November 2016 9logisticstechoutlook.comto provide "real time" tracking updates on their freight. These companies are working to integrate with carriers via other methods than EDI (API, GPS, App) and making it much easier to integrate with multiple parties by leveraging a platform rather than a one-to-one connection. When adding an additional layer of technology like geo-fencing as well along with the location While most are focused on how to get their Uber marketplace up and running, there are some looking at the progress of technologyDavid Broeringintegration and connecting to the provider's TMS, the process is boiled down to exceptions management and nothing more thereby cutting a lot of overhead, and being more relevant to the customer in our modern age. By providing the fees at the transaction level and at a very low cost, it is nearly impossible to make the argument it makes more sense to have a person do it when the automated process is that much cheaper, faster, and more reliable. Freight Bill Processing­Another area of the back office which is beginning to see the automation relates to the paperwork that must be handled in the back office. Every 3PL has to deal with paperwork, it is a fundamental of the business when you do not have assets and need to provide proof that services were provided. The process of receiving, opening, auditing, scanning, and indexing paperwork is one that has always demanded a high degree of touches, and thus employees. Moreover, with paperwork processing is vital to the business­paying carriers efficiently and to term as well as billing customers quickly and accurately­ scaling this aspect of the business always means adding bodies as the business grows. As providers like HubTran have come onto the scene it is clear that modern technology can take a cumbersome process and distill it down to heavy automation with human intervention focused on exceptions. By using technologies like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and machine learning, the software is providing the employee with the power to process and index 3-5x as much information as they were able to do in the past, and to do it more effectively. The secondary benefit of technology like this is that it logically flows back to a portal that allows the carrier and customer a greater degree of transparency for their part of the process as well. They can see processing time, research individual shipments, and generally see the state of their AR/AP at the click of a button. This certainly is not a common option for many shippers other than the select few that have centralized their functions via a specific 4PL, and now it is made available to masses. While these are just two of the many back office processes that exist in most 3PL's, they are certainly two of the most cumbersome and employee intensive operations businesses grapple with every day. When adding other emerging concepts like digital lockboxes and the use of cloud hosting services for document access / retention, there is a future coming not too far from now where few will be able to do the job of many. While most are focused on how to get their Uber marketplace up and running, there are some looking at the progress of technology and seeing a way to grow and scale without the need to add employees to the back office. This will allow the focus of effort to be on customer service and execution, where our customers and carriers really want us to be focused.
< Page 8 | Page 10 >