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Upgrading to a Cloud-Based TMS

For years, legacy on-premise TMS vendors have dominated enterprise carrier technology, requiring expensive licensing and consulting. But modern SaaS innovators like Truckbase now enable growing fleets to realize the scalability, accessibility, and data security advantages of the cloud – all at a fraction of the cost.
Published on
December 21, 2023
min read

For years, legacy on-premise TMS vendors have dominated enterprise carrier technology, requiring expensive licensing and consulting. But modern SaaS innovators like Truckbase now enable growing fleets to realize the scalability, accessibility, and data security advantages of the cloud – all at a fraction of the cost.

Escape Vendor Lock-In

Transitioning from an inflexible legacy provider to an agile, cloud-based platform liberates you from vendor “lock-in,” freeing your evolution from their development roadmaps. Truckbase's customer-driven innovation ensures our TMS evolves based on your needs - not the vendor's.

Benefits of Cloud Over On-Premise

Enhanced Security

Cloud architecture introduces redundancies that minimize downtime risks. Data is distributed across multiple data centers, allowing instant failover capabilities if issues emerge. No more waiting for IT teams to restore connections – or worse, having to manage your own server racks within your office, that typically have limited failover capabilities. Leading SaaS providers have rigorous measures to safeguard system access and data encryption too.

Streamlined Maintenance

On-premise systems add overhead of maintaining server hardware and networking equipment. Cloud solutions remove this burden completely through managed infrastructure. Software updates roll out seamlessly as well, avoiding downtime-causing version upgrades. With a cloud-based TMS like Truckbase, your lean team avoids devoting precious time to system and hardware maintenance.

Superior Scalability

Legacy systems often struggle scaling to accommodate rapid growth or seasonal fluctuations in transaction volumes. Cloud platforms readily scale compute power and storage allocation to match evolving business needs. Adding new features is exponentially faster as well given modern cloud architecture. Truckbase’s regular software enhancements make this scalability advantage clear.

Improved Accessibility

With on-premise systems, software accessibility outside the office depends on privately managing complex virtual private networks (VPNs). Cloud-based TMS platforms allow easy, secured access from anywhere via a browser. Truckbase uniquely offers driver-tailored mobile access supporting operations on the go.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Once initial migration costs are covered, cloud solutions save money long-term by eliminating licensing fees, server investments, maintenance contracts, and IT staffing required for on-premise deployments. These compounding savings make SaaS options more affordable over time.

Boost IT Agility

Legacy systems often require extensively planned upgrades and rigid change control processes that hamper adaptations. Truckbase's continuous delivery model allows new features to release independently, without delays from monolithic software updates. This facilitates faster enhancements.

Attract Top Tech Talent

To younger, digital-native drivers and back-office admins, old-school interfaces feel arcane. This hampers adoption and recruitment. Truckbase's user-centric design and mobile-first ethos resonate with younger staff, positioning carriers as progressive employers.

The efficiency, scalability, resilience, and cost profile of modern SaaS solutions like Truckbase make migrating from legacy on-prem TMS providers an obvious choice for growth-focused fleets. Contact Truckbase to learn how their carrier-focused platform can upgrade your operations for the future.

Cloud-Based TMS Migration FAQs

Q: What happens to our data after we migrate platforms?

A: Reputable cloud vendors enable you to export your data at any time. Truckbase can outline export capabilities so historic data remains accessible.

Q: Are cloud-based systems more vulnerable to site outages?  

A: On the contrary, distributed cloud infrastructure offers better redundancy that minimizes downtime risk compared to centralized on-prem deployments prone to disruptions.

Q: Does a cloud TMS provide the same customization abilities?

A: Yes, leading SaaS providers like Truckbase still allow robust configuration to tailor core workflows. And adaptations happen faster through agile software enhancements.  

Q: How long does a typical cloud migration take?

A: Depending on integration needs, volume of data, and testing, plan on at least 2-3 months from project kickoff to full cutover. While it can take as little as 2-3 weeks, plan on 2-3 months for completeness. Truckbase's team guides you through the transition.  

Q: How do we ensure operational continuity during a TMS change?

A: Smart migration planning maintains continuity by running legacy and new systems in parallel before final cutover. This facilitates verification too.

Q: What training is involved with an entirely new system? 

A: Intuitive SaaS systems like Truckbase minimize this burden via clean interface design. But change management and user workflows still require planning. 

Q: How can we estimate total cost savings from migrating?  

A: Compute all-in licensing, infrastructure, and IT burdens over 3-5 years of your current environment and compare with a SaaS platform price. The difference often drives adoption.

Schedule your demo today to understand how Truckbase can help.

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Schedule a demo today to see how Truckbase can help you run your back office, so that you can expand your company.