The role of technology in accelerating the growth of logistics companies is to help them improve their services and have a clear advantage.
Nowadays, technological innovation and advancement are exponential, and digital transformation is crucial to the success of most businesses. In the logistics and supply chain industry, new technology is available to help companies improve their services, and those who use it have a clear advantage. According to the website The Times of India, “With numerous networks and players in the logistics industry, digitization and incorporation of technologies make the sector more advanced, connected, and lucrative. Between risk mitigation, cost optimization, and increased customer satisfaction, automation has become the cornerstone for heightened efficiency in the logistics sector.”
We spoke with experts in our company, and this is what they had to say:
Andrew Gulovsen, CMO at Hubtek, shared that the lifecycle of a shipment, from customer acquisition through to payment reconciliation, is a collection of steps and activities and there is a defined process for each one. “While historically, these steps have been very manual and people-oriented, technology has found ways to improve and accelerate these processes, to reduce errors and allow more shipments to be processed with fewer resources. TMS advancements, data analytics, rate and pricing engines, and process automation all have a place in improving workflow and throughput.”
“Each organization can find a wide variety of tools to support its priorities, but it all comes back to the defined processes. No technology can solve a problem simply by introducing it to an organization. It needs to be aligned to the process, properly trained, implemented, and measured to become truly effective. Each business is unique and has unique strengths and weaknesses. The goal is to find the technology tools that fill the gaps and boost the strengths, to become more competitive in the marketplace.”
Scott Hadley, VP of Partnerships here at Hubtek, gave us an example of how rapidly technology is changing in the logistics industry. “I’ll paint the picture for you. You’ve got an AI tool that’s quoting freight from the carrier side. There’s also an AI tool negotiating with that carrier from the shipper side. The freight gets awarded the tender, with no humans involved. Maybe it’s a broker, that tenders to a carrier that matches the best fit for that freight in real-time – where the trucks are, and a myriad of other requirements. An autonomous truck shows up at a robotics warehouse to pick up that load. That autonomous truck goes to a relay point. The trailer’s switched over to another autonomous truck, which then brings it to delivery at another robotics warehouse. All that with no human touch. Sounds ridiculous, but with how fast technology is changing right now, it’s not outrageous whatsoever. I think that’s going to be a very real case in the future, much sooner than many think.”
Finally, we heard from Adriana Padilla, Hubtek’s Product Development Director. She stated that technology serves as a catalyst for growth by streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, improving customer experience, and enabling data-driven decision-making, and she itemized the specific technologies that have the most significant impact in this domain.
- API Integration: Application Programming Interface (API) integration plays a vital role in seamlessly connecting disparate systems, allowing logistics companies to access real-time data from carriers, warehouses, and other stakeholders. By integrating with various platforms, brokers and shippers can automate processes, optimize workflows, and achieve end-to-end visibility.
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA automates repetitive, rule-based tasks, freeing up human resources for more strategic activities. By leveraging software robots, logistics companies can accelerate quoting, data entry, order processing, invoice reconciliation, and other manual processes, resulting in increased operational efficiency and reduced errors.
- DevOps Support: DevOps practices ensure seamless collaboration between development and operations teams, resulting in faster software delivery and improved stability. By implementing DevOps principles, logistics companies can accelerate the deployment of new features, address issues swiftly, and continuously improve their digital infrastructure.
In conclusion, the strategic utilization of technology is vital for accelerating the growth of logistics companies. By integrating APIs, implementing RPA, and embracing DevOps practices, brokers and shippers can optimize their workforce, automate processes, enhance customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive advantage in the dynamic logistics landscape.
At Hubtek, we specialize in providing comprehensive workforce optimization solutions, leveraging these technologies, and more. We are here to support your company’s growth and help you harness the power of technology to achieve operational excellence.
Watch now!
To learn more about Hubtek Services, click here.
You can also Contact us or Schedule a call!