Your shipping team may be getting the job done—but if you’re not using automation, you’re already behind. Manual processes, disconnected systems, and reactive workflows don’t just slow you down—they cost you more than you realize.
Let’s break down the real and ongoing cost of running shipping operations without automation—and why modernizing your tech stack is critical for efficiency and growth.
Labor Hours Spiral Quickly
Without automation, every step—from comparing rates to tracking deliveries—requires human effort. Whether it’s switching between carrier portals, manually generating labels, or handling customer updates, the time adds up fast.
Estimated Cost:
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10 hours/week x $30/hour = $15,600 annually per employee
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Multiply that across multiple roles? The cost escalates quickly.
Without Safeguards, Errors Can Multiply
Automation catches what humans miss. Without it, mistakes slip through: wrong addresses, missed pickups, incorrect freight classes, or misused services. These errors don’t just create frustration—they rack up real costs.
Expect chargebacks, re-shipments, delays, and dissatisfied customers when systems aren’t doing the double-checking for you.
Visibility Breaks Down
When your workflows rely on disconnected tools and manual inputs, real-time visibility disappears. You can’t spot bottlenecks, track performance, or quickly respond to issues if you don’t have centralized, automated data at your fingertips.
Lack of visibility doesn’t just create stress—it prevents smart decision-making.
Missed Opportunities to Save
Without automation, it’s hard to consistently optimize routes, choose the best carriers, or take advantage of dynamic pricing. Manual workflows often default to “what’s familiar” rather than “what’s best.”
This results in avoidable overspending—shipment after shipment.
Scaling Becomes Impossible
Manual processes might work for 10 shipments a day. But what happens when your volume doubles or triples? Without automation, your team becomes a bottleneck—and growth gets expensive.
You end up hiring more staff instead of investing in smarter systems.
The Smarter Way Forward
A modern Transportation Management System (TMS) like FreightPOP automates and simplifies every part of the shipping process:
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Compare rates across carriers instantly
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Book and track shipments in one place
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Generate Pulse reports for real-time visibility
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Reduce labor hours and costly errors
And because FreightPOP connects directly with your ERP, WMS, or CRM, your team spends less time toggling between systems—and more time focused on what matters.
The Bottom Line
Manual shipping processes may feel familiar, but they’re costing you far more than you realize. From lost labor hours to avoidable errors and missed savings, the true price of inefficiency adds up.
If you’re ready to stop burning money on outdated processes, FreightPOP can help.
Let’s automate the chaos—so you can focus on growing your business.
Want help identifying your hidden shipping costs?
Schedule a free ROI analysis today.
