/ By Evan Knauss / Event • IBMi • IT • Shipping Software • Supply Chain/Logistics • Technology/ / 0 Comments

Varsity Logistics at POWERUp 2024: Driving the Future of IBM i Shipping

Don’t miss Varsity Logistics at COMMON POWERUp 2024, May 20-23

In a world consumed with ever-evolving technology, it can be overwhelming to try and keep up with the latest and greatest advancements. However, valuable opportunities for companies to sharpen up their knowledge and skill sets on the systems they use daily do exist. For businesses utilizing IBM i (AS/400) Power Systems, the COMMON POWERUp trade show is the ideal event to learn, network, and explore all things IBM i.

Looking Ahead: A Glimpse into POWERUp 2024

Varsity Logistics is thrilled to exhibit at this one-of-a-kind event, focused on high-quality, IBM i (AS/400) Power Systems education. The show will take place in Fort Worth, Texas, from May 20th-23rd at the Fort Worth Convention Center. POWERUp 2024 will offer an agenda packed with over 300 sessions, 100+ speakers, and unlimited opportunities to network with IBM professionals, industry peers, and the experts behind the integrated solutions empowering the industry. Educational sessions will cover a diverse range of topics including IT, security, system management, client connectivity, and AI. [See full agenda]

Discover Varsity Logistics at POWERUp 2024

As your trusted partner for parcel and LTL multi-carrier shipping software (MCSS) built exclusively for IBM i (AS/400) Power users, Varsity Logistics will be showcasing our comprehensive shipping solution at the event. The exhibition hall at POWERUp 2024 will be the largest IBM i-related expo of its kind, empowering attendees to experience the latest technology solutions driving the future for their organizations. Attendees can stop by booth #314 for the opportunity to discover what makes Varsity the only holistic shipping solution built for the IBM i, including:

  • Customization and Flexibility: Varsity understands each business has unique shipping needs. That’s why our shipping software offers customization options and flexible modules to adapt to specific workflows, business rules, and industry requirements, guaranteeing an optimized shipping solution that’s tailored to each customer’s needs.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Varsity’s software provides comprehensive insights into shipping performance, carrier utilization, cost analysis, and other key metrics. This capability empowers businesses to make informed decisions, optimize shipping strategies, and identify areas that need improvement for enhancing the shipping process or reducing costs.
  • ERP and WMS Integrations: Our software is the only holistic plug-and-play MCSS built natively for IBM i systems that offers seamless integration with all major and custom ERP and WMS systems, making implementation and data exchange completely uniform.

Make sure you also stop by this valued Varsity partner:


Friedman Corporation – Booth #316

  • Friedman Frontier is the #1 ERP software for the complex, high-volume, make-to-order manufacturer, specifically for the window, door, cabinet, and furniture industries and other industries that engineer, build, or assemble to order. Frontier helps manufacturers reduce employee costs, reduce lead-times, increase customer service levels, and provide growth in revenues without adding significant costs.

Is your organization in need of a comprehensive shipping solution tailored to IBM i users? Varsity’s multi-carrier shipping solution is designed to automate operations, streamline shipping workflows, and optimize your shipping strategy. Discover the ways you can connect with our team of shipping experts at POWERUp 2024, or swing by our booth #314!

Schedule a meeting with Varsity at POWERUp

Can’t make the show? Explore Varsity’s suite of robust shipping solutions for IBM i (AS/400) Power Systems users or contact our team to begin your journey towards efficient and cost-effective parcel and LTL shipping.

/ By Varsity Shipping Specialists / Shipping Software • IT • Supply Chain/Logistics • Technology • Varsity Logistics/ / 0 Comments

For VAI S2K Users: Single System with Any Parcel or LTL Carrier via Varsity Logistics

Discover the seamless integration between Varsity Logistics and VAI S2K and how it can optimize your shipping strategy.

In the world of shipping and logistics, convenience and efficiency are not only characteristics that companies seek out, but they are necessary for supply chain success. Picture a scenario where shippers handling high volumes of outbound packages daily can effortlessly connect with multiple carriers, all thanks to a pre-built, user-friendly integrated solution. This is not just a dream; it’s a reality meant to revolutionize the way VAI S2K enterprise users operate and serve their customers. 

Varsity Logistics, the #1 shipping software solution for IBM i, is thrilled to provide a pre-built integration with VAI to existing VAI S2K customers requiring outbound shipping services for 100 packages or more per day. Varsity is proud of their recognition as VAI’s selected shipping software partner, offering S2K enterprise customers a single unified system to ship with any parcel or LTL carrier. These two technologies work together seamlessly to optimize Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and shipping processes, by streamlining operations and enhancing the customer experience.

Benefits of Varsity Integration

This proven, pre-written integration offers a number of benefits.

  • Carrier selection based on each company’s unique business rules
  • Enhanced visibility of detailed shipment information 
  • Multi-carrier shipping from a single unified platform within S2K (Parcel and LTL)

Varsity Logistics x VAI S2K Brochure

Join other successful VAI S2K customers using Varsity’s Shipping Software Suite! View the Varsity VAI S2K brochure to learn more.

View the Brochure

Ready to Talk Shipping? 

As an industry leading shipping solution, Varsity Logistics offers robust and comprehensive parcel and freight shipping software for shippers who utilize IBM i for IBM Power® servers. With this seamless integration, VAI S2K users can leverage the partnership of VAI and Varsity’s technologies to optimize their shipping processes.

Interested in learning more about taking your supply chain strategy to the next level with shipping software? Contact our team of shipping experts to discover how Varsity Logistics can enhance your logistics operations.

/ By Varsity Shipping Specialists / Technology • 3PL/Distribution • AS400 • IBMi • IT • Manufacturing • Parcel • Procurement • Retail • Shipping Software • Supply Chain/Logistics • Varsity Logistics/ / 0 Comments

What to Know Before You Invest: 7 Key Questions About Shipping Software

Shipping software is an important supply chain investment – do you have all the answers?

Rising transportation costs, labor concerns, and ever-changing customer demands for faster and free deliveries make shipping one of the most critical and costly areas of the supply chain. Because of this, the role of shipping software to gain efficiency and stay competitive has become increasingly pivotal. From optimizing resource allocation to ensuring consistent customer satisfaction, the right shipping software can make a significant impact on the cost savings you find as well as the overall success of your business. 

This leads us to the question: How do you ensure that your shipping software is a good fit? Before embarking on the journey of selecting the perfect shipping software solution, it is important to take a step back and consider your answers to a series of valuable questions. We’re sharing seven questions you should ask before deciding if a multi-carrier shipping software (MCSS) solution makes sense for your IBM i/AS400 system.

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Shipping Software

Shipping software is an important supply chain investment. Here are the top things to consider before choosing a multi-carrier shipping software solution for your business.

1. Are we doing too many things manually?

If your business is using separate, carrier-supplied systems and website searches to find the best shipping rates, you can likely add automations to your process with a new shipping solution. By fully assessing the manual effort required, you can determine the potential cost savings a MCSS solution could provide. Shipping software improves accuracy and reduces errors, avoiding costly consequences that can arise from manual tasks.

2. Are our shipping costs accurate?

It is important to audit your shipping invoices to ensure they match your contract rates, so you avoid overpaying. Cost auditing can also reveal inefficiencies and bottlenecks in your current shipping operations, allowing you to pinpoint areas where redundant tasks may be causing unnecessary costs. When you identify the areas of cost savings, you can better allocate your budget for a more efficient operation.

3. Do we have good visibility of shipments once they leave our facility?

Now more than ever, customers have high expectations for shippers to meet estimated delivery dates and provide updates throughout the shipping process. Top-tier MCSS solutions integrate seamlessly with your carriers and have options to allow real-time tracking and status updates for your customers. MCSS visibility also helps reduce risks, like supply chain delays or disruptions, which can prevent substantial financial losses for your company.

4. Do we have an efficient number of shipping staff?

Evaluating your labor force can help you allocate your resources effectively, especially in today’s labor-constrained warehouses. Industry-leading MCSS are single, fully integrated systems that seamlessly connect with your existing carriers and ERP or WMS systems, replacing inefficient carrier-provided systems. Using advanced shipping solutions can save your team time and effort, allowing them to dedicate it elsewhere. This results in improved productivity and a competitive advantage.

Download the Infographic

5. Can we scale up as needed?

Scalable shipping software integrates seamlessly with your existing software systems, ensuring that as your business scales, everything scales together cohesively. MCSS gives you the ability to automate carrier selection to find the best rates for your customer’s needs from the start, and as your business grows, you can add modules or features such as auditing, pick/pack integration, and custom filings. Investing in scalable shipping software is also a way of future-proofing your business operations, avoiding costly frequent software upgrades and keeping up with shifts in customer expectations.

6. How accessible is our shipping data?

The ability to analyze and evaluate transactional and historical data is essential for operational success. Choosing shipping software that allows you to easily view and/or export your data is the key to monitoring day-to-day shipping operations, ensuring accurate order processing and optimal resource allocation. Historical data gives great insight to performance evaluation and customer behavior, leading to data-driven strategies for future success and effective cost management.

7. How quickly will our investment pay off?

Estimating the time to achieve ROI helps align your investment with your financial goals and business strategy. This allows your company to effectively plan and allocate resources. Leading shipping software solutions, like Varsity Logistics, see their customers recoup 5-15% in overcharges and realize an ROI in just a few months. The combination of benefits that MCSS provides, like streamlined processes, automated rate shopping, batch processing, and reduced shipping errors, lead to immediate bottom line cost savings for your business.

Learn more about Varsity Logistics multi-carrier shipping software for IBM i/AS400 systems

Interested in learning more about the long term cost savings and increased operational efficiency with multi-carrier shipping software? Varsity Logistics offers a robust, industry-leading freight and parcel shipping solution for IBM i/AS400 systems that integrate seamlessly into your existing business infrastructure.

Contact our team of shipping professionals to discover how Varsity Logistics can step-up your shipping operations and revolutionize your supply chain game.