Summary 

Opportunities to automate within a freight forwarding operation have grown significantly in the past ten years as digitization has swept the logistics industry. From customer communications, task allocation, integration connectivity, document management, data sharing, and more, automation is giving businesses the chance to increase their efficiency across the board. This comes at an optimal time, as new competition arises from digital-first forwarders.

Improves Customer Experience 

While digital-first forwarders lean heavily on their technology to drive their customer experience, automation gives traditional forwarders the ability to offer customers that same experience while also providing more with their personalized services and superior industry decision-making.

Adds Efficiency to Operations 

Automation is the key to maintaining the operational bandwidth to provide customers with the personalized service they desire, while meeting new expectations for customer experience.

Provides Increased Sales Enablement

As automation gains traction in the logistics industry, forwarders are discovering new ways to leverage it as a selling point, both directly and indirectly. In powering your day-to-day operations with automation, you can position yourself as an efficient, fast-moving provider by keeping up with rising expectations, streamlining your quoting and rating processes, and exemplifying a heightened impact on customer experience.

Aids in Employee Retention Strategies 

To build a competitive workforce in this landscape, you’ll need to cater your company offerings to younger talent. Implementing modern technology like automation is a major piece in this puzzle. By digitizing your work environment, you can prevent burnout, emulate day-to-day tech solutions, and demonstrate your plans to grow and develop your employees.

Streamlines Your Technology Stack 

Utilizing each layer of your technology stack to its full capabilities is only possible when automations are in place to seamlessly integrate the experience for your team and customers.

For freight forwarders, a time and financial commitment to setting up automations throughout their operational workflows and customer facing offerings can give the edge needed to compete and win against digital forwarders. Furthermore, the automations can amplify the return seen on technology and digital partners to improve their bottom line.