Effective Automation: In the Era of AI, What is Effective Freight Broker Automation

It’s evident that artificial intelligence and automation have moved to center stage in the freight brokerage industry. Tapping into technological advancements was all attendees and presenters were talking about at the recent Manifest conference, billed as “the global destination for supply chain and logistics innovation.” 

The Drumkit team was there in Las Vegas, getting Manifest attendees jazzed up about our AI-driven freight broker automation. We talked to freight brokers about the increasing pressures they face to scale operations, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. Not all automation is effective, but by crafting our solutions specifically for freight brokers, we’ve nailed it, providing the most effective freight broker automation on the market today. 

What Does ‘Effective Automation’ Mean for Freight Brokers?

Automation presents an incredible opportunity to reduce human error and increase productivity, but business stakeholders need to implement it methodically in order to fully reap the rewards. When we think about effective automation, five things immediately come to mind: 

• Efficiency gained by reducing manual work while improving accuracy.
• Scalability achieved by handling increased transaction volumes without increasing operational overhead.
• Seamless integration with existing TMSs, CRMs, and email systems.
• Customer-Centricity, enhancing communication among brokers, shippers, and carriers and thus strengthening business relationships. 
• Real-Time Decision-Making afforded by AI-driven insights that improve overall business performance.

The Pitfalls of Ineffective Automation

Automating just because all the “cool kids” are doing it is not the smart way to go. (Remember how that mohawk worked out?) The first step to effective automation is understanding what tasks freight brokers spend the most time on and where workload bottlenecks and errors most frequently occur. 

Processes that are not well thought out using data to pinpoint inefficiencies or designed specifically for freight brokerages can result in:

• Over-Automation and Poor Execution. Removing the human touch from key interactions destroys the foundation upon which the logistics industry was built. Real human relationships among brokers, shippers, and carriers still very much matter.
• Siloed Systems. Automated systems that don’t work with each other result in communication gaps. When automated systems can’t integrate, inefficiencies result.
• Lack of Customization. One-size-fits-all solutions actually don’t fit most freight brokerages’ needs at all.
• No Real ROI. Automating tasks that don’t significantly improve operations isn’t worth the cost or effort. 

The Five Pillars of Effective Freight Broker Automation

Effective automation enhances freight brokers’ capabilities and makes their jobs easier by eliminating the time-eating tedious tasks. By automating those repetitive tasks, freight brokers can focus on high-value activities like customer relationship management, contract negotiations, and strategic decision-making. 

Drumkit’s software is so effective because it automates what freight brokers most need automated.    

Smart Communication Automation

• Autoreplies provide instant, context-aware responses.
• All back-and-forth emails are handled with appropriate communications powered by AI. Information from email responses are parsed, and updates are automatically loaded into the TMS.

Rate Quote 

• Instantly quote from known tools like DAT and Greenscreens. 
• Collect quotes from your most trusted carriers and respond to shippers with only a couple of clicks. 

Load and Data Automation

• Automated load building eliminates manual data entry errors.
• AI-driven load matching makes for faster and more accurate carrier selection.

Track and Trace Automation

• Real-time shipment updates are provided through AI-powered track and trace.
• Automatic status updates improve customer visibility.

Scheduling Automation

• Drumkit’s freight broker software users can schedule any type of appointment with just one click from the sidebar. 
• All of the necessary information is housed in one place. Freight brokers never have to log into another tool again. 

Drumkit: Your Solution for Effective Freight Broker Automation

Drumkit’s effective automation solutions are not designed to replace the human freight broker who has a wealth of tribal knowledge. We help them work more efficiently and more harmoniously with stakeholders throughout the supply chain. It’s all about seamless workflows – stitched together with the help of technology. 

Countless freight brokers have told us at industry conferences that automation is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity to succeed in today’s competitive environment. They’ve learned Drumkit is the leading solution for freight brokerage automation, providing a suite of effective tools that integrate seamlessly with existing systems to take their businesses to the next level. 

‍Book a demo with Drumkit to see what effective automation can do for your freight brokerage. Or schedule a time to connect at TPM25 in Long Beach, California, from March 2 to 5.