We’re approaching the three-month mark of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and as many states are beginning to relax their quarantine restrictions, freight volumes and rates are starting to pick back up. One lesson learned from the current downturn is that technology can be a major factor in helping brokers adjust and adapt to major market disruptions. Brokers and 3PLs who had digital and automated load tracking, doc upload and truck procurement processes in place prior to the pandemic have generally fared better than those that rely on manual tasks. Thanks to the scalability and efficiency offered by tech-based automation, brokers with digital processes in place have been able to maximize efficiency, increase volume and diversify their customer bases with greater ease.
As you look ahead to the remainder of 2020 and beyond to 2021, it’s important to consider what kinds of technology-based solutions can make your operations as efficient as possible right now and give you a competitive edge in the future. With this in mind, here are three key factors to consider as you contemplate new technology for your brokerage going forward.
Short Implementation Timeline
When considering any new technology, it’s important to understand the solution’s implementation timeline. Target technology-based solutions that can be rolled out quickly to ensure that the transition has a minimal effect on your operations, staff members and profit margins. Seek out tech vendors who can deploy training and technical implementation quickly and effectively.
Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility platform, Book-It-Now® and digital freight matching can be implemented in your brokerage in most cases, in a matter of a few weeks. Our support team is committed to providing highly customized trainings for your staff so that they feel comfortable using our solutions. For full-service logistics provider Candor Expedite, the implementation process took less than a month.
“The process was fairly seamless,” says Jacob Kosiara, Candor Expedite’s VP of Business Excellence & Strategy. “For any organization that is contemplating using Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility platform, it’s important to know that it’s a platform that can be implemented in a month or even less.”
Software Integrations That Drive Greater Efficiency
Does the solution complicate or simplify tasks for brokerage staff? That’s an important question to ask yourself when considering a new technology, as well. This is especially important if your goal is greater operational efficiency. If a solution is going to increase the time that staff members spend on a task, for example load tracking, then it’s not doing what it’s supposed to do.
Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility platform, digital freight matching and Book-It-Now® can be integrated with the major transportation management systems in use today. Our integration partners include McLeod Software, MercuryGate, Ascend, Tailwind and many others. (For a full list of our software integration partners, see our partner directory). TMS integration is powerful because it allows your staff members to view Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility and capacity data directly in your TMS interface.
High ROI, See Results Quickly
The final major factor to consider is how long it will take for the technology-based solution to provide measurable results. Look for technology that provides fast results and that helps you realize a quick return-on-investment. Your business can’t wait months and months for a solution to provide results. You need high-performing technology that makes an immediate impact on your operations and efficiency.
Brokers and 3PLs who use Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility, digital freight matching and Book-It-Now® automated load booking tool see results quickly. According to Kosiara, the 3PL was able to see the impact of Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility platform within three weeks. Even though the company has only been using Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility platform for nine months, it’s also become an integral part of Candor Expedite’s business.
“The ability to have Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility platform behind us is critical to our business,” said Kosiara.
Read Attract New Shippers and Expand Customer Base with Trucker Tools’ Real-Time Visibility Platform for info on how to expand your shipper customer base. Schedule a demo with our sales team to learn more about Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility platform, digital freight matching and Book-It-Now®.
