Shipping Costs

Discover how pre-pick execution shipping software could sabotaging your shipping spend

Could you be getting better shipping rates? This is a question likely keeping supply chain directors, logistics managers, and e-commerce fulfillment specialists up at night. In today's fiercely competitive market, every penny counts. But with traditional shipping methods, it's easy to miss out on significant cost savings. Many businesses rely on routing guides, believing they offer the best rates available. While routing guides can provide a baseline, they lack the dynamic flexibility to truly optimize your shipping costs.

But – there is a better way. Real-time rate shopping within your multi-carrier shipping software at the packing station empowers you to leverage the most accurate data possible – the actual weight and dimensions of your packages. This allows you to make informed decisions on the fly, potentially saving your business a significant amount of money on every shipment.

Keep reading to dive into the limitations of traditional routing guides and then explore how shipping software with real-time rate shopping at packing can revolutionize shipping efficiency.

The Pitfalls of Traditional Routing Guides

While routing guides have served the shipping industry for a long time, their limitations have become increasingly apparent in today's market. However, even some modern shipping solutions can face similar challenges because they rely on pre-shipment execution. Here's why both routing guides and pre-pick execution shipping software struggle to optimize your shipping costs:

• Static Information and Limited Flexibility: Both routing guides and pre-pick shipping software often rely on pre-determined data for rates and carrier selection. This static information, whether programmed into the software or included in a routing guide, doesn't adapt to real-time market fluctuations. You might miss out on a more economical option simply because the data used isn't current.
• Lack of Dynamic Carrier Optimization: Pre-pick execution multi-carrier shipping software, which often utilizes Carrier APIs, requires shipment information to be entered before picking and packing. Using initial data can restrict you to a predetermined carrier and service level. If a more economical option becomes available during packing due to weight or dimension changes, the software can't dynamically adjust and capitalize on that saving.
• Inaccuracy and Inefficiency: Pre-pick execution can lead to inaccuracies if initial weight and dimension estimates are incorrect. This can result in wasted time and resources at the packing station when adjustments need to be made. Additionally, relying solely on pre-pick shipping solutions can create a rigid workflow, limiting your ability to adapt to changing situations.

In essence, both routing guides and pre-pick multi-carrier shipping software can be compared to planning your entire vacation route before you even pack your bags. While it might seem organized, it doesn't allow for flexibility or adjustments based on unforeseen circumstances (weather changes) or real-time opportunities (free upgrades).

The Power of Real-Time Rate Shopping at Packing

Traditional routing guides and pre-shipment execution shipping software limit your ability to optimize shipping costs because they rely on pre-determined data. Pre-shipment execution, while offering some automation, can limit your flexibility by locking you into a carrier and service level based on initial estimates. This can lead to missed savings opportunities if the actual weight or dimensions differ.

Real-time rate shopping integrated within a multi-carrier shipping software platform offers a superior solution. Here's why:

• Dynamic Cost Optimization: While pre-shipment execution with carrier APIs is still an option, modern multi-carrier shipping software with real-time rate shopping capabilities can also connect directly at the packing station. This is crucial because it allows you to compare rates across multiple carriers based on the exact weight and dimensions of your packages, including dimensional weight (DIM weight) calculations. This ensures you have the most up-to-date data available for the most cost-effective shipping options. For example, if you had a shipment that initially seemed lightweight based on estimates, but at the packing station, you discover it's heavier than expected. Pre-shipment execution wouldn't adapt, but real-time rate shopping at the packing station reveals a more economical option from a different carrier due to the actual weight pushing it into a lower pricing tier.
• Flexibility and Agility: The dynamic nature of real-time rate shopping empowers you to adapt to last-minute changes. For example, if you have a last-minute need for expedited shipping, the shipping software can instantly compare rates for faster options, allowing you to make informed decisions based on your specific needs and budget.
• Improved Carrier Management: Multi-carrier shipping solutions with real-time rate shopping allow you to leverage your carrier relationships more effectively. By comparing rates across all your contracted carriers, you can identify which carrier offers the best deal for a specific package. This can help maintain strong relationships with carriers while ensuring you get the most competitive rates.
• Streamlined Workflow: Modern shipping software with real-time rate shopping integrates seamlessly with your existing Enterprise Software Stack (ESS), including warehouse management system (WMS) or other technology. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures all shipment information is captured accurately, reducing the risk of errors and delays.

Why ProShip: Real-Time Rate Shopping at It's Finest

We've established the clear advantages of real-time rate shopping within multi-carrier shipping software at the packing station. However, some solutions that utilize carrier APIs fall short due to their need to rely on pre-pick execution, meaning rate shopping at the packing station is a no-go.

ProShip multi-carrier shipping software takes real-time rate shopping to the next level, empowering you to optimize every shipment at the packing station – the point where you have the most accurate data. Here's what sets ProShip apart:

• Dynamic Optimization at Packing: ProShip shipping software provides shipping carrier rates directly at the packing station. This allows you to leverage real-time weight and dimension data to compare rates and select the most economical option from any of your contracted carriers. You're not restricted to pre-selected choices based on estimates.
• Advanced Features for Informed Decisions: ProShip goes beyond basic rate shopping. Features like Advanced Date Shopping consider 9+ data sets including data like trailer pull times, contracted pick-up dates and more, allowing you to compare rates for faster or slower options. In addition, ProShip’s Carrier Volume Balancing ensures you strategically distribute shipments across carriers to potentially unlock additional discounts.
• Sub-Second Label Generation: Don't waste time waiting for quotes. ProShip generates labels in under a second, keeping your packing process efficient.

The ProShip Advantage

ProShip offers a powerful alternative to pre-pick execution shipping software:

• Real-Time Decisions: Make informed choices based on accurate weight and dimensions, not estimates.
• Advanced Optimization Features: Unlock maximum cost savings and strengthen carrier relationships with ProShip's unique functionalities.
• Unmatched Efficiency: Streamline your workflow with sub-second label generation.

Ready to Experience Real-Time Efficiency?

See how ProShip's shipping solution with real-time rate shopping at packing can revolutionize your efficiency and discover significant cost savings. Schedule a discovery call with our experts to start saving and discover the ProShip advantage.