Software for End of Line Shipping

There are several components to successful end of line shipping. Software plays a huge and important part of the “how” in automating one of the most important areas inside the warehouse.

Multi-Carrier and Rate Shopping Software (TMS)

Proper shipping and TMS  software provides massive ROI when considering the complexities of carrier choices, service levels, last mile services, and budget-minded customers who want lower cost over “fast”.

Real time rate shopping and the ability to automatically use a third party (such as customer or other method) should put shipping software as a high priority in reducing costs, reducing labor inputs, and eliminating errors.

Rate shopping between many options

Real time decisions of parcel versus LTL

Third party billing or utilizing third party accounts

Last mile options

Key areas for effective automation in a shipping environment include:

1. Interface: ability to communicate to a host environment to ensure barcode, weight, dimensions, etc. are transmitted to make a ship request
2. Shipping and manifest software: The actual software used to request the shipping label MUST be compatible with automating the task of receiving a request, querying the host/order management system, and [most importantly] return a proper shipping label to the application driving the entire system.
3. Controls and PLC: shipping software must work hand in had with conveyor controls and PLC that is driving the machine level functionality of the system. It is critical that software and controls be designed and configured to work together. This is most effective when it originates from the same providers onsite to remove all doubt who is responsible for which function.

If you are still using manual stations and/or software, we can help. Even if you have contracts you are happy with regarding rates and service, proper software setups will be faster, more efficient, and much more flexible as more options enter the market such as multi/omni-channel sales, various last mile services, and much more. We are here to help.

Ask us how we help customer successfully execute automation with best in class system solutions.