How Multi-Carrier Shipping Software Changes the Game for Freight Shippers

In today's fast-moving logistics world, freight shippers should always look for ways to make their operations smoother, cheaper, and more reliable. Enter multi-carrier shipping software, a game-changing technology that's helping manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and distributors get ahead in an already competitive marketplace. This powerful tool isn't just another piece of software; it's a strategic asset that's transforming how goods move around the globe.

What is Multi-Carrier Shipping Software?

Multi-carrier shipping software is a transportation technology that offers freight shippers access to all of their carrier options in one place. This allows shippers to easily compare their carrier rates to find the best price, transit time, or service levels required for their shipment.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Multi-Carrier Shipping Software?

Maximizing Savings with Dynamic Rate Shopping

Two significant benefits of multi-carrier shipping software include significant freight spend and time savings. The traditional process of spending hours individually contacting carriers or logging into carrier portals to quote a shipment is replaced with an easy way to compare carrier rates in seconds and on a single screen. This makes it incredibly easy to source and select the cheapest carrier rate, saving you significantly in both freight spend and labor time.

A key consideration when shopping for multi-carrier shipping software success is whether or not that provider allows you to pull your own negotiated carrier rates in the system. Many systems tout that they’re multi-carrier shipping software, and while they do allow you to rate shop multiple carriers, they force you into using their negotiated rates, essentially acting as a broker disguised as technology.

Additionally, they often come without the additional shipping lifecycle tools that freight shippers need, like operational planning, tracking, reporting, and auditing. Finding a software provider that allows you to rate shop your own carrier programs and access various shipping tools will help you unlock hidden savings.

Of course, most shipping software systems will have rates that shippers can use if a shipper doesn't have their own rates, but it shouldn’t be the only option.

Why Bother with Carrier Diversification?

Using just one carrier for all shipping needs can be risky due to possible service interruptions and fluctuating rates. Multi-carrier shipping software reduces this risk when it becomes easy to use any carrier that you want. This not only makes shipping more reliable, leading to better planning for you and improved customer satisfaction but also encourages competitive pricing from carriers eager to win a business's shipping volume. Ask your software provider how many carriers they can connect to - the answer should be around 300 or more to achieve the best carrier diversification.

Enhancing Performance

Multi-carrier shipping software automates many of the tasks associated with preparing shipments, from creating shipping labels to selecting the best carrier, tracking packages, auditing carrier invoices, and getting invoices paid on time. By reducing the time and labor needed for these tasks, businesses can allocate resources more effectively, increasing overall efficiency.

Improved Visibility and Customer Service

The ability to track shipments and analyze shipping data in real time is crucial for staying on top of things in your warehouse. Shipping software gives businesses a clearer view of their shipping operations, helping them spot potential issues before they become problems and keep customers informed.

Freight tracking tools within the software pull in all of your tracking numbers from different shipments, carriers, and portals onto one screen that’s updated in real time. The best shipping software providers will also track inbound and outbound shipments for you, even if you’re shipping a mix of freight (LTL or FTL), parcel, ocean, and air. This centralized method of shipment tracking and visibility is key to shipper success.

Compliance and Documentation

Dealing with the complex rules of international shipping can be a headache. Multi-carrier shipping software makes this easier by ensuring that shippers follow all necessary regulations, which helps avoid delays and fines.

Integrations

It's important to consider how shipping software links up with various carriers. Many of these programs use outside services to make these connections, which usually results in the users paying more overall. It's a good idea to ask the provider how they connect to carriers. The best scenario is if they've created their own direct connections in-house, which means there won't be any extra fees associated with third-party connections for you, now or down the line. 

You're likely already using a host of other software systems to run your business. Maybe you use an ERP, a WMS, a CRM, accounting software, or some other combination of technology. The best multi-carrier shipping software providers will have built their systems to seamlessly integrate with your existing technology. That means your shipping software should be able to connect to your order management system and vice versa, sharing information between the two systems automatically without requiring any data entry on your end.

Scalability

As businesses grow, their shipping operations must scale accordingly. Multi-carrier shipping software can easily accommodate increases in volume without a proportional increase in complexity or staffing requirements. This scalability ensures that businesses can expand their reach and volume without compromising service quality or operational efficiency.

Shipping software is a vital tool for freight shippers looking to cut costs and boost their operations. Its wide range of features—from rate comparison and using multiple carriers to enhanced tracking and simplified compliance—makes it an essential piece of the logistics puzzle. As the shipping industry keeps evolving, using technologies like this will be key to staying competitive and meeting the growing demands of worldwide trade.

What’s the best multi-carrier shipping software?

The best multi-carrier shipping software options will check off each of the benefits covered above while allowing you to streamline your shipping operations from top to bottom, including components of the shipment lifecycle like:

• Operational planning, like auto dispatch, palletization, pooling, and more
• Multimode shipping and rate shopping
• Shipment and order visibility/tracking
• Reporting
• Invoice auditing and freight pay

FreightPOP provides all of these features and more with connectivity to 1500+ carriers and tech. Get on the demo list for a custom demo and ROI calculation.