Discover how the right technology integration is key to transforming manufacturing shipping operations 

Today’s manufacturing companies are feeling the pressure. Across the supply chain, customer expectations are growing, costs continue to climb, and operational accuracy is a necessity. At the same time, many manufacturers are struggling with bottlenecks behind the scenes, making it difficult to find a balance between internal and external performance.

This challenge is not always because of a lack of effort. We still see businesses trying to juggle manual tasks, clunky software, and slow processing. Even a minor misstep in this environment can result in delayed deliveries and frustrated customers.

Add another layer of managing high-volume parcel and freight shipments across multiple carriers where rules and regulations are constantly changing. Keeping up with factors like documentation requirements, compliance, and surcharges further complexity for shippers. The reality is that even the best-run manufacturing operations can still feel strained.

If this sounds all too familiar, you might be wondering: Is there a way to modernize my shipping processes without disrupting the core systems we depend on daily?

The answer is absolutely. Finding the right integrated technology partnership is your step forward. Keep reading the blog to explore how pairing a proven multi-carrier strategy with a stable and proven ERP, like Infor XA, can help remove bottlenecks, boost speed and accuracy, and revolutionize your entire shipping operation.

The Backbone of Manufacturing: Infor XA

Since 1977, Infor XA has stood as a trusted Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution for manufacturers operating on the IBM i platform across the globe. With a long-standing reputation for delivering reliable, stable processes, Infor XA continues to serve as the backbone for manufacturing companies worldwide.

From managing complex workflows, including production planning, inventory control, reporting, and order management, to providing strong integration capabilities with IBM i environments, this ERP solution drives the daily operations of businesses that prioritize reliability and performance.

However, while XA demonstrates a history of excellence across core manufacturing functions, the growing complexity of multi-carrier shipping requires a specialized solution. As parcel and freight requirements evolve, manufacturers often identify a natural gap between what their ERP is built to manage and what the modern shipping landscape demands, such as faster fulfillment, automated carrier selection, accurate compliance, and real-time visibility. Shippers can close this gap with a specialized integrated shipping solution, helping businesses minimize inefficiencies, lower costs, and avoid delivery delays.  

On the flip side, because XA serves as the foundation for so many businesses, manufacturers are understandably cautious about integrating new technology solutions that could potentially cause disruption. Extending Infor XA with an advanced multi-carrier shipping software (MCSS) platform, especially one proven on the IBM i, is extremely powerful. This enables manufacturers to achieve the automation, speed, and data-driven intelligence demanded by modern shipping while preserving the stability of the IBM i environment. In other words, manufacturers can confidently modernize their operations without sacrificing the ERP they trust.

Why a Multi-Carrier Shipping Solution is Essential for Manufacturers

The production of goods is just one piece of modern manufacturing. It expands through several other areas including fulfillment, packaging, shipping, and delivering the product to the end customer. As transportation costs rise, carrier complexity grows, and customer expectations tighten, shipping has become one of the most dynamic and demanding parts of manufacturing operations. And businesses still relying on manual workflows or single-carrier strategies are far more prone to costly errors and missed delivery promises.

The need for smarter, more streamlined processes is crucial for these businesses, and that’s where advanced multi-carrier shipping solutions excel.

Leading MCSS solutions are designed to automate shipping processes from start to finish, empowering manufacturers with significant operational advantages, including:

• Carrier Rate Shopping: This advanced functionality automatically compares various pre-defined criteria such as rates, service levels, and transit times across both parcel and freight, to select the best shipping option for each package.
• Labeling and Documentation: MCSS can automatically generate the necessary labels and required documentation, ensuring compliance with carriers and routing guides every time.
• Eliminate Manual Tasks: With end-to-end automation, shippers can reduce manual errors that often result in costly fees and late deliveries while saving time and freeing up labor that can be allocated elsewhere.
• Tracking and Visibility: Leading MCSS platforms enable real-time shipment updates and streamlined communication, helping shippers make better informed decisions and exception management.
• Supported Scalability: Manufacturers can add additional carriers or handle increased order volumes as business grows, without overloading systems, creating bottlenecks, or sacrificing speed and performance.
• Cost Savings: By optimizing carrier selection, minimizing compliance-related fees, and reducing manual labor hours, MCSS helps manufacturers reduce their overall shipping spend significantly.

While traditional shipping methods may involve separate systems, rekeying data, and outdated software, a seamless integration between Infor XA and an advanced multi-carrier shipping solution closes this detrimental gap. This pairing empowers manufacturers with comprehensive capabilities that ensure delivery consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across the entire order-to-ship lifecycle.

Varsity Logistics + Infor XA: A Seamless, High-Performance Integration

Manufacturers running Infor XA, fear not. Varsity Logistics, the leading provider of multi-carrier shipping software for parcel and freight, offers a seamless integration tailored specifically to shippers on the IBM i. By integrating Varsity with your existing XA ERP, businesses can leverage advanced automation and efficient high-performance shipping workflows without the risk of disruption or disconnected systems. Built for IBM i shippers, Varsity functions as a natural extension of Infor XA, ensuring deep system compatibility.

This integration gives manufacturers full control over their daily operations from a single, unified platform, enabling the seamless flow of data across all systems among other key benefits, including:

• End-to-End Automation: Eliminate the need to manual data entry between disconnected systems. This integration seamlessly transfers crucial data such as order details, shipping instructions, and tracking numbers between your systems, eliminating errors and ensuring accuracy.
• Real-Time Rate Shopping: Varsity’s ShipSelect module automates the carrier selection process, comparing key factors like transit time, mode, cost, and performance, to determine the most cost-effective and best-fit carrier for every single shipment. This functionality significantly reduces shipping costs while streamlining operations and ensuring delivery commitments are met.
• Increased Accuracy: Varsity uses built-in address validation to help shippers reduce delivery errors and avoid additional fees. By automating label and documentation generation for parcel and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments, Varsity ensures that each package meets compliance requirements. [Discover how Varsity streamlines cross-border documentation.]
• Complete Visibility: Leverage comprehensive parcel visibility with Varsity’s ShipTalk™ shipment tracking. Integrating your ERP with Varsity extends communication beyond the warehouse, providing real-time tracking and up-to-the-minute delivery status updates for accurate delivery times and end-to-end control.
• Scalability Performance: Whether you’re looking to expand your carrier library or manage increased order volumes, integrating Varsity with your ERP ensures you can seamlessly adapt to shifting demands as your business grows – without the added complexity. This allows manufacturers the flexibility to scale with confidence, even during peak seasons.
• Deep Expertise: Purpose built for shippers on the IBM i, Varsity brings unmatched expertise on the platform, making them the perfect partner for manufacturers running Infor XA. Backed by decades of knowledge and hands-on experience, Varsity’s team of experts is here to support your operations for long-term success.

In this powerful duo, Varsity provides the shipping efficiency that aligns with the reliability Infor XA users depend on, delivering what manufacturers need most: flexibility, speed, consistency, and stability. Shippers who leverage Varsity’s MCSS and Infor XA don’t just improve their logistics operations but modernize their supply chain to keep up with today’s ever-evolving landscape while preserving the ERP foundation they rely on.

Modern Shipping Starts with Smart Integration

To keep up with the growing complexity of the shipping industry, there is no room for inefficiency. Manufacturing companies on the IBM i don’t need to struggle with gaps or bottlenecks in their shipping processes. And they especially don’t need to walk away from their long-trusted ERP platforms.

By integrating Varsity Logistics comprehensive shipping software suite with Infor XA, businesses can unlock streamlined, automated operations that minimize manual errors, boost speed, increase supply chain visibility, and deliver a better customer experience.

Together, they power a seamless shipping process from start to finish, without the risk of disruption or disconnected systems. With proven reliability and experience, Varsity is the only holistic shipping solution built for the IBM i.

Ready to extend the value of your Infor XA without disruption and strengthen your shipping operations? Contact our team of shipping experts or schedule a pressure-free demo to discover how Varsity Logistics can revolutionize your logistics processes and set your manufacturing business up for long-term success.