Efficiency Redefined: The Role of Automation for Time Savings in Freight Brokering

Freight brokers constantly answer phone calls, send emails, collaborate with colleagues, and input data into a transportation management system (TMS). Any efficiency gains can help them do more and do it faster. Automation provides those efficiency gains, giving freight brokers an invaluable edge in a highly competitive industry.

Saving time can also help freight brokers save money by not overpaying for loads and save customer relationships by providing them with real-time visibility, communication, and top-notch service. And, back-office automation can save freight brokers a lot of headaches.

📈For Growth-Minded Brokers, Back-Office Efficiency is Key

“Freight tech is in a really unique position today. With the market potentially ticking upwards, there’s a light sense of optimism wafting through the air. Logistics providers are peeking back out, looking around at the explosion of AI tooling that helps scale teams,” Drumkit co-founder and CEO Dhruv Gupta told Supply Chain Now.

“Teams are looking to automate away the toil of quoting, scheduling, and tracking. They’re thinking about how to arm their current headcount with more tools to increase their capacity. At the same time, there’s an unbundling of the TMS. People are dedicating themselves to finding the best point solutions to solve problems. The net result? Logistics will go back to what it’s best at: building relationships and untangling problems,” Gupta said.

Drumkit software automates workflows with artificial intelligence (AI) to help freight brokers increase capacity by 30-40%, reduce errors, and improve customer relationships. Drumkit plugs directly into customers’ email inboxes and TMSs to automate data entry, scheduling, track and trace, and more.

🕸Major Challenges Stand Between Brokers and Efficient Back-Office Operations

The more manual processes utilized in freight broker operations, the more complicated all aspects of the business become. For example, interactions between disparate software systems slow down decision-making and increase the risk of data inaccuracy.

“By seeing the supply chain as a cohesive whole, organizations are better positioned to leverage the latest technological advancements, which will lead them into a future where efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction are at the forefront,” Radu Palamariu, author of “From Source to Sold,” wrote in Forbes.

Palamariu wrote that supply chain operations are “undergoing a significant transformation, shaped by technological advancements” such as end-to-end visibility.

“Transportation management systems, particularly those that mesh with automated fulfillment systems, will likely play a big part in creating a tighter, leaner, and greener supply chain, especially as TMS becomes more sophisticated. This could enable better route optimization, cost reduction, and real-time tracking.”

But before freight brokers can achieve route optimization, cost reduction, and real-time visibility they need to implement back-office automation tools.

🥁Drumkit: Building Efficiency in the Broker Back Office

With its automation platform specifically to help freight brokers build efficiency in their back offices, Drumkit has quickly become a superpower for freight brokers.

Drumkit frees freight brokers from tedious day-to-day tasks with such features as automated load management, integrated communication tools, and data integration and reporting.

Automated Load Management

The Drumkit load management tool streamlines shipment assignments and real-time freight tracking. The automated tool enhances operational efficiency and reduces errors.

Drumkit’s features include:

• An integrated sidebar to quickly see load information across platforms in one place.
• Track and trace to automate carrier and shipper status checks.
• A load-building function that instantly inputs loads into customers’ TMSs and eliminates manual data entry.
• Appointment scheduling to set load pickups and deliveries – and reschedule them if necessary – seamlessly.

Integrated Communication Tools

Drumkit’s industry-leading capabilities include real-time messaging and document sharing. This facilitates seamless collaboration among stakeholders throughout the supply chain.

Drumkit’s features include:

• Smart auto-replies that improve customer response times.
• A quick quote function that enables instant responses with rate quotes for loads.

Data Integration and Reporting

Without metrics and key performance indicators for the brokerage team, customer base, and carriers, a freight brokerage cannot thrive. Drumkit’s centralized data management enables comprehensive insights and improves decision-making through actionable analytics.

😎Drumkit Redefines Efficiency for Freight Brokers with Automation

At Drumkit, we’re building the transportation infrastructure of tomorrow with the most innovative AI technology available today.

Drumkit software enables freight brokerages to scale up seamlessly, save time for their teams, cut costs per load, and enhance customer relationships.

‍Book a demo with Drumkit today.