When a company works across multiple countries, global logistics is exceedingly complicated. To meet customer demands for on-time delivery, many companies partner with a single global carrier. If centrally managed, this has its advantages, including volume discounts.
However, that rarely happens. Most regions or offices negotiate their own contract with a carrier or carriers. As a result, multiple systems will contain shipping data. Without centralized control and standardized procedures, shipping costs are difficult to track.
Transportation management and controlling shipping spend is a vital part of managing a global supply chain.
To access the best shipping rates and centralize shipping data, global companies should consider a multi carrier shipping solution.
This allows a company access to a global network of multiple carriers. This includes LTL shipments, air freight, parcel shipments and any mode of transportation.
In addition, companies can leverage specialized carriers, where needed. Furthermore, with multi carrier shipping, enterprises have more options when capacity is tight.
Five Benefits Of Multi Carrier Shipping Software
GREATER VISIBILITY AND CONTROL
Global enterprises using multi carrier shipping software can track every package, with any carrier, from a centralized portal. This includes tracking information for both inbound and outbound shipments, across different modes of transport, whether domestic or international. This maximizes visibility. Logistics managers can see what is happening with all shipments at a glance.
Multi carrier shipping solutions manage by exception. This means the solution will alert staff if a shipment might miss its delivery deadline. As a result, personnel can take proactive measures to correct this.
Greater visibility increases customer satisfaction and a company’s reputation. Poor communication around delivery is frustrating for your customers.
GET THE BEST RATES AND SERVICE LEVELS
A multi carrier shipping platform allows companies to save time and money. Logistics managers can quickly compare carriers to get the lowest rate to meet the delivery deadline. You can also automate parcel shipping routing based on business rules. You can define these rules by destination, customer, size, weight and other characteristics.
AUTOMATE DOCUMENTATION
Getting your goods from point A to B requires a lot more than printing a shipping label. International shipments in particular require a ton of documentation with precise information. Without this, customs will not release your goods.
Companies can automate documentation production, shipping labels, tracking numbers and so forth with multi carrier shipping solutions. This streamlines the shipping process and boosts your organization’s efficiency.
STANDARDIZED SHIPPING
When an organization can standardize their shipping processes it is significantly easier to manage carriers and control costs. Companies have a much greater understanding of their transportation costs. This allows them to cut unnecessary freight costs and maverick spending.
CONSOLIDATION
Carriers offer consolidation services. Examples include UPS World Ease, FedEx IPD and DHL Breakbulk. However, these services come with a cost. When you use these services, the carrier takes responsibility from the first mile to the final delivery.
Consolidating packages on-the-fly is cost effective. It ensures that the freight bill is for a single shipment rather than multiple shipments.
Alternatively, shippers can manage consolidations in-house by using the zone-skip functionality available through multi carrier shipping solutions. This means you can use different carriers for the first mile and final destination. This will reduce transportation spend, particularly on the international leg.
Consolidated shipments also reduce regulatory headaches. A consolidated shipment only requires a single customs declaration for the entire shipment rather than individual declarations for each individual package.
Need an Explainer?
Read our blog: What is Multi Carrier Shipping Software?
