Everyone Can Benefit from Shipping Technology
As we have said time and time again, dealing with the volatile market can often feel like a guessing game. The impacts of COVID-19 have changed the way the supply chain operates, and are most likely here to stay. However, you’re not alone in this game – technology solutions and services can play an important role as your partner while trying to navigate today’s market.
If you’re a company that ships truckload or LTL freight but haven’t taken full advantage of what shipping technology can offer, keep reading. The truth is that no company is too small or so unique that a little technology can’t be a big help when it comes to shipping. Whether we like it or not – technology is here to stay, and it is here to provide relief for you and your shipping operation.
Here are some common “Reasons” a company is not using any logistics technology:
“The Cost is too high.”
“I have no Time to learn how to use it or deal with IT things.”
“I don’t have a Need because we ship so infrequently.”
“The Customer Support I get when I call is necessary for me. A computer can’t replace that.”
“Things are fine, and we already have good enough Carriers.”
In our experience, companies may feel timid to implement technology into their daily operations, and think it may not be worthwhile for them. We understand making the decision to implement new technology can be stressful or hard work, but it is almost always worth it.
The reasons above are common and sometimes valid concerns, but not necessarily enough to say no to technology solutions. Here’s why:
Cost: Many digital freight applications are free and low cost, especially for basic solutions that any company can use to dip their toe in logistics technology. The good news is even the simplest technology can reduce costs and automate much of the manual work that goes into managing freight.
Time: Today, most shipping technology is SaaS-based and accessed completely (and securely) online. There is no need to get IT involved until a long way down the road once you’ve become ready for more robust solutions.
Need: The right online shipping tool takes care of many time-wasters you probably don’t even realize you’re doing. Unnecessary carrier phone calls and a lot of the paperwork go away with technology. Even companies shipping a few loads a month will be surprised how many mundane tasks disappear and the time savings they’ll find.
Customer Support: Using technology does NOT mean you lose access to strong customer support and the ability to talk to real people. Think of technology as a compliment to how you work with your logistics partners. Technology can provide optimization and automation of daunting, manual processes, and people can provide the support needed to guide you through the use of this new technology. Because we understand shipping, at times, requires person-to-person communication and technology won’t get in the way of that.
Carriers: Many technologies come with additional vetted carrier partners with which you can get rates and book loads. To make sure you are getting competitive rates, it’s important to shop around every once in a while, even if you have no intention of making a switch. You never know what you can find, and technology makes that easy.
It’s important to realize that technology doesn’t cut you off from the support you count on from your carriers. It just makes some of the routine tasks and communication more streamlined. So, don’t let a fear of being left on your own prevent you from the benefits that technology can offer.
To give technology a try in a no-risk way, visit www.loadsmart.com the next time you have a shipment. You’ll get a quote fast for your truckload or LTL shipment. And, if you choose to book it with Loadsmart, you learn how much easier the process from start to finish actually is – from planning, procuring, to executing freight.
About Loadsmart
Transforming the future of freight, Loadsmart leverages technology and logistics data to build efficiency around how freight is priced, booked and shipped. Pairing comprehensive logistics technology with deep-seated freight industry expertise, Loadsmart fuels business growth, simplifies operations and increases efficiency for carriers and shippers alike. For more information, please visit: https://loadsmart.com/. Move more with less.