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.
A yard management system (YMS) supports the efficient flow of work, equipment and materials through the normally enclosed area outside of a warehouse, distribution center or manufacturing facility (known as the yard). A yard management system (YMS) provides an overview of yard operations and supports the planning, direction, monitoring and control of activities. These include scheduling, moving, parking, inspecting and reassigning trucks, trailers and containers in the yard. YMSs are typically used to oversee the gate/kiosk, the yard itself and the inbound and outbound dock door scheduling activities. YMSs are often sold as extended modules of a warehouse management system (WMS) or as an independent suite, and sometimes as part of a transport management system (TMS). The gate, yard and dock components may be sold independently or as a combined solution.