C-Suite

Learn more about the questions to ask yourself to improve your parcel shipping program

Inefficient shipping can be a silent profit killer. Hidden costs, manual processes, and a lack of transparency can eat away at your bottom line while frustrating your customers. As a C-suite leader, ensuring a smooth and cost-effective shipping operation is crucial for long-term success. But before diving headfirst into new shipping solutions, taking a step back and strategically evaluating your current setup is essential.

This blog post isn't about selling you a specific shipping software. Instead, we want to empower you with the right questions to ask yourself – questions that will help you identify areas for improvement and pave the way for a more streamlined parcel shipping program.

1. Can You Leverage Real-Time Rate Comparisons and Automation to Secure the Best Rates Across All Carriers?

In today's dynamic shipping landscape, carrier rates can fluctuate based on factors like package weight, destination, and service level. Relying on outdated rates or manual comparisons can leave you overpaying for shipping.

The Challenge

Traditional methods of securing the best shipping rates are time-consuming and inefficient. Manually comparing rates across multiple carriers for each shipment is a tedious process and can lead to missed opportunities for cost savings.

The Solution

Modern multi-carrier shipping software offers sub-second rate comparisons, allowing you to instantly compare shipping carriers and services at the point of shipment. This empowers you to:

• Secure the best rates for every shipment: By comparing shipping rates at sub-second speeds and factoring in all surcharges upfront, you can choose the most cost-effective carrier and service level based on your specific needs, without any delays in your workflow.
• Automate rate selection based on rate shop groups (or best way groups): Define pre-determined rules that automatically select the optimal carrier based on factors like cost, service level, destination zone, and more. This eliminates manual comparisons and streamlines your shipping workflows.

Pro Tip: Look for a multi-carrier shipping solution that integrates with your existing systems (e.g., Order Management System (OMS)). This allows you to automatically pull shipment data and instantly compare rates at sub-second speeds, without manual intervention. In addition, your shipping software should offer full surcharge visibility, ensuring complete transparency into your true costs to make informed decisions based on all-inclusive pricing. This helps you avoid hidden cost surprises and budget with accurate information.

2. Are You Leveraging Automation to Streamline Workflows and Eliminate Manual Errors?

Shipping involves a lot of repetitive tasks – data entry, label printing, carrier selection, etc. Manual processes are not only time-consuming but also prone to errors. These errors can result in delays, misdirected shipments, and ultimately, unhappy customers.

The Challenge

Reliance on manual processes slows down your shipping operations and increases the risk of mistakes. Human error can lead to incorrect addresses, missed deadlines, and even lost packages. This ultimately impacts your customer experience and brand reputation.

The Solution

Automation is your friend when it comes to streamlining shipping workflows. Look for a solution that offers features like:

• Automated address verification: Top-tier providers offer this feature to ensure accurate delivery information, minimizing errors. [See an example ROI]
• Pre-defined business rules: Saves time by automating repetitive tasks based on specific criteria [How can business rules make your life easier?].
• Batch label printing: Simplifies the printing process and reduces manual labeling errors [Learn more about shipping labels].

Pro Tip: For seamless automation and accurate data flow throughout your shipping process, prioritize a well-integrated multi-carrier shipping solution within your overall Enterprise Software Stack (ESS) [How is a well-integrated ESS crucial for top shippers?]. This ensures that data flows smoothly between your various systems, such as your Warehouse Management System (WMS) or Order Management System (OMS). Eliminating the need for manual data entry and minimizing the risk of errors throughout your entire supply chain.

3. Can You Provide Real-Time Tracking Information to Your Customers?

Transparency is key in today's customer-centric world. Your customers expect to know where their order is every step of the way. Lack of tracking information can lead to frustration and a negative perception of your brand.

The Challenge

If your current system doesn't offer real-time tracking capabilities, you're missing out on an opportunity to improve customer experience. Frustrated customers who can't track their packages are more likely to contact customer service, further straining your resources.

The Solution

Invest in a shipping solution that offers real-time tracking visibility throughout the entire delivery lifecycle. This allows your customers to easily track their packages 24/7, reducing the need for them to contact customer service for updates.

Pro Tip: Don't just offer basic tracking information. Look for a solution that allows you to provide proactive updates to your customers, for example, when a package is out for delivery or encounters a delay.

4. Do You Have a Versionless Multi-Carrier Shipping Solution that Minimizes Disruptions and Ensures Continuous Improvement?

Traditional software often requires frequent updates and upgrades, which can disrupt your workflows and require additional training for your staff – a problem a Director of Distribution or Supply Chain is fully aware of, but one C-Suite may not always be privy to. These disruptions can lead to productivity losses and frustration.

The Challenge

Disruptive software updates can be a major headache for busy logistics teams. Learning new interfaces and adapting to changes can slow down operations and impact efficiency.

The Solution

A modern multi-carrier shipping software solution can offer a versionless experience. This means the software is constantly updated and improved behind the scenes, without requiring any action on your part.

• Continuous Improvement: The software provider handles all updates and bug fixes, ensuring you always have access to the latest features and functionality without disruptions.
• Minimal Training Needs: Since the user interface remains consistent, there's minimal need for additional training for your staff. They can continue using the system they're familiar with while benefiting from the latest improvements.

Pro Tip: Look for a multi-carrier shipping software provider that offers a versionless solution built on a robust Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) framework. With CI/CD, new features are continually tested and integrated into the software, minimizing downtime and ensuring a smooth user experience. This approach ensures you have access to the latest features and functionality without ever having to worry about disruptive updates or forced upgrades.

5. Is Your Multi-Carrier Shipping Software Scalable and Designed to Support Your Future Growth?

As your business grows, your shipping needs will inevitably evolve. A rigid and inflexible shipping solution can hinder your ability to adapt to these changes.

The Challenge

A non-scalable shipping software can become a bottleneck for growth. You may find yourself struggling to accommodate increasing order volume, manage new sales channels, or integrate with new technologies.

The Solution

Choose a scalable multi-carrier shipping software solution that can grow with your business. Look for features such as:

• Easy integration with existing systems: Allows for seamless data exchange and simplifies onboarding new functionalities.
• Flexible business rule management: Enables you to customize shipping workflows based on your evolving needs.
• Scalable infrastructure: Ensures the system can handle increasing shipping volume without performance issues.

Pro Tip: When evaluating potential multi-carrier shipping software providers, go beyond the features and look at the stability and future vision of the company. Here are some key considerations:

• Track record of stability: Choose a provider with a proven track record of uptime and reliability. Look for a company with a history of successfully managing their infrastructure and ensuring smooth operations. Buyer Beware of newcomers who may not be fully established enough to handle multiple large shipping clients.
• Commitment to innovation: Does the provider have a clear roadmap for future development? Are they continually investing in improving their software and adding new features? Partnering with a forward-thinking provider ensures your shipping solution remains at the forefront of the industry and can adapt to the ever-evolving logistics landscape.

Conclusion

Inefficient shipping can silently drain your profits and erode customer satisfaction. By asking yourself the five key questions outlined in this blog post, you can take a proactive approach to streamlining your logistics program and unlock hidden savings in your shipping operations.

By focusing on these areas, you can achieve significant benefits such as:

• Reduced shipping costs: Secure the best rates with real-time comparisons and automation.
• Improved efficiency: Eliminate manual errors and streamline workflows through automation.
• Enhanced customer experience: Provide real-time tracking information and ensure timely deliveries.
• Reduced disruptions: Minimize downtime with a versionless software solution.
• Scalability for future growth: Choose a solution that can grow with your business.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

While this blog post focused on the questions you should ask yourself, ProShip can be your partner in navigating your shipping challenges and developing a customized parcel strategy for success. We offer a powerful multi-carrier shipping software solution that addresses all the areas discussed above.

ProShip is a stable and reliable multi-carrier shipping software provider with a proven track record of innovation. We are constantly investing in improving our solutions and adding new features to ensure our solutions remain at the forefront of the logistics industry [Discover the top 3 reasons top shippers choose ProShip].

Contact ProShip today for a discovery call and let's discuss how we can help you streamline your shipping, reduce shipping costs, and unlock hidden savings in your operations.