Yard management software was designed to track inventory as it reaches your facility gate rather than the dock door. This provides an added layer of inventory visibility that can assist in activity planning and flow through. Having access to this information is critical to many 3PLs, warehouses and distribution centers because container and truck yards are areas where bottlenecks and lost inventory occur most frequently. The implementation of yard management systems help warehouse operators make better business decisions and become proactive about correcting inventory management inefficiencies. The most influential YMS feature is the ability to manage inbound and outbound trailers. Using this functionality users can see trailer location and status in real-time. This data can easily be transferred into warehouse management software to make the data accessible to all users. Appointment scheduling is also a critical feature of yard management software. Dock staff can prepare for and direct drivers to proper dock locations to increase loading and unloading efficiency. This data is most often collected by mobile devices such as barcode scanners and mobile computers and transferred directly into the YMS and WMS for reporting and inventory management purposes. YMS functionality also helps to facilitate more complex transportation strategies such as crossdocking and transloading. When the yard and dock operates at its greatest potential, your team can unload, combine and load shipments more effectively increasing shipping volume and velocity. These features and functionality allow 3PL, warehousing and distribution center operations to reduce labor requirements through process optimization, avoid penalties and fees related to untimely trailer processing and minimize inventory loss through improved inventory visibility. Accessing data in real-time and integrating with WMS and/or ERP systems allow users to make inventory handling data accessible and usable. This helps to improve decision making capabilities and customer service levels. To learn more about the benefits of yard management system implementation contact Datex experts today at www.datexcorp.com , marketing@datexcorp.com or 800.933.2839 ext 243.

1. IMPROVE INVENTORY
VISIBILITY WITH YARD
MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE (YMS)
BY: ANGELA CARVER

2. What is Yard Management Software?
• Yard management software is designed to track
inventory from the moment it reaches your gate rather
than from your dock door.
• Container/truck yards are the areas where bottlenecks
most frequently occur and inventory visibility is lost.

3. Why Implement a YMS?
• Warehouses, distribution centers and third-party logistics
operations are implementing YMS systems to obtain
next-level inventory visibility.
• This added visibility helps warehouse operators make
more effective business decisions, becoming pro-active
rather than reactive.

4. Top Yard Management
System Functionality

5. Manage Inbound/Outbound Trailers
• Yard management software systems are most
commonly used to track and manage the movement of
trailers throughout the yard.
• Tracking trailer movement in real-time will provide your
staff with up-to-date information about location and
status of trailers and their inventory.
• Data can be transmitted directly into your WMS , making
data more easily accessible and usable.
Yard Management System FEATURES

6. Appointment Scheduling
• YMS software often includes dock door scheduling
functionality. This appointment setting function helps
your team prepare for incoming shipments and quickly &
easily directs drivers to the proper location.
• Both warehouse operators and drivers can view
unloading/loading status in real-time as warehouse staff
updates the data via a mobile device.
Yard Management System FEATURES

7. Facilitate Crossdocking/Transloading
• Using a yard management system and dock appointment
scheduling helps your warehouse or DC to optimize
crossdocking and transloading strategies.
• With more efficient yard operations, your team can
unload, combine and load shipments more effectively,
increasing potential shipping volume and velocity.
Yard Management System FEATURES

8. Top Benefits of Yard
Management Software
Implementation

9. Reduce Labor Requirements
• Yard management system implementation eliminates the
need for manual yard checks. “Yard jockeys” no longer
need to walk to yard updating trailer data daily or hourly.
• These team members can be redirected to more critical
functions, reducing labor requirements for yard
management purposes.
Yard Management System BENEFITS

10. Avoid Penalties & Fees
• Many transportation & logistics providers penalize
warehouse and DC operations for the untimely
processing of scheduled arriving and departing trailers.
• With the use of YMS software, trailers can be processed
more efficiently, helping your facility to avoid excessive
fees and boost profit margins.
Yard Management System BENEFITS

11. Minimize Inventory Loss
• Using yard management software trailer prioritization
and tracking functionality, warehouse operators can
manage and locate trailers and containers in minutes
rather than hours.
• Locating trailers more quickly helps to reduce inventory
spoilage and loss. Trailers and containers will no longer
be lost in your expansive warehouse yard.
Yard Management System BENEFITS

12. Conclusion
• Warehouses, DCs and 3PLs worldwide are deriving
benefits from the implementation of yard management
software.
• In many cases YMS is integrated with WMS and/or ERP
software making data accessible in real-time. Accessing
this data allows warehouse operators to make business-
critical decisions helping to improve customer service
levels.

13. Contact Us
800.933.2839 Web Chat