Plan, procure, execute, & track transportation for every shipment across your supply chain & logistics operations
A SaaS solution to help grow your business by achieving 100% perfect order execution at high volumes
Increase vehicle capacity utilization and customer promise adherence
Grow your business with omnichannel presence and automated pickups
Consolidate shipments for hub to hub movement across land and air
Real-time customer communications and collect accurate PODs
Orchestrate logistics operations with multiple 3rd party carriers
Achieve cost effective, scalable, sustainable, and customer centric deliveries
Orchestrate all your cross-border logistics operations with ease
Improve address accuracy, ensure first-attempt delivery success, reduce costs and boost customer experience
Gain end-to-end shipment visibility, get proactive alerts, and send customers live tracking links
Grow business in a dynamic world and manage operations across First, Middle & Last mile
Delight customers by seamlessly managing store and online orders across own fleet and 3rd party
Reduce freight costs & get end to end visibility across shipments
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Logistics and supply chain management is more than just a business function. It is a vital link that keeps modern business, commerce, and trade on track, often acting as the backbone of the global economy. Logistics might seem to be synonymous with long-distance freight and shipments. However, changing business models and customer requirements have drawn in lot more industries, with eCommerce and quick commerce leading the group.
Today 70% of companies believe that supply chains are a key driver for quality customer service, while 57% believe that supply chain management gives them a competitive edge. Logistics software solutions become crucial in this aspect as they enable a secure and coordinated movement of goods as well as improve efficiency and productivity.
The global digital logistics solutions market was valued at USD 17.4 billion in 2020 and is estimated to reach USD 46.5 billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 21.7%. Apart from industry giants, medium-sized businesses and even start-ups are investing in AI-enabled logistics management platforms to understand business pain points and stay ahead of the curve.
Robust logistics software solutions empower organizations to attain a 360-degree view of the operations for cost-effective supply chain operations, superior customer service, and much more.
Below, we share an exhaustive overview of logistics software solutions, their types based on the industry and businesses served, and more.
Logistics software solutions enable businesses to simplify the end-to-end supply chain processes, accelerate enterprise growth, optimize costs and enhance customer experience. The platform allows effective 3PL management and presents businesses with real-time analytics to make informed decisions.
Logistics software solutions help companies manage a wide range of processes – freight operations, route optimization, first-mile picks up, and last-mile delivery. A well-optimized supply chain identifies pain points to reduce costs, increase profits and provide a competitive edge.
The total global trade and commerce value touched a record USD 7.7 trillion in Q1 of 2022, and according to UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update, it is an increase of about $1 trillion relative to Q1 2021.
Logistics planning is a substantial operational puzzle involving stakeholders such as 3PL providers, riders, carriers, distributors, freight forwarders, etc. Intelligent logistics software solutions provide users with enhanced transparency into the working, different roles, and dependencies of the entire ecosystem.
In today’s interconnected world, consumers benefit from the flow of goods internationally as part of the global economy. The logistics industries have greatly benefited from the rapid evolution of eCommerce, internet accessibility, and consumer demands. A direct result of this has been observed in two crucial aspects. Firstly, the application of logistics solutions across a variety of use cases. And secondly, the need for different types of logistics software solutions in different industries.
This brings us to the following section, where we explore the above-mentioned aspects.
For seamless international logistics, enterprises need to engage with multiple vendors, obtain the best shipping rates, automate pre-shipment processes, track containers in real-time, manage invoices and payments, etc.
An AI-driven logistics software solution provides cost insights, transparency in RFQ and procurements, and reduced turnaround time for spot rates. Additionally, users are provided with a single dashboard to rack containers and shipping lines in real-time, facilitate easy integration with existing ERPs and empower data-driven decision-making.
The route optimization solutions market is expected to reach USD 5.07 billion by 2023, with a CAGR of 11.4%. These numbers indicate the importance of route planning and optimization in logistics operations.
Smart logistics software leverages in-built algorithms to evaluate, analyze and allocate the most efficient route based on consignment load and delivery location. Riders are able to minimize fuel costs by maximizing deliveries per vehicle as well as reducing leasing and delivery time. Modern solutions offer automated platforms to upload digitized proof of delivery via e-signature. This way, enterprises can avoid customer discrepancies and establish a single source of truth for each delivery.
First-mile pick-ups represent the start of the customer order fulfillment journey. This makes it imperative for businesses to ensure that they do not miss out on opportunities for growth. Intelligent solutions, such as Shipsy’s smart logistics platform, ensure seamless first-mile operations for driving business growth. Drivers are auto-allocated to warehouses/hubs based on geolocation to facilitate quick pick-ups.
Moreover, users can also consolidate all the container movements on a single screen and track key metrics around first-mile pick-ups. The solution also comes with built-in SDKs/plugins for multiple third-party integrations for faster and more efficient operations, as well as provides customized reports for business use.
Seamless mid-mile operation is critical for ensuring error-free, timely, systematic, and cost-effective hub-to-hub movements. Mid Mile logistics software solutions provide enterprises with a one-stop platform to coordinate all shipment movements and manage hub operations.
With mobile-based hubs ops technology and AI-enabled parcel optimization, business users gain complete visibility of the mid-mile operations. They can leverage smart trip creation across air and land with the ability to capture flight/vehicle details along with connection times. On top of this, they can ensure optimized trip creation with intelligent scan-based loading and unloading of shipments.
Finally, the shipments can be sorted based on the destination area, region, or city at the hub origin, with automatic alerts being sent while in-scanning to notify missed shipments during bag creation.
With last-mile delivery alone costing 53% of the total cost of delivery, logistics software solutions are being increasingly adopted to ensure on-time, scalable and efficient delivery models. Using smart Last Mile logistics solutions like Shipsy, businesses can ensure hassle-free deliveries via geofence-based driver allocation and dynamic routing based on real-time road conditions.
The platform also enables the customers to track parcels in real-time, add alternate contacts, update pin locations or reschedule the delivery at their convenience. Businesses can leverage real-time insights to boost rider productivity and engagement via gamification incentives.
As a trade partner in logistics, you tend to look for a reliable courier aggregator to get competitive pricing and better delivery coverage. A courier aggregator logistics software platform, such as Shipsy, allows you to manage multiple 3PLs for pick-up and delivery through a unified tracking dashboard.
Shipsy’s AI-based intelligent allocation engine assigns shipments to the best carrier based on factors like destination, performance, cost, COD, order value, and more. Businesses are also able to drive enhanced customer experience by reducing fake delivery attempts and minimizing RTO through proactive customer communication.
On-demand logistics software solutions enable businesses to deliver orders within minutes to a few hours after placing an order. Enterprises are able to expand their customer base by fulfilling super-fast deliveries at reasonable rates.
These solutions offer multiple optimization benefits such as intelligent order allocation, driver management via an app, and AI/ML capabilities to accelerate on-demand delivery operations. The orders are auto-allocated based on multiple parameters and geo-coding features are used to avoid misrouting and delays. Riders are also provided with the best-optimized routes to avoid fuel waste and meet sustainability goals.
These solutions enable manufacturers to optimize operations, manage freight costs, and bring end-to-end visibility across the supply chain. They can ensure transparency in bulk movement, shipment documentation, and execution.
The streamlined operational processes include identifying potential business gaps and providing quick solutions for the same. These solutions also offer automated alerts that are triggered once an event has occurred or for various incidents, such as shipment delays and transshipment aging.
Some other benefits offered by these logistics software solutions include trapping inefficiencies such as demurrage, dwell time at plants, costs at ports and railway stations, and more.
The growing popularity of eCommerce has made CEP a hyper-competitive domain. Businesses need to ensure time-bound, scalable and cost-effective order fulfillment to stay ahead of the competition.
The CEP logistics software solutions help ensure same-day/one-hour delivery, increase on-time delivery volumes, and provide end-to-end courier visibility. Features such as geo-coding and route optimization drive profitability, improve operational sustainability and boost customer experience by increasing first-attempt success rates.
Apart from business users, customers are also kept informed in real-time via SMS, WhatsApp, email, or an app with a centralized dashboard.
These solutions help businesses to book and track shipments across multiple modes. They resolve the complexities of supply-chain operations with in-built smart features such as automated tracking, quick customer shipping report generation, and personalized dashboards.These logistics software solutions also provide multimodal visibility to all the concerned parties via automation capabilities to track shipments across air, sea, and land. Customers are also kept in the loop at every step of the journey with daily reports and are notified instantly in case of incidental charges due to detention/demurrage.
These solutions provide omnichannel fulfillment with an end-to-end retail supply chain and logistical platform. With the help of the system, retailers can easily reduce SKU stockouts, improve real-time delivery updates, and have total operational visibility.
The built-in flexibility allows customized automation of individual modules and streamlining of particular delivery operations. The platform helps to drive high levels of operational efficiency and seamless communications, providing a delightful customer experience.
In the last few years, quick commerce has quickly risen in popularity and continues to expand its customer base. Businesses need to ensure efficient and quick deliveries at all times to maintain the uninterrupted flow of the supply chain.
AI-enabled logistics software solutions for quick commerce provide time-related dynamic functionalities, such as driver slot management, dynamic routing, order clubbing, live order tracking, etc., for faster deliveries.
These solutions also come with a host of benefits for operational excellence such as KPI benchmarking, smart order clubbing, multi-payment options, automatic rider allocation, etc., to ensure SLA adherence and deliver a delightful customer experience.
Now that we have covered the types of logistics software solutions across industries, we explore their importance and how different businesses can benefit from them.
Let us have a quick look at some numbers before we move on to the various benefits of using logistics software.
These stats show how crucial automation, the right integration, and smart logistics component management can help businesses drive profitable operations.
Next, we explore the logistics software use cases in detail.
Enterprises are constantly looking for innovative means to improve their business bottom line. Introducing AI and machine learning help increase efficiency and stability throughout the entire supply chain.
Optimized automated workflows, automatic order allocation, and prioritization of service providers – there are many use cases of automation. Automated solutions can help businesses manage all the operations, right from raw material sourcing, to freight procurement, shipment tracking, and Last Mile movements.
Automated logistics software solutions also help businesses to leverage predictive analytics to tackle incidental costs, such as demurrage, detention, and transshipment aging.
One of the significant advantages of using logistics management software is the reduction in third-party expenses. Tailor-made software helps enterprises determine the best shipment services as per business requirements, previous performances, pricing, serviceability, etc.
The software also analyzes and compares the services with varied pricing options, allowing the company to select the best suitable options. An intuitive logistics software solution provides the best-optimized methods for the shipment and delivery process to reduce the TCO and meet sustainability goals.
Smart logistic software solutions with AI and ML also offer dynamic routing options that enable businesses to track delivery movements in real time. A real-time centralized dashboard displays crucial information like order delivery location, pick-up location, drop zone, delivery executive location, etc., to ensure concerned stakeholders stay updated at all times.
Along with business users, customers are also able to access updates regarding delivery status, rider location, delivery ETA, etc. Further, smart tracking abilities help businesses keep an eye on the order movement across all the key milestone events and confirm the speed as per the expected SLAs.
The order management module of the logistics software optimizes the order fulfillment process end-to-end with intelligent automation. This is vital as the operation is more than just receiving or managing the orders.
A smart order management system reduces the time in the order-to-fulfillment cycle, alongside improving the order processing efficiency on the supplier side. The businesses can enjoy effortless integration across all the major automation systems, such as WMS, OMS, ERP, CRM, etc., and control, manage, monitor, and track the operations from a unified dashboard.
Advanced data analytics and reporting features help users evaluate logistics operational efficiency and become a guiding tool for informed decision-making. Businesses can plan resources for optimal growth in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner.
They can make crucial decisions with real-time metrics and successfully predict bottlenecks via predictive analysis. Some examples include leveraging data to reduce delivery times, minimize overhead costs, increase fleet capacity and maximize business profit.
In a constantly evolving business environment, enterprises ought to adopt logistics software solutions with adequate built-in scalability and flexibility. With flexibility, businesses have the ability to rapidly adapt to market or customer-driven changes. This is of great help during the seasonal fluctuation of order volumes.
Also, this provides an additional benefit in the form of flexibility in picking up orders based on multiple factors like weight, type, customer instructions, etc.
Scalability comes into play as enterprises grow in size, product offerings, and geography. You can scale up your digital platform to accommodate increased business needs. Here, cloud technology emerges as the best choice since it allows for faster data integration, faster information availability, and much more.
So, robust logistics software solutions are crucial for ensuring the smooth coordination of supply chain processes for intelligent planning. Next, we explore features to consider before investing in logistics software solutions.
Logistics software provides a digital platform for a streamlined view of various processes, such as inventory, shipping, and delivery status of each consignment. With enhanced transparency and accessibility via logistics software solutions, businesses are able to deliver customers an unmatched experience.
While several software options are available to select, you must carefully consider a few factors before taking the call on a platform for your enterprise.
Evaluate and understand the business and organizational pain points and the goals to be achieved. Businesses need to get a neutral assessment of their current resources and devise a software introduction plan.
Rather than a standard off-the-shelf solution, custom-built SaaS platforms are better options for end-to-end management capabilities.
We have listed down five crucial tips to consider while choosing the best logistics software for your business:
Shipsy – an AI-powered end-to-end logistics solution is built for a diverse set of industries and business use cases to deliver extremely optimized offerings and business capabilities.
Here’s what makes Shipsy a perfect fit for businesses of all sizes and types.
Shipsy’s AI-powered platform seamlessly connects international trade stakeholders and local logistics via automation and provides 360-degree visibility into the first-mile, mid-mile, and last-mile operations. It helps businesses unlock operational efficiency by leveraging real-time information and data analytics for informed decision-making.
Shipsy’s custom SaaS-based logistics software solution helps you reduce shipping costs, automate core logistics processes, and improve on-time delivery of goods with many tangible benefits:
For more information, please visit the official solution pages of Shipsy or get in touch with our experts for a customized demo session today!
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