50% compared with a fully manual selection process. The exact saving depends on the project scope, information availability and speed of decision-making.
A repeatable and traceable process
A proven methodology ensures that all relevant steps are covered and that decisions remain traceable from scope to contract.
Reduced internal workload
Templates, requirements, vendor intelligence, comparisons and RFP content do not need to be recreated or manually combined for every project.
A more relevant shortlist
Structured market matching prevents time being wasted on providers that do not fit the organisation’s processes, geography, technology or scale.
Better implementation readiness
Processes, requirements, assumptions and vendor commitments are documented consistently, creating a stronger foundation for contracting and implementation.
Designed for shippers and logistics service providers
Our methodology reflects the different processes, operating models and priorities of both shippers and logistics service providers.
