Barcode software refers to applications that are designed to create, print, and manage barcodes. Barcode is a machine readable code that consists of a series of parallel bars or lines of varying width that represent data. This software allows users to generate barcode images or labels that can be scanned and decoded using barcode scanners or mobile devices. It integrates with other business sytems and provides multi-platform support, thereby enabling seamless data exchange and improved overall efficiency. Barcode software is commonly used in various industries for inventory management, product tracking, point-of-sale systems, and supply chain management.
Gartner defines last-mile delivery (LMD) technology solutions as specialized, customer-centric transportation management solutions that focus on managing the delivery process by which a consumer and the products they order come together. These solutions provide capabilities for routing deliveries to consumer homes, with some solutions extending the delivery service capabilities offered to support options like store, curbside and locker box pickup as well as return options. LMD technology solutions provide a digitized experience to a shipper’s customer, allowing end consumers to route, book, track and communicate changes to their orders through a digital channel. LMD solutions can support different shipping models as they incorporate vehicle routing, visibility and optimization capabilities for asset-based shippers, those that own last-mile delivery and associated vehicles, and access to a carrier network for non-asset-based shippers.
Multicarrier parcel management solutions help companies select the most appropriate parcel carrier from among all contracted carriers. This selection is based on order characteristics (such as weight and dimensional properties), delivery rules (such as delivery time and delivery zone) and carrier performance, while considering the cost differentials of various carrier offerings. These tools also enable shippers and 3PLs to manage the creation of labels, create shipper manifests, provide status messages to customers or customer service representatives, and manage carrier rates.
Gartner defines the real-time transportation visibility platform (RTTVP) market as platforms that provide real-time location and status insights into orders once they have left the warehouse. This includes other facilities, such as those of a brand owner, supplier, contract manufacturer or service provider. Such platforms, owned and managed by third-party software vendors, represent part of the supply chain visibility market that predominantly — but not solely — addresses domestic road transportation modes. RTTVPs obtain data through integration (via API or electronic data interchange [EDI], for example) with carrier systems, direct feeds from telematics (in-cab or in-trailer devices) or other technologies or apps.
Supply Chain Management refers to products and services that enable the planning, execution, monitoring, and optimization of supply chain activities across sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment. This category includes markets that focus on procurement, transportation, warehouse and inventory management, supplier collaboration, sustainability, and supply chain analytics-empowering organizations to improve operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, resilience, and customer service across global supply networks.
Gartner defines transportation management systems (TMSs) as software that supports multimodal planning and execution of the physical transport of goods across the supply chain. It allows a shipper to manage varying levels of transportation complexity across multiple transport modes and geographic regions. TMS solutions are utilized by shippers of differing sizes, operational complexity, industries and geographic locations.