5 Ways to Improve the Shipping and Receiving Process Workflow
The shipping and receiving process is crucial for any business dealing with physical goods. Managing this process efficiently is essential to ensure timely delivery, minimize costs, and maintain customer satisfaction.
Unfortunately, many companies still rely on outdated methods, which can lead to delays, increased costs, and poor employee and customer experience. Leveraging advanced shipping technology and shipping and receiving software and solutions can greatly streamline this workflow.
In this article, we will discuss five ways to optimize the shipping and receiving process using advanced shipping technology and how Exela’s Shipping and Receiving solutions can help you streamline your operations.
Improving the Process through Exela’s Shipping and Receiving Software Solution
The warehouse is one of the most crucial aspects of many companies, from e-commerce to manufacturing and wholesale distribution. It serves as the central hub for storing products, managing inventory, and fulfilling orders, all of which are essential for maintaining operational efficiency and ensuring customer satisfaction.
However, while the cost of labor constitutes about 65% of a warehouse facilities’ operating budget, almost 20% of warehouse workers described themselves as “actively disengaged” from their work. Shipments fluctuate with some months or seasons being slower or busier than others, creating a workload balancing issue within the warehouse. Either workers don’t have enough work or they have too much. This is where smart technology steps in to smooth out the discrepancies in warehouse logistics.
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Implement Advanced Automation
Automation is key to enhancing the shipping and receiving process, but more than 80% of warehouses don’t use automation. Manual processes are prone to errors and can be time-consuming. Implementing advanced shipping technology can help reduce manual errors, lower costs, and improve accuracy. These technology solutions automate various aspects of the shipping process, such as selecting the most cost-effective carrier, printing shipping labels, and generating tracking numbers.
Exela’s Shipping and Receiving solutions provide advanced automation using our ExelaTrack and ExelaShip platforms to streamline and optimize workflows. Exela’s logistics experts oversee all aspects of your shipping and receiving process using technology enhancements that lower costs, increase accuracy and improve the employee experience.
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Use Real-Time Tracking
Real-time tracking ensures packages reach their destination on time and in good condition. Exela’s Shipping and Receiving solutions offer tracking with SMS text alerts, emails, and AI-enabled virtual assistance, which permit employees to monitor shipments in real-time and make necessary adjustments for unforeseen issues.
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Compare Rates between Carriers
Shipping costs vary significantly between carriers. Exela’s Shipping and Receiving solutions offer a rate comparison feature that allows you to compare rates between carriers to determine the best shipping choice. This can help you save money and ensure that your packages are shipped in the most cost-effective manner.
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Implement Accurate Delivery Tracking
Ensuring that your packages are delivered to the correct location is crucial for maintaining a good relationship with your customers. Exela’s ExelaTrack platform provides a complete chain of custody with accountable delivery tracking to confirm your package is where it needs to be. This ensures that every item is delivered to the correct location, improving accuracy and accountability.
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Use Web-based Applications
Using web-based shipping and receiving software can help you manage your shipping and receiving process from anywhere. Exela’s ExelaShip and ExelaTrack web-based applications deliver cost-effective, efficient, and versatile carrier-agnostic solutions. From dock scanning and receiving to package shipments and rate shopping, ExelaShip and ExelaTrack operate on both mobile and desktop devices, enabling you to make decisions from anywhere.
How Technology Will Advance the Shipping and Receiving Process
Technology is constantly evolving, and the shipping and receiving industry is no exception. New technologies are being developed all the time that promise to make the shipping and receiving process more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective.
Some of the most promising technologies for advancing the shipping and receiving process include:
- Artificial intelligence (AI): AI can be used to automate many of the tasks involved in shipping and receiving, such as scanning barcodes, tracking shipments, and resolving problems.
- Robotics: Robots can be used to handle heavy lifting and repetitive tasks in the shipping and receiving process, freeing up human workers to focus on more complex tasks.
- Augmented reality (AR): AR can be used to provide real-time information to shipping and receiving workers, such as the location of items in a warehouse or the status of a shipment.
- Blockchain: Blockchain can be used to track shipments in real time and to ensure the security of shipping data.
These are just a few of the many technologies that are being developed to advance the shipping and receiving process. As these technologies continue to develop, they will have a major impact on the way goods are shipped and received around the world.
Key Takeaways
Improving the shipping and receiving process workflow is crucial for any business dealing with physical goods. You can streamline and optimize your operations by implementing advanced shipping technology, using real-time tracking, comparing rates between carriers, implementing accurate delivery tracking, and using web-based shipping and receiving software.
Exela’s Shipping and Receiving solutions, including ExelaShip and ExelaTrack, offer a range of features that can help you achieve these goals, ultimately saving you time and money and improving the employee experience. Embrace the future of shipping and receiving by leveraging the power of Exela’s advanced shipping technology.
