Technology Is Supercharging Productivity And Efficiency In Transport Operations.
Do you ever wonder how a package ordered halfway across the world gets to you on time? Or how do shipping companies manage the daunting process of transporting goods globally with minimal mistakes? The secret behind streamlined transport processes is technology. Based on a survey by McKinsey, investing in basic technologies like transport management and warehouse management systems helps shipping companies stay ahead of the competition. Moreover, shippers are going beyond the basics and investing in innovative technologies like robotics, real-time insights, and autonomous vehicles. These technologies support high levels of productivity in transportation, ensuring services and goods move efficiently. So, how is technology driving productivity in the shipping industry? In this post, we’ll explore ways tech boosts productivity and efficiency in transport operations, from automation to tracking, online bookings, and analytics.
This is a guest post by the wonderful Lucy Rose. Thank you, Lucy, for writing this for me.
Automating Transport Processes
You’ve heard how office automation helps reduce repetitive tasks and free up time for employees to focus on important duties. Automating processes in the transport sector is the same. Using different automation technologies in shipping, you can reduce manual tasks like tracking shipments, managing vehicle maintenance records, and route planning. Something else automation does is reduce errors in shipping times and expenses. With that in mind, automating transport operations allows staff to concentrate on activities that require critical thinking and innovation. For example, employees will have more time to evaluate routes and identify which ones are more efficient and cost-effective based on distance, road conditions, and fuel consumption.
Examples of transport automation technologies are robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, transport management systems (TMS), IoT, and predictive analytics. With TMS, for instance, you can optimise routes, shipment tracking, and carrier selection, which enhance visibility and reduce cost. AI and machine learning can help identify transportation patterns and predict outcomes. Fleet managers can use these technologies to plan routes effortlessly, organise inventory, and lower operational costs.
Promotes Online Booking
With mobile applications and online ordering portals, customers can order shipment of items 24/7. They don’t have to wait for the availability of customer service agents to place an order. For example, let’s say you’re in the business of helping customers transport vehicles to another state during relocation. You can create a mobile app that allows clients to review and compare shipping prices without calling or visiting your offices. On your part, you can create a delivery schedule, perform custom clearance if needed, and track shipment in the app.
Using your mobile shipment app, customers can view the progress of their order from start to last mile delivery via their smartphones. On your online booking portals, you could also introduce AI-enabled chatbots and have first-hand experience with how technology is reshaping auto transportation. Having chatbots or virtual assistants on transportation ordering portals promotes efficiency in customer service. Chatbots can provide quick answers to common inquiries. Doing so reduces wait times for human customer service agents to respond, hence improving customer experience in your transport business.
Tracking Fleet
Imagine calling drivers every few hours to know if they are following the recommended routes or if they have delivered the cargo? You’ll be overwhelmed and waste time that could be directed into more high-value activities. That said, technology like the global positioning system (GPS) makes fleet management efficient by supporting real-time vehicle tracking and route optimisation. For example, say you have 25 delivery vehicles in transit. Placing a GPS tracker on each fleet lets you know where each truck or van is while you monitor on the computer or smartphone.
What real-time vehicle tracking does is offer clear visibility into traffic conditions and patterns. This way, fleet managers can plan routes efficiently and save costs. An article on Forbes highlights that GPS tracking software can illustrate how much each vehicle costs a company. As a fleet manager or business owner, you can then change routes based on traffic conditions to reduce expenses and minimise delays. Besides route optimisation and cost savings, GPS tracking enhances the customer experience. Ideally, when you know which routes fleet drivers follow, you can frame delivery times for customers so they know when to expect their goods.
Data Analytics
When running a transport business, you need data about order processing accuracy, delivery times, and fuel consumption for each vehicle. With this information, it’s easier to make decisions that promote efficiency in future operations. Technologies that can help collect and analyse data from your fleet operations are GPS tracking systems and telematics. For example, GPS provides real-time location of vehicles, while telematics offers in-depth insights into driver performance, vehicle health, and fuel usage. By analysing data from GPS and telematics systems, you can identify ways to improve fuel efficiency and optimise routes and vehicle maintenance planning.
If there’s an industry where technology has become mainstream in boosting efficiency and productivity, it’s the transport sector. Tech supercharges productivity in transportation through automation, data analytics, fleet management, route optimisation, and predictive maintenance. With mobile apps, transport businesses are also leveraging online bookings to make customer services efficient. Technologies being used in streamlining shipping and logistics include robotics, telematics, AI, machine learning, Internet of Things, GPS, and transport management systems.
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