What is Multi Carrier Shipping Software?

With multi carrier shipping software, companies can automatically switch between carriers. In this QAD Precision Report we break down exactly what this means, and the benefits of multi carrier shipping.

Today’s trading environment is one of global supply chains. Furthermore, e-commerce is no longer limited to consumer goods. People shop online for every kind of product—everything from tiny components to large industrial machines, from consumer electronics to food and beverages, medicine and medical devices, or clothes and shoes. In order to thrive in this world, enterprises need the flexibility to call on the right carrier to match the speed, distance, region, and environment their products need.

Shipping internationally can be complex. There are a multitude of forms to complete, regulations to obey, and tariffs to calculate. To make matters worse, the rules change frequently, making it even harder to keep up. 

Your company can’t afford shipment delays because of a minor infraction or human error. In order to manage the costs and complexity of global deliveries, enterprises have been turning to multi carrier shipping software. 

Multi carrier shipping software allows your company to become carrier independent. You aren’t stuck using the proprietary software of one specific carrier. Nor does your team have to learn how to navigate through every carrier’s solution. Whether you ship parcel, LTL, TL, freight, courier, or a combination of any or all of these, multi carrier shipping software will help you achieve the lowest rates consistent with your customer and product requirements.

With multi-carrier shipping software, you have one solution that acts as a gateway, providing global carrier coverage anywhere in the world. The best multi carrier shipping software applications have a network that includes hundreds of carriers. This should include large, well-known global brands as well as smaller local and regional carriers. Leveraging a multi carrier network, allows you to optimize the first and last mile of your product’s journey—and every mile in between, both inbound and outbound. 

Multi Carrier Shipping Software for High Volume Shippers

Customers have become increasingly demanding. Many expect free shipping, or at the very least, low shipping costs. That makes it vitally important for you to ensure that you use the carrier with the lowest freight rates consistent with your customers’ expectations and your business requirements. 

Your users can access multi carrier shipping software through a single portal that helps users choose the best carrier for each shipment. That access allows you to make changes to your shipping strategy or preferred carrier in real time, as real-world conditions evolve.

In busy shipping environments, nobody has the time to research the unique rules that apply to every shipment. Multi carrier shipping software takes your business rules into account to recommend the best route, the lowest cost, and the most appropriate carrier service automatically. 

Furthermore, you can simplify this process with automation. Your solution can automatically assign shipments to a particular carrier. For example, you could decide to route all deliveries going to a particular domestic region to Carrier A. In addition, you could decide to consolidate all shipments going to a specific international location and send them with Carrier B. These business rules are not dependent on delivery location. You could specify a particular carrier and/or service level depending on the shipment’s characteristics, such as weight or size.

Many large volume shipment companies use a single carrier because it simplifies the chaos on the shipping dock. However, it is unlikely that this carrier is the best choice in all situations. You may end up paying higher rates for some deliveries. In addition, your customers in some areas may experience unacceptably slow delivery times.

Multi carrier shipping solutions ensure you get the best rates, best routes, right service levels and automatically generates carrier compliant shipping labels for every shipment.

Increase Logistics ROI with Multi Carrier Shipping Software

Multi carrier shipping software should include data analytics that helps you analyze carrier performance and improve your logistics ROI. By tracking important key performance indicators, you can identify problems areas or performance issues. 

For example, an analysis of on-time versus late deliveries will show you if there are particular bottlenecks or performance problems that are causing the delays, and impacting customer satisfaction. As a result, you have data-driven insights to use when you enter negotiations with your carrier partners.

In addition, you can achieve further cost savings by auditing freight bills for accuracy before paying them. Billed rates can be automatically compared to anticipated costs. Should discrepancies occur, the solution notifies key personnel to take action. For example, your carrier invoice could include a charge for a premium service not requested, such as Saturday delivery.

A comprehensive multi carrier solution with automated freight bill auditing helps high volume shippers control costs and increase logistics ROI. If you’re paying the freight bills, those savings go straight to the bottom line.

What Multi Carrier Shipping Solution is Right for you?

If you’re considering a multi carrier shipping solution, there are a few things you should look at to make sure you choose the right solution.

THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF THE MULTI CARRIER NETWORK

Some software applications billed as a “multi carrier” shipping solution have a limited carrier network. A number of multi carrier solutions may be strong in one region, such as North America, but lack coverage in Europe or Asia. As a result, you may find that you miss out on the best rates, or you don’t have enough capacity  to service customers in certain regions or countries.

BUILT IN DATA ANALYTICS

You can’t improve what you can’t measure. It is important that your chosen multi carrier software solution has built in analytics. Your shipping team needs the information on key performance indicators quickly. This enables adaptive global logistics, so that your team can implement changes to processes and procedures when needed.

MANAGE BY EXCEPTION

Your multi carrier shipping software should alert you if a shipment is at risk of missing its delivery date. This allows you to proactively manage delivery exceptions, resolving them with the carrier. Furthermore, if a delay is inevitable, you can notify customers in advance to find an alternate resolution. 

ADAPTABILITY

Many things can disrupt a carrier’s fleet, from seasonal peaks to local weather conditions, to natural disasters. Your multi carrier shipping software should have built in adaptability so you can react fast to changing conditions. 

How QAD Precision can Help

QAD Precision offers a multi carrier shipping solution with access to over 5,500 carrier services around the world. The solution is truly global and supports multiple languages, currencies and date formats. As a result, the correct documentation is always prepared in the correct format and language, no matter where you ship from or ship to.

QAD Precision is used in more than 4,000 sites across 100 countries around the world. We offer 24/7/365 follow-the-sun support. To see how QAD Precision can assist your organization, please schedule a consultation.

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Further Reading

MEET CUSTOMER DEMANDS WITH MULTI CARRIER SHIPPING SOFTWARE

HOW MULTI CARRIER SHIPPING SOFTWARE BENEFITS GLOBAL MANUFACTURERS

THE BENEFITS OF DTC SELLING FOR MANUFACTURERS

MULTI CARRIER SHIPPING SOFTWARE FOR HIGH VOLUME SHIPPERS