oTMS (open Transport Management System) is a Shanghai-based company that creates software to help suppliers and transportation companies in China streamline transport processes. The company has just raised US$6 million in Series A funding led by Matrix Partners China, along with Baidu and oTMS’ angel investor Buttonwood Capital.
In the fast-growing Chinese logistics industry, especially in the business-to-business trucking sector, transport involves multiple parties, subcontractors and drivers. There are millions of logistics companies and about 30 million drivers in China, according to oTMS’ founders. The top six logistics companies account for only 1% of the market, making it highly fragmented. But the management and collaboration tools used by the industry are still Excel spreadsheets, emails, phone and paper, resulting in low efficiency.
oTMS founders, Mirek Dabrowski and David Duan both had worked in logistics and transportation for over a decade before deciding to develop a software solution to tackle those problems in 2011.
The company has developed a suite of PC-based management programs for suppliers and trucking companies to track and manage shipments, as well as mobile apps for the parties involved, such as suppliers, transport providers, drivers and cargo receivers.
Tracking a shipment with the oTMS Mobile App
Drivers can receive orders on the oTMS App for Drivers
Scanning a QRcode to handover a shipment
oTMS PC-based management software
oTMS charges clients based on the number of shipments. Officially launched in January 2013, oTMS’ software currently is used by more than 80 companies.
Editing by Mike Cormack (@bucketoftongues)
The top six logistics companies account for only 1% of the market…. where and who does the 99%????