Discover how advanced analytics tools turn shipping data into smarter decisions

Shipping visibility tools have made it easier to track delivery statuses, monitor carrier performance, and access historical data. But simply having access to this information does not equate to using it effectively. For many businesses, the data visibility is there, yet it continues to be underutilized.

Shipping data only holds power when it’s turned into something useful. Being aware of what happened is only the first step – knowing why it happened or what steps to take moving forward is where the value lies. When crucial information is left on the table, significant cost-saving and performance-boosting insights fly under the radar.

This blog explores how shippers can move beyond surface-level visibility and start creating strategic value with their supply chain data to drive smarter, faster, and more informed decisions.

The Visibility Trap: Why Seeing Isn’t Always Solving

Having visibility into your parcel and freight operations is critical in today’s logistics landscape. It enables you to see which carrier handled the shipment, when it was dispatched, where it’s located in transit, and how much it cost. Advanced multi-carrier shipping software (MCSS) often provides a centralized, streamlined view of this activity.

So, what’s the trap? When visibility becomes the end goal instead of the starting point, it puts shippers at risk of missing optimization opportunities.

Let’s say you’re monitoring your less-than-truckload (LTL) delivery delays. While it is helpful information to know there are delays, without deeper analysis, it doesn’t tell you what’s causing them or how to adjust to the issue. Could they be tied to a specific underperforming carrier? Is there port congestion or a potential supply chain disruption? Maybe your shipments include incorrect dimensions or weight, or worse, costly, incorrect address information.

Without being able to answer these questions, you’re creating blind spots in your operations. Ultimately, this can lead to missed deliveries, expensive errors, and poor customer experiences.

Turning Raw Data into Real Insight

Once you’ve gathered the data, the real work begins: turning it into actionable insights. It’s key that your multi-carrier shipping software includes the right tools to interpret it. While many platforms do a great job at centralizing shipment information, not all are equipped to analyze it in a meaningful way for your business.

Comprehensive MCSS goes beyond basic reporting, helping you uncover important patterns like:

• Inefficiencies in the fulfillment process causing bottlenecks
• Specific mode(s) of transportation driving up costs
• How often freight accessorial charges or parcel surcharges increase
• Certain carriers that are underperforming in specific regions

These details help you make informed, proactive decisions before issues escalate into larger problems – whether it’s adjusting carrier allocations, optimizing fulfillment operations, or revisiting your freight strategy. This data-driven clarity is especially important for businesses shipping both parcel and freight, giving shippers the ability to improve efficiency, reduce overspending, and better serve the customer.

Predictive Vs. Proactive Analytics

Data visibility is useful in forecasting future outcomes, using predictive and trend-based information to stay ahead of potential supply chain disruptions and improve overall performance. At the same time, proactive data analysis focuses on taking valuable insights to develop proactive steps – such as carrier volume balancing and optimizing service level selection – to prevent problems before they arise, driving continuous improvement.

For example, if your historical shipping data reveals a carrier consistently misses two-day delivery commitments in a certain zone, you can move that volume to a carrier with a stronger performance before you risk receiving customer complaints.

When it comes to long-term planning, proactive analytics allow you to:

• Forecast more accurate shipping costs
• Identify seasonal patterns impacting carrier performance or capacity constraints
• Recognize operational bottlenecks that need to be addressed
• And more…

Once paired with an advanced multi-carrier shipping software solution, these crucial insights help businesses shift from reactive mitigation to strategic, data-driven decision-making.

Enabling Smart Decisions with Multi-Carrier Shipping Software

Utilizing your shipping data to its full potential isn’t possible without the right technology at the core of your shipping operations. Multi-carrier shipping software plays a vital role in centralizing data, automating carrier selection, creating the framework for continuous improvement and so much more.

However, not all MCSS platforms are created equal. While some offer basic shipment execution and limited reporting functionality, advanced solutions provide a deeper value by streamlining operations and supporting powerful data analytics.

Varsity Logistics, the only holistic shipping solution built for the IBM i, offers a comprehensive MCSS suite that empowers businesses with a powerful edge in streamlining operations, reducing costs, and uncovering opportunities through their advanced historical data visibility. At the heart of this is their Transdata module, Varsity’s dedicated analytics tool.

Transdata provides complete, structured visibility to your company’s historical shipping data for both parcel and LTL shipments. Instant access to organized, clearly defined shipment details allows businesses to leverage crucial data analytics to reduce costs, optimize carrier negotiations, monitor shipping trends and enhance overall performance. [Learn more about analytics for smarter shipping on IBM i.]

By utilizing Transdata in your shipping operations, you can:

• Streamline data access and free up IT resources
• Level up your carrier negotiations
• Monitor trends and identify operational inefficiencies
• Analyze shipping data from every angle
• Drive cost savings and improve performance

By combining shipment execution with advanced shipping analytics, Varsity gives businesses a smarter way to manage both parcel and freight shipping. Whether you’re looking to improve service, reduce shipping costs, or future-proof your operations, Varsity’s streamlined approach makes it possible.

Ready to utilize your shipping visibility to its full potential? Contact Varsity’s team of experts or schedule a pressure-free demo to explore how Transdata’s powerful shipping analytics can revolutionize the way you use shipping data.