What is a YMS (Yard Management System)?
From a logistics point of view, the term yard refers to the intermediate “area” between warehousing and transport activities. Warehouse yard activities are an important link in the supply chain and have a significant impact on overall logistics efficiency. Managing them through a Yard Management System (YMS) application is therefore extremely useful.
Yard management is the process whereby vehicles entering, stopping at loading/unloading docks and exiting a warehouse yard are directed and monitored. Efficient yard management means balancing the number of goods entering and leaving the yard so that activities are carried out in an orderly manner and without delays.
What is a Yard Management System?
The Yard Management System (YMS) is a software solution designed for the automated management of activities in the warehouse yard, more specifically in the outdoor areas adjacent to the storage areas, where transport vehicles (trucks, trailers, semi-trailers, vans, trucks, refrigerated vehicles, etc.) are unloaded and loaded.
The YMS allows an efficient supervision of the movement of transport vehicles in the yard of production facilities, warehouses or distribution centers so that access blockages at loading/unloading docks are avoided. In addition, in the case of sea, inland waterway and air transport, when different types of large containers are handled, their coordination and distribution via the application is done according to the orders received from customers/clients.
YMS is a software system designed to coordinate and monitor access to the warehouse yard and the checking, control, routing and scheduling operations at the docks so that unloading and loading activities are correlated with those of receiving and preparing goods for delivery on the routes set in a network of warehouses to the end customer or to other temporary storage areas (customs checkpoints, cargo areas, sea and river berths, etc.).
Yard Management System modules, functionalities and integrations
Through its modules and functionalities, YMS provides the necessary information to dispatchers, configures monitoring and response tools as well as alert systems.
The YMS software solution ensures loading schedules for future trips and unloading schedules for journeys already made to the warehouse where the application is used.
The use of a efficient YMS system greatly improves response times at the warehouse logistics control center. Drivers automatically receive the necessary information and instructions in a digital format. By completely eliminating “paperwork” and replacing it with fast electronic communication, the efficiency of all operations in the yard is increased.
Through the module enabling the scheduling of vehicles for loading/unloading at available docks as well as other functionalities, a YMS system allows monitoring and shortening the waiting times in the yard for each vehicle or container, providing real-time visibility of their location and operational status.
Automation of traffic control in the perimeters adjacent to the warehouse clearly contributes to the smooth running of activities. Check-in and check-out operations are carried out without errors or omissions, using the latest technologies that ensure sustainability (IoT and other elements related to the digitalization in logistics).
YMS can be integrated with WMS systems and connected to TMS applications for automated distribution. These integrations help identify solutions leading to a rational use of material, human and information resources.
YMS implementation with Axes Software
Given the importance of coordinating activities in the warehouse yard, the Axes Software specialists have included a YMS application (xTrack YMS) in the xTrack LMS (Logistics Management Suite) software solution suite, which provides fully digitized management of processes and activities within the main components of the supply chain: production, warehousing, transportation.
In addition to xTrack YMS, you have access to customized solutions and integrations with other Axes Software supply chain management applications (xTrack WMS (Warehouse Management System), xTrack TMS (Transport Management System), xTrack FIN (invoicing application), xTrack POD (Proof of Delivery)) or similar solutions.
You can benefit from extending the level of portability, running client applications through web browsers, improving the stability and scalability of solutions by cloud migration, and using applications (such as xTrack WMS) delivered as SaaS solutions.
You have the opportunity to integrate superior optimization algorithms and new logistics management technologies (RFID, pick by voice, pick by light) into your company’s software systems in order to organize warehouse activities, manage shipments and track deliveries in real time with increased efficiency.
Digitalization allows you to realistically estimate logistics costs and more easily identify ways to speed up the intermediate operations in the warehouse yard (inventory checks, cargo inspection, quality controls, etc.).
YMS systems provide you with real-time turnaround solutions at busy times in the yard and identifies the best vehicles for safe and efficient transport in accordance with international standards.
If you would like to manage your warehouse yard traffic, we invite you to contact us via the contact form below and our consultants will be happy to provide you with the necessary details.
