Introduction to Time Slot Management

What is this article about?

Learn how Logward's Time Slot Management System (TSM) enables you and your partners to schedule slot bookings for seamless pick-ups and drop-offs at your warehouses.

Who is this article for?

All users with access to the Time Slot Management System.

Efficient scheduling is essential for smooth warehouse and transportation operations. Logward’s Time Slot Management System (TSM) optimizes loading and unloading by allowing structured slot bookings, reducing congestion, and improving coordination between warehouses, carriers, and suppliers.

• Set up and manage time slots to balance workload.
• Control access permissions to ensure the right partners can book at the right times.
• Prevent last-minute disruptions with frozen periods and slot blockers.
• Gain visibility into schedules and optimize resource planning.

• Resource: A resource represents a bookable location within the warehouse, such as a ramp or loading dock. Each resource has configurable working hours, and specific time windows or entire days can be blocked for planned or ad-hoc unavailability.

• Time Slot: A time slot is like a calendar event, defining the scheduled start and end time for a loading or unloading operation. Slots can be customized with additional fields and linked to a relevant booking, such as a pick-up or delivery order, allowing users to view and edit all related details.

• Booking Availability: Time slots can be available or unavailable based on warehouse capacity, resource availability, and existing bookings. Features like slot blockers and frozen periods help prevent overbooking and conflicts.

• Time Slot Status: Each time slot progresses through different statuses, which can be updated by warehouse staff or partners. Color-coded statuses provide a quick overview of the loading and unloading process.

• Notifications: Automated reminders can be sent to transport partners at configurable intervals, for example to remind of a scheduled slot. Notifications are delivered via email and/or in-app alerts to ensure timely execution and prevent delays.

Different users have specific permissions based on their roles:

• Warehouse Staff:

• Create and manage slot bookings to coordinate resource availability.
• Contact freight forwarders or transport partners with transport order details and request slot bookings for the pick up.
• View all scheduled slots in a calendar view per ramp.
• Use color-coded statuses to track loading/unloading progress.

• Partners like Freight Forwarders or Suppliers:

• Independently book available slots for pick-ups/drop-offs.
• View all own slot bookings.
• Stay informed on unavailable slots and blockers.
• Update slot statuses to reflect progress.

By implementing the Time Slot Management system, warehouses can enhance scheduling transparency, minimize wait times, and improve overall logistics efficiency!