SFLRunning a logistics business, to put it mildly requires high quantities of responsibility, accountability, and diligent efficiency – not just from you, but your entire team. Transporting goods across the world is no small feat. Whether it be tons loads of equipment, or something incredibly minuscule – every client that chooses your company to do the forwarding, is invariably saying: ‘I choose to place my trust in you’.
Over the years, as a technology solutions provider for logistics businesses, we’ve watched how this once extremely laborious and demanding job field is slowly becoming one filled with passion, innovation, and seamless production. Updating clients in real-time on the status of their cargo, at every touchpoint, is no longer a dream for the future, it is happening, and it is here – and it is all possible with data entry automation.
Data Entry Automation refers to software solutions that eliminate or reduce the need for manual data entry. Such software can extract data from any shipping-related document and present just the relevant information in a structured format.
Here are 4 ways data entry automation can ramp up your logistics business:
1. Increase employee satisfaction
In logistics, data entry is essential. However, the employees that receive the onus of performing this task on a large scale will invariably find it repetitive and mundane. Additionally, despite the boredom that data entry casts upon the worker, it demands attention to detail. Automating the data entry process will help free workers up to focus on more valuable, high-impact tasks that help empower and propel them, and thus – the organization forward.
Take the hassle out of reconciling your vendor accounts and reduce capturing errors such as invoice numbers, dates, supplier details, amounts, product codes and much more.
2. Give your clients instant access to data
Because automated data entry is highly scalable and can read through thousands of documents in a matter of minutes, quick updating of clients on invoice details and custom jobs is possible as and when these documents are received. With one-time data entry, the data is then visible from end to end, and accessible across the entire system process, thus eliminating the need to feed the data multiple times by different departments.
Customs Agencies around the world hold the importer responsible for filing accurate data. Whether self-filing or trusting a third party (i.e. a customs broker and/or freight forwarder) to submit the customs declaration data with Customs, OCR provides the necessary tools.
3. Save on time and money
In large organizations that work in the logistics and supply chain management industry, when data entry is speeded up and becomes a one-time process, gigantic strides and transformations are made. The data does not just instantly become available to all relevant departments working across the world, it also significantly reduces costs and in the long run, turns out to be a catalyst for growth and expansion.
Customs agencies require that customs declarations, tariffs and other government agency data be submitted within a strict timeline. Streamline the process of customs clearance and allow your businesses to focus on profit and growth—not process.
4. It’s not all about robots & machines!
At SFL, our automated data entry software utilizes solutions in the market like OCR, RPA, and Integrations to handle repetitive tasks, read multiple documents in a matter of seconds, and present them across various departments at length. However, where technology fails, our BPO solution staff sweep in to do the needful and tie the job up nicely in a bow.
Because, at the end of the day, no matter how much time and money is saved through technology – technology cannot replace the human. It is the human that can handle exceptions, edit minor discrepancies, and give the go-ahead to submit the retrieved data.
With the worldwide pandemic and the multiple last-minute rate changes from Shipping lines, it sometimes gets difficult to update your clients on their tariffs. SFL’s BPO office assists clients with their manual entry work such as an update of buy and sell rates, capturing of shipment and consol data into CargoWise One etc. SFL BPO team will ensure that all rates/files are updated accordingly, freeing up your operators work desk to increase productivity.
To learn more about our data entry solutions and which one may fit your organization’s requirements, you can book a consultancy session with one of our team members who will be glad to walk you through the process.
Visit: https://softfreightlogic.com/ or email: connectwithus@resources.softfreightlogic.com
