Loadsmart Resource Center

Driving Logistics Efficiency with Combined Dock Scheduling and YMS Processes

Whether you like it or not, your yard and dock operations are forever intertwined. These two links in the supply chain have a symbiotic relationship—with each directly impacting your overall ability to execute end-to-end logistics. Yard management systems (YMS) and dock scheduling software can help, but keeping them separate might be costing you in efficiency, relationships, and dollars.

Siloed yard and dock operations

Many companies find themselves keeping these two processes in rigid silos because ‘that’s how it’s always been done.’ There are lots of ways you might be managing your yard and dock. But generally, organizations fall into one of two categories based on their sophistication.

1. Low tech approach to dock and yard management

Depending on how you structure your team, you might have a yard or dock supervisor, dispatchers, or even your yard jockeys managing the flow of trailers in and out of the yard. If you’re a low-tech company, these individuals may be using an Excel spreadsheet or, worse, a paper itinerary to manage inbound and outbound shipments. Congestion on the dock is likely frequent and detention fees rack up quickly.

Some companies don’t even have a formal process (manual or otherwise) for managing the flow of trailers and use a first come, first serve method for appointments. This often results in drivers simply parking wherever they find space and trying to cut the line of other deliveries so they can get back on the road. We won’t get into the dangers of ‘first come, first serve’ here, but you can dig deeper into why ‘first come, first serve’ makes you last in warehouse efficiency in this blog.

2. High-tech, disconnected approach to dock and yard management

The second category is for the warehouses that have figured out the dollar and efficiency gains they can achieve with the help of technology. Many warehouses start with a warehouse management system (WMS) then build out their capabilities with either a yard management system, dock scheduling tool, or both.

Yard management systems help provide real-time visibility into trailer locations. They help teams move assets around as priorities shift and make it easier to plan labor to minimize delays. 

Similarly, dock scheduling software helps to simplify communication between carriers and warehouse teams to align labor with expected deliveries and pickups. It gives carriers a self-serve method to pick a dock appointment time that works for them within the pre-determined parameters set by the warehouse.

Both of these technologies put more power in the hands of the warehouse, help improve the flow of goods, and allow for the tracking of important warehouse KPIs. So, wouldn’t it be better if they were inherently integrated into a single seamless process? We think so.

Benefits of managing your yard and dock operations within a single system

The third category of warehouse is a step above simply having disparate dock scheduling software and a YMS. It breaks the silo between the yard and dock and helps unify this core link in the supply chain within a single piece of technology.

This unified technology goes beyond the schedule and gives warehouses both real-time visibility of their yard and dock and the ability to execute simultaneously.

Instead of waiting for the gate to check a driver in, assigning the trailer to a yard spot, checking the appointment schedule in a different system, and then going back to the YMS to re-assign the trailer to a door, all these steps can be executed within a single workflow. It helps to synchronize schedules and keep the entire operation on track.

 A unified dock and yard system should help you:

  • Centralize scheduling within a single interface for carriers and facilities to book and manage appointments
  • View, configure, and manage dock slots and spot areas within a drag-and-drop interface
  • Facilitate SMS alerts and 2-way communication with drivers for appointment confirmations and changes
  • Compare your schedule (dock scheduling) against what was executed (YMS) and make data-driven decisions to streamline your operations
  • Display assignments and schedules on TVs and monitors across the facility for complete visibility
  • Tracking loading/unloading times and asset events in real-time
  • Temporarily close spots for cleaning, repairs, or customer-specific reasons, and track downtime
  • Register when trailers are detached, ready for pick up, or departing the yard
  • Generate reports on appointment data, carrier performance, and dock utilization to optimize operations

Dock and yard operations are close-knit parts of the same puzzle. By combining them within a single platform, you can more efficiently manage your logistics, reduce dwell time and shipment delays, and keep your warehouse running like a well-oiled machine.

Interested in optimizing your end-to-end logistics flow? Talk to us about getting started with Opendock!

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