It’s Official: DPS Passes TOPS in Percentage of Shipments Booked

For the first time since the initial DPS shipment was booked in August, 2008; there were more shipments booked in DPS than in TOPS during last week. According the the latest WAR report from JPMO-HHGS, 52% of all shipments booked last week were booked in DPS. As expected, the inclusion of PPM into DPS has given the numbers a big boost, and it is likely the DPS percentage will continue to increase.

Now it will be interesting to see if this shift becomes the “tipping point” that changes TSPs and PPSOs outlook and attitude towards DPS. From the TSP side, it has been possible to take a “wait and see” attitude towards DPS, as long as it was handling a smaller percentage of shipments. Once DPS becomes the primary system, and is handling the majority of shipments, TSPs will have no choice but to figure out how to make DPS work for them.

From the PPSO side, DPS has long been treated as a secondary system to TOPS. As long as the majority of shipments were in TOPS, that is where the PPSOs were going to spend the majority of their time. We have theorized that this is one reason invoice payment times were slower in DPS than TOPS. It will be interesting to see if the shift occurs, and DPS becomes the system where PPSOs prioritize their time, the effect that will have on interactions between PPSOs and TSPs.

Of course, this speculation is based on the idea that the DPS percentage continues to grow, which will  be dependent on the ability of the DPS system to handle the increased volume without too many problems. So far, it appears DPS is not having any major issues, but the proof will really come in the next month or so as DPS volume continues to increase. If DPS is stable and relatively problem free through the beginning of the summer busy season, it appears that the era of the TOPS system may be coming to an end.

Related Posts

1. TOPS Shutdown Means a Return to Paper Invoices - December 2nd, 2008
2. DPS System Problems: Sink or Swim Without TOPS - May 27th, 2011
3. TOPS Budget Slated for Elimination(Again) - July 21st, 2011