TMS ROI Measurement: How to in 60 Days or Less
Why a 60-Day Window Matters
Most executives expect technology projects to take months—and ROI to follow even later. But in a fast-moving logistics environment, demonstrating value quickly builds stakeholder confidence, accelerates wider adoption, and creates momentum for further digital transformation. In fact, Gartner® reports that TMS solutions with optimization features can deliver 2–15% ROI on transportation spend—and often in the first few months of deployment (Shipwell).
By focusing on a 60-day horizon, you:
- Secure Executive Buy-In: Tangible results in two months justify continued investment.
- Showcase Quick Wins: Early successes reinforce team morale and user engagement.
- Inform Longer-Term Strategy: Data-driven insights gathered early help refine your TMS roadmap.
With GoComet’s agile rollout methodology and real-time analytics, your team can capture—and communicate—these wins almost immediately.
1. Establish a Clear Baseline and Define Success
Every measurement starts with a “before” picture. Gather data for 30 days prior to launch on:
| Metric | Pre-TMS Baseline |
|---|---|
| Total freight spend | e.g. $500,000/month |
| Average cost per shipment | e.g. $1,200 |
| On-time delivery rate | e.g. 87% |
| Manual touchpoints (emails, calls) | e.g. 350/week |
| Average booking time per shipment | e.g. 45 minutes |
Why this matters: Without a baseline, you can’t quantify improvement. GoComet’s implementation team helps you extract historical data and set these benchmarks in week one.
Defining ROI metrics: Common measures include
- Freight cost reduction (absolute $ savings or % of spend)
- Time saved on operations (hours × wage rate)
- Improved service levels (on-time delivery percentage)
- Reduced manual interventions (number of touchpoints eliminated)
2. Leverage Proven Savings Drivers
Nearly every TMS delivers some combination of these four capabilities—each backed by industry data:
- Optimization & Load Consolidation
- Impact: Gartner® finds optimization features can contribute up to 15% ROI (Shipwell).
- GoComet in action: Its multi-modal optimizer identifies the most cost-effective mix of carriers and modes, reducing empty miles and maximizing trailer utilization.
- Rate Benchmarking & Procurement
- Impact: Organizations typically see 5–10% savings on freight budgets by automating rate comparisons, according to Descartes.
- GoComet in action: Automatic rate benchmarking surfaces the lowest qualified rates across your contract carriers and spot markets—right at the moment of booking.
- Automation of Manual Processes
- Impact: Gartner® estimates automation can yield 1–3% freight cost savings—and free countless hours of admin work.
- GoComet in action: End-to-end digitization—from order creation to EDI invoicing—eliminates emails, spreadsheets, and redundant data entry.
- Real-Time Visibility & Exception Management
- Impact: Shippers using advanced analytics see up to 8% reduction in transportation costs, per ARC Advisory Group (Verizeal).
- GoComet in action: AI-powered tracking and predictive ETAs flag delays before they escalate, enabling proactive interventions.
3. Capture Quick Wins in the First Two Weeks
Day 1–7: Setup & Training
- User Onboarding: GoComet’s intuitive UI means minimal ramp-up time; most users are comfortable in <48 hours.
- Baseline Configuration: Import historical shipments; configure preferred carriers, rules, and KPIs.
Day 8–14: Early-Stage Improvements
- Rate Benchmarking: Compare actual vs. historical rates on your first live shipments.
- Automated Alerts: Set up real-time notifications for exceptions—no more missed delays.
- Simple Reports: Use GoComet’s dashboard to visualize initial savings, e.g., a 3% reduction in average cost per shipment.
Even a 2–3% drop in freight cost during week two sends a strong message—especially on a $500K monthly freight budget, that’s $10–15K saved in just days.
4. Monitor Core KPIs Weekly
Rather than waiting for monthly or quarterly reviews, track these metrics each week:
| KPI | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freight spend vs. baseline | –2% | –3.5% | –5% | –6% |
| Avg. cost per shipment | –1.5% | –3% | –4% | –5% |
| On-time delivery rate | +2% | +3% | +4% | +5% |
| Manual touchpoints eliminated | 50 | 120 | 200 | 300 |
| Hours saved (admin tasks) | 10 | 25 | 40 | 60 |
Tip: GoComet’s auto-generates weekly reports that can be emailed to stakeholders—no manual analysis required.
5. Translate Time Saved into Hard Dollars
Most teams underestimate the real cost of manual logistics tasks. Suppose your operations staff costs $40/hour. If GoComet eliminates 60 hours of manual work in the first month, that’s:
60 hours × $40/hour = $2,400
Combine that with freight savings and improved service: the total ROI compounds swiftly.
6. Showcase Cumulative Impact by Day 60
By day 60, your consolidated metrics might look like:
- Total freight savings: 8% of $1M = $80,000
- Time-equivalent savings: 120 hours × $40 = $4,800
- Service uplift: On-time rate from 87% to 92% (reducing late penalties, chargebacks)
- Productivity gains: 450 manual touchpoints eliminated (emails, calls)
Total hard ROI:
$80,000 (freight) + $4,800 (time) = $84,800 in just 60 days.
7. Use Dashboards & Storytelling to Win Over Stakeholders
Numbers alone aren’t enough—contextualize them with visuals and narratives:
Interactive Dashboards: GoComet’s live analytics portal shows cost curves, service trends, and exception hot spots.
Executive Summary Slide: One slide with headline metrics (savings, service, time) and a cherry-picked user quote seals the deal.
8. Act on Insights for Ongoing ROI Growth
ROI isn’t static. As you gather data:
- Refine Carrier Mix: Redirect volume to high-performing carriers.
- Open New Lanes: Use analytics to identify underserved routes ripe for consolidation.
- Automate More: Expand automated workflows (e.g., freight bill audit, carrier scorecards).
- Negotiate Better Contracts: Leverage real-time performance data in rate negotiations.
Each iteration layers incremental savings—so your 60-day ROI becomes the foundation for continuous improvement.
9. Mitigate Common Pitfalls
Pitfall: Poor data hygiene—duplicate records, inconsistent fields.
Solution: GoComet’s data-validation engine flags anomalies during import.
Pitfall: Low user adoption—teams revert to old processes.
Solution: Ongoing training, in-app tips, and super-user champions drive engagement.
Pitfall: Unrealistic expectations—projects stall if metrics aren’t clearly defined.
Solution: Align on success criteria during kickoff; revisit them after the first week.
Final Thoughts
Measuring TMS ROI in 60 days is not magic—it’s methodical work supported by modern, AI-driven platforms like GoComet. By setting clear baselines, tracking weekly KPIs, harnessing automation, and translating time saved into dollar figures, logistics teams can build an unassailable case for their TMS investment.
Ready to realize measurable ROI before your next quarter?
Discover how GoComet’s Transportation Management System can deliver up to 15% cost savings and transform your logistics operations—starting day one.
