It used to be that the latest technology was only accessible for large brokers with huge budgets, but times have changed. Today’s digital technology is built to be used by freight brokers and logistics companies big and small. True digital platforms like those developed by Trucker Tools can help you improve productivity, grow your business without increasing your headcount and improve shipper service — and without eating up your entire budget for the year.
As Omar Singh, Surge Transportation’s Founder and President, said in a recent interview, “I think what has made Trucker Tools so popular in the community is that you’re making broker and carrier centric tools that make it easier for all of us to not just be more efficient, but also to compete with some of the guys who are fully digital or have more resources than we do,” said Singh.”
“I think what has made Trucker Tools so popular in the community is that you’re making broker and carrier centric tools that make it easier for all of us to not just be more efficient, but also to compete with some of the guys who are fully digital or have more resources than we do,” said Singh.”
In many ways, digital platforms are the greater equalizer, providing brokers and 3PLs of all sizes with the tools needed to withstand volatile swings in demand, scale up without increasing overhead, and provide better service to shippers. Read on to learn more about why digital platforms are not just for the mega brokers.
The Flexibility To React To Market Changes in Real-Time
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the right technology can make brokers and 3PLs better equipped to deal with market volatility. In fact, it was the brokers and 3PLs who’d already digitized their operations who were best able to deal with that market volatility, especially in the early days of the pandemic.
“Looking back at 2020, it’s clear that companies that embraced digital transformation before the pandemic were the ones who were able to navigate successfully through the impact that the pandemic had versus those that hadn’t invested in technology or who were standing by the sidelines,” said Adrian Gonzalez of Talking Logistics in a recent webinar with Trucker Tools.
“Looking back at 2020, it’s clear that companies that embraced digital transformation before the pandemic were the ones who were able to navigate successfully through the impact that the pandemic had versus those that hadn’t invested in technology or who were standing by the sidelines,” said Adrian Gonzalez of Talking Logistics in a recent webinar with Trucker Tools.
Many freight markets continue to see fluctuating demand, so the ability to withstand those market fluctuations continues to be valuable. In practical terms, a comprehensive digital platform such as Trucker Tools’ reduces the time required for you to research and develop new lanes and capacity. With Trucker Tools’ digital freight matching, if a lane dries up or changes, you can easily explore what in-network and out-of-network capacity is available in new lanes with a quick search within the digital freight matching platform. Thanks to the predictive load matching capabilities of Trucker Tools’ digital freight matching, you also can find and secure trucks for future loads before they’re posted publicly.
Scale Up Your Business Without Increasing Your Headcount
One of the greatest advantages that Trucker Tools’ comprehensive digital platform offers is scalability, i.e. the ability to grow without being hampered by a lack of resources or inadequate infrastructure. When your freight broker or 3PL business is scalable, you can increase volume and revenue without increasing the number of employees you employ. When you do everything “by hand,” the only way that you increase volume or revenue is to hire more people. Digital platforms offer a level of scalability that just cannot be matched by manual processes.
A great illustration of the scalability of Trucker Tools’ digital platform involves Book It Now®, a booking automation tool that provides instant scalability. When you post your loads as Book It Now® loads in Trucker Tools’ software platform, you give carriers and owner operators the ability to book your loads digitally — either through Trucker Tools’ carrier software platform or free mobile app. If a carrier or owner operator books one of your Book It Now® loads, the appointment is automatically scheduled in your TMS and the carrier/driver automatically receives an email confirming the appointment. If you want to expand your customer base and increase load volume, post your loads as your Book It Now® loads and let Trucker Tools do the heavy lifting. With Trucker Tools’ Book It Now® and the other features and tools included in the digital platform, you can grow without hiring on additional employees.
Retain Current Shippers, Expand Your Customer Base with Real-Time Load Tracking
Of course, you need to be able to meet shippers’ requirements if you want to keep them as customers or add new shippers to your book of business. One of the best ways to grow your business is to provide real-time continuous load tracking data to shippers. Larger shippers, in particular, often have visibility consistency and compliance requirements that you must meet in order to move their loads. Visibility is so important to shippers because it helps them better understand their supply chains, maximize efficiency and provide better service to their customers.
If you’re using check calls to track loads, there is literally no way you can provide continuous, real-time visibility to shippers. You may call the dispatcher or driver and they may not answer, which means you lose visibility of the load. Trucker Tools’ digital platform includes real-time load tracking functionality that will keep your shippers happy and meet the requirements of even some of the largest shippers. Brokers and 3PLs who use Trucker Tools’ platform typically are able to meet and surpass shipper visibility KPIs. Ultimately, that real-time load tracking capability increases the level of service that you’re able to offer to shippers, both current and prospective.
For more on how you can use tech to grow your business, see How To Grow Rapidly with Technology. Schedule a free demo of Trucker Tools’ digital platform, including digital freight matching, real-time load tracking and Book It Now®.
