Is automation in freight forwarding really possible?

The first question that you might be asking is if automation in freight forwarding services really is possible? Many can’t see this happening in the near future.

How can robots and machines taking over a shipping service and make sure that everything is getting shipped to the right country and to the right people? There are a couple of the freight forwarding services that have started with automation, but not at the extent that other companies have switched.

Some ways how automation can happen in freight forwarding

How can automation happen in freight forwarding? There are a couple of examples of freight forwarding, where these services are already making use of machines.

The first is with the sorting of the goods. With barcodes and machines, good and packages can be sorted by machine according to the location and country where it needs to be sent. The loading of transportation can also now be automated. Depending on the type of transport that the freight forwarding company is using. Tracking and documenting the transportation of the goods can also be automated so that everything is getting done automatically and send to clients for updates as well.

Benefits of automation in freight forwarding services

There are a couple of benefits to automation in freight forwarding services. It will make the process of sorting and sending different goods much easier. It will reduce the risk that packages will be sent to the wrong address and that packages can get lost in the process as well.

With automatic updates, people will know exactly where their good is and how long it will take to arrive at their destination. It will be done automatically, so mistakes will not happen. Work will also get done a lot faster when it is done with automation. Machines are working a lot faster than humans.

Things that should be considered about freight forwarding automation

There are a couple of things that should be considered about freight forwarding automation before the final decision is being made. It can be expensive to switch to machines. And, mistakes can still be made, with machines doing the work.

It might be the future to start working with machines, but machines can break, can go offline or send the wrong package to the wrong destination. You should make sure that your business is ready for a huge change. Switching can be too expensive for most freight forwarding services. Meaning that these services can go bankrupt if they aren’t financially ready for this type of change. Changing to machines in the courier business isn’t going to be easy, and you will still need to have humans to do most of the work.

You don’t just need to know the right approach to automation with freight forwarding. You need to know if this is truly possible for your company. There are some benefits of automation, but only if your business can afford this high amount of changes. If this is something you are considering, it is essential to do your homework. To make sure that this is going to be beneficial to your business and to your existing and new clients.

BCR Australia is an international logistics company, specialising in freight forwarding (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne) and 3PL warehousing logistics. They have a wealth of experience fulfilling orders for businesses who deal with customers in countries right throughout the world.