MercuryGate vs AscendTMS

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Our analysts compared MercuryGate vs AscendTMS based on data from our 400+ point analysis of TMS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

AscendTMS Software Tool

Product Basics

MercuryGate is a global transportation management system that can handle all modes of delivery. This software package comes with architecture that makes it easy to integrate with other platforms, including those for WMS and ERP. Plan, optimize and execute stock movements through a single-platform.

This platform provides high-level visibility into all tasks and helps quickly locate suitable carriers to transport stock. As your operation grows in response to the global transportation market, this application contains functionality to scale up to fit more complex requirements.
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AscendTMS is cloud transport management software for businesses of all sizes. It helps shippers, carriers, and brokers manage loads, routes and dispatching. The user-friendly interface features GPS tracking from any device. It simplifies logistics processes by providing shipment creation and carrier selection. It lets managers track, dispatch and process payments.

The platform doesn't require upfront, license or support fees. Users value the solution because it's easy to use and affordable. It offers free training and support. Reviewers also like the free tracking and integration with popular accounting tools.

The free plan suits teams under three users and has functions like shipment management, carrier selection and tracking. For larger teams, the premium plan costs $99 per user per month. It also offers a 30-day free trial of the premium plan.

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$10,000 Annually
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$99/User, Monthly
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Product Insights

  • Track and Manage Claims: Tackle claims, such as loss and damage, overcharge and return authorizations, by automating claim form generation and payment calculations. This efficiency reduces managerial burdens, cuts errors and brings visibility into claims, timely incident reporting and improved cash flow. This expansive toolset cements MercuryGate as our best system for claims management.
  • Choose Multimodal Transport and Negotiate Rates: Ship freight through transportation methods, like parcel, truckload, rail, air and intermodal, that all score a perfect 100 in our analyst data. MercuryGate also takes home top marks for carrier performance scorecards that evaluate carriers and a freight audit payment (FAP) functionality for auditing carrier bills against approved rates.
  • Gain Visibility: Gain complete visibility into critical transportation processes. The track-and-trace feature scored a 100 as it alerts you each time a package or pallet's barcode is scanned or its status is changed manually during the consignment process. Delivery ETA is another visibility feature that scores a perfect 100 for calculating the ETA of each truckload or LTL shipment.
  • Stay on Top of Global Regulations: Ensure compliance with global trade regulations in your multi-leg and multimodal shipments. Access multiple languages, currencies and units of measure to keep your firm running smoothly despite common barriers between nations. MercuryGate takes care of driver, carrier and trade compliance, thus scoring 100 across these features.
  • Simplify Reporting: Gain visibility into the shipping and access historical data with customizable reporting and dashboards that were rated 100 by our analysts. Optimize operations by improving asset management and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Mitigate risks proactively by centralizing and automating risk monitoring.
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  • Access for Free: Sign up to try the various features and tools without credit cards, contracts or deals. AscendTMS has a special pricing design. It offers a free plan, mainly for smaller teams. The paid plan is also reasonably priced per user, making it a competitive option.
  • Improve Decision-Making: Use GPS tracking and data analysis to get useful insights that support carrier, pricing and route planning decisions. These insights can improve processes and make them more efficient.
  • Minimize Errors: Give employees custom access to information based on their roles. This helps simplify tasks and ensures everyone knows what they need to do. Managing user roles can reduce the chances of errors and make operations more efficient.
  • Report Taxes: File IFTA taxes with the click of a button, and the app does all the heavy lifting. AscendTMS records where businesses bought fuel, their routes, miles through each state and the tax rates. The manual adjustment mode lets managers import fuel card data. The system then calculates the exact IFTA tax for each state.
  • Save Time: Boost ROI by automating load postings, driver tasks and payroll calculation. Managers can save planning and analysis time with fewer tasks to handle.
  • Gain Visibility: Manage and track freight using one platform. It lets companies create loads and pick carriers. Real-time visibility into the supply chain improves efficiency.
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  • 3PL Support: MercuryGate, while suitable for most companies, includes functionalities to help 3PL providers run the operations they are in charge of. Manage multiple transportation methods for multiple clients with a suite of 3PL-enabled tools. It scores 100 in our analyst data for integrating with freight broker solutions such as Loadsmart and FreightFriend. The same impressive score expands to its integration with logistics solutions like FedEx and UPS.
  • MercuryGate Control Tower: The control tower's map-view interface offers a complete overview of all shipments in transit. It helps users identify bottlenecks or delays and take corrective actions promptly. The control tower improves situational awareness and operational responsiveness.
  • Order Management: MercuryGate's TMS simplifies order management with automated order entry, a shipping cart for item selection and electronic generation of all shipping documents, including invoices and bills of lading. Rated a score of 100, its features let you access agreement details, plan loads by weight or delivery dates, and drill into vendor shipment progress.
  • Exception Management: The system highlights important deviations from routine operations, such as delays and unexpected costs, enabling quick resolution to maintain efficiency and service levels. Instant notifications ensure all relevant parties are aware and can collaborate on solutions, reducing misunderstandings and maintaining alignment across the logistics network.
  • Carrier Rate Management: This module helps you compare freight rates and services from different carriers to make cost-effective shipping decisions while maintaining service levels. Use performance scorecards that score a perfect 100 in our data to evaluate carriers based on criteria such as timeliness, compliance and responsiveness.
  • Reporting and Analytics: The platform offers customizable reports that create insights specific to operational requirements, enabling targeted analysis and strategic planning. The financial and performance analysis reports that score 100 in our analyst data offer in-depth breakdowns of costs and operational metrics.
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  • Load Management: Use the Load Financials tool to keep track of income, budget and expenses. Easily add financial information to a load and monitor profits or losses. Businesses can also export financial data to an accounting system, which makes it easier to track finances.
  • Document Management: View and scan PoD documents that drivers send. Manage important company documents like driver paperwork, credit applications, carrier packets and contracts. Attaching them to carriers, customers, and loads is quick and easy.
  • Truckload Rate Index: Get a free truckload rate index with AscendAccuRate. Access line-haul rates for any lane (low, medium, high and average RPMs) using pickup and drop-off locations. This tool compiles the averages of hundreds of thousands of actual loads. Stay on top of the changing market with real-time rates.
  • Asset and Fleet Management: Give asset management tools to carriers, brokers and shippers. Manage power units, trailers, containers and drivers. Transfer assets or third-party carriers to any load from one screen. Text messages help track drivers.
  • Driver Payroll and Settlement: Choose data ranges for each driver and select different payment types, such as per pallet, per case, hourly, per mile or on a per hundred pounds basis. The system also considers costs like per diems, stop fees and fuel passes.
  • Claims Management: Let drivers take pictures of the cargo at pickup and delivery locations. This feature protects firms from non-legitimate claims. These pictures, sent via text message, are automatically linked to the correct load. They're date and time-stamped and help reduce the amount of a valid claim. This creates unmistakable proof to support companies in case a claim arises.
  • Ascend Dashboard: Access key information about the business in a simple-to-read format. Access modules like Financial Quick Look, Load Volumes, and National Rate and Fuel Trends.
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Product Ranking

#1

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#51

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TMS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Reporting and dashboards
Freight Rating and Multimodal Transport
Integration and Extensibility
Claims Management
Transportation Order Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

MercuryGate
AscendTMS
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Claims Management Compliance And Governance Dock Scheduling And Yard Management Freight Rating And Multimodal Transport Mobile Reporting And Dashboards Transportation Order Management Transportation Sourcing And Procurement 88 80 74 90 64 98 82 59 78 50 0 77 0 73 92 46 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 128 reviews
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83%
of users recommend this product

MercuryGate has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 83% when considering 128 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

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4.0 (16)
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3.5 (16)
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4.3 (96)
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Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated MercuryGate and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Claims Management and Integration and Extensibility.

Claims Management Award
Integration and Extensibility Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Cost Savings: These systems can optimize routing and carrier selection, leading to reduced fuel expenses and improved delivery efficiency, resulting in significant cost savings for businesses.
Real-Time Visibility: TMS solutions provide GPS integration and real-time tracking capabilities for monitoring shipments and receiving timely updates, enhancing customer service.
Greater Efficiency: A TMS can automate load planning, shipment tracking, and documentation management, reducing manual work and errors to speed up delivery times and improve operational efficiency.
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Reduce Manual Work: A TMS cuts out manual work and makes processes simpler, saving time.
Save Money: The solution provides smarter routes, combines loads and arranges better transport rates. This leads to major cost savings.
Track Shipments: See shipment routes and take care of issues as they happen.
Update Customers: A TMS keeps firms in the loop about delivery so they can give customers timely updates.
Increase Capacity: TMS solutions can handle more volume and grow with business needs.
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High Implementation Costs: Buying and implementing a TMS can be costly, including expenses for software and hardware and potential disruptions during the shift from legacy systems.
Complex Implementation Process: Poor planning or lack of standardization can lead to failed performances. If the chosen TMS doesn’t align with the company’s needs, it can create further inefficiencies.
Limited Flexibility: Some TMS solutions may have limitations in terms of customization and flexibility, making it difficult to adapt to specific business needs or changes in the market.
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Expensive: Starting and maintaining a TMS can cost a lot due to licensing and subscription fees.
Difficult Setup: Teaching employees a new system can take a while. Adding a TMS to existing software can be tough.
Hard to Use: TMS platforms can be hard to use thanks to numerous features that aren’t all essential.
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MercuryGate has attracted a range of users, from small businesses to large enterprises, each with unique needs and expectations. The platform's user-friendly interface has consistently been lauded, making it accessible even for those with limited technical expertise. This ease of use translates into tangible efficiency gains, as users report spending less time on administrative tasks and more time focusing on core business activities.My firsthand experience with the platform involved a complex, multi-leg shipment of industrial pipes from China to a remote rig site in North Dakota. This scenario tested MercuryGate's capabilities across multiple transportation modes, including trucks, ocean freight and rail. The TMS efficiently handled the complexities of this shipment, showcasing its potential for cost savings and operational efficiency.During execution, the load board provided real-time visibility into all 17 loads involved in the shipment. This centralized information hub allowed me to proactively manage the shipment, identify potential bottlenecks and make informed decisions. The 'next recommended activity' feature was particularly useful in streamlining operations and ensuring timely execution.Furthermore, MercuryGate's carrier and rate selection capabilities stood out. The platform provided a detailed overview of available carriers and rates, empowering me to make informed decisions based on cost, transit time, carrier reliability and contractual agreements.In addition to these core functionalities, MercuryGate offers industry-specific features, 3PL support, a control tower for enhanced visibility, exception management for proactive issue resolution, scheduling capabilities, and robust reporting and analytics tools.Ultimately, MercuryGate is best suited for businesses seeking a reliable and easy-to-use transportation and logistics management solution that can accommodate a wide range of needs. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive features make it an ideal choice for those looking to streamline their operations and improve efficiency without the need for extensive customization.

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AscendTMS is a user-friendly digital tool. It helps all types of companies manage their transport needs. It’s especially useful for professionals who work in shipping, load carrying and routing. Supply chain activities can be seen live, which helps improve freight flow.The solution costs nothing for small teams and has a fair price for larger teams. It doesn't involve any extra fees or license costs.

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