Navigating Peak Season Surcharges with Advanced Rate Shopping Capabilities

Unlock the cost-saving powers of advanced rate shopping tools and how multi-carrier shipping software can facilitate them

The holiday season is one of the most crucial times of the year for businesses across the globe, especially with the massive amounts of online shopping that’s increased over the past several years. In fact, we’ve seen e-commerce revenue in the U.S. increase from $539 billion in 2019 to $1,065 billion in 2023, and it’s only expected to grow from here. For many companies, this period can either make or break their annual revenue as this time can account for a substantial portion of their profits. However, while there are plenty of exciting opportunities for businesses to increase sales, peak season comes with heightened logistical complexities for both parcel and freight shippers.


Especially for shippers, the surge in order volumes during this period becomes a focal point of concern, adding immense pressure to supply chains with warehouses, carriers, and fulfillment centers all scrambling to keep up. The recent dockworkers strike on the East and Gulf coasts, for example, further emphasized the pressure on supply chains, causing additional delays in shipments. Here’s the reality: quick delivery is no longer a luxury – it’s an expectation of the modern consumer. To succeed in the upcoming holiday peak season, businesses must not only optimize their operations but also strategically prepare for potential additional costs that come with increased demand, such as carrier surcharges.


At the heart of this preparation is the ability to control shipping costs. Avoiding unnecessary overspending and maintaining profitability during this busy time requires businesses to implement smarter tools to manage their shipping strategies. An advanced tool like rate shopping can provide shippers with a much-needed advantage. Leveraging this technology enables businesses to compare rates across multiple carriers – both parcel and LTL – based on a variety of pre-defined criteria in real-time. This ensures the most cost-effective carrier is chosen every time while alleviating the pressure of peak season surcharges.

A surge in order volumes isn’t the only surge we encounter when it comes to the holiday season. During this time, we also see a rise in shipping expenses, largely caused by surcharges – typically a flat fee – that carriers implement to help manage heightened demand and offset increased operational costs from factors such as labor, fuel, and limited capacity. These additional fees may be standard in the modern supply chain world, however, mitigating their impact on shippers’ bottom lines is still a challenge.

Key Types of Surcharges to Watch For

Regardless of the number of times you’ve navigated your way through a peak shipping season, it is still important to stay informed on the various surcharges that carriers are likely to impose during this period, including:

  • Capacity Surcharges: These are higher fees applied to shipments to offset the cost of additional handling. This can be determined by several factors including weight, size, lineal feet, and pallet space.
  • Residential Surcharges: These are higher fees for delivering to remote or densely populated urban areas, where delivery may be more difficult during peak seasons. It also helps mitigate the cost of failed delivery attempts, address corrections, and other potential delivery complications carriers can face.
  • Fuel Surcharges: These are higher fees imposed to help manage the unpredictability of fuel costs. They help cover the potential change in fuel prices during the duration of the delivery process. These additional fees are often calculated as a percentage of the base rate.

It’s important to monitor peak season surcharges notices from major carriers like, UPS, USPS, and FedEx to adjust your shipping strategies accordingly.

The Financial Impact

While a single surcharge may seem manageable, these additional fees can add up and have a significant impact on a business’s transportation costs, especially if they’re applied to thousands of packages. This can cause major strain on a company’s profit margins and heavily influence pricing strategies, shipping rates for the customer, and overall competitiveness. By staying on top of potential carrier surcharges, you can be more prepared to make informed decisions, creating better opportunities for efficient and profitable shipping operations during peak.

For most businesses, the idea of simply absorbing these surcharges is undesirable and many can’t afford to do so anyway. Utilizing carrier rate shopping not only helps shippers save money, but it increases competitiveness in a highly competitive environment. The ability to compare rates across multiple carriers gives businesses an effective way to avoid the negative impact of peak season surcharges. When various factors fluctuate, such as transit time, mode, cost, or carrier performance, rate shopping enables shippers to select the most efficient and cost-effective carrier for each shipment. This capability helps businesses make better informed decisions, leveraging real-time data to ensure shipping strategies can stay agile even in the most challenging conditions.


Furthermore, the ability to rate shop between carriers provides unmatched flexibility. With the constant fluctuation of carrier fees and other unpredictable factors, there is no guarantee that any one carrier will be available at any given time. Having the option to compare rates not only across multiple parcel carriers but also less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers ensures businesses can always find the most cost-effective and reliable shipping solution. Access to alternative shipping options ensures consistent service without being locked to a single carrier provider. This adaptability is key as it can be the difference between maintaining a profitable operation and allowing peak surcharges to devastate your bottom line. Especially in a landscape where customer expectations for fast and cost-effective shipping are higher than ever, utilizing rate shopping between parcel and LTL carriers empowers businesses to navigate holiday shipping challenges seamlessly.


By leveraging a rate shopping tool within your shipping strategy, your business will be better positioned to succeed even during the busiest and financially straining times. However, to fully embrace the benefits carrier rate shopping can deliver, shippers must integrate the right advanced technology to streamline the process and ensure your business is getting the best rates possible. An advanced solution like multi-carrier shipping software (MCSS) takes rate shopping capabilities to the next level, automating rate comparisons in one centralized platform. This ultimately gives businesses a better opportunity to make smarter, faster decisions when dealing with peak season surcharges.

By automating the carrier rate shopping process, multi-carrier shipping software enhances operational efficiency and cost-saving opportunities for shippers. Let’s take a closer look at how MCSS facilitates rate shopping:


Real-Time Rate Comparisons: Multi-carrier shipping software streamlines and automates the carrier rate shopping process – a far more efficient technique than comparing rates manually across various carrier sites. From a single, unified platform, businesses can use this software to access rates from both parcel and LTL carriers in real-time, saving shippers time on carrier selection and ensuring that each shipment is processed with the most accurate information available.


Flexibility and Adaptability: Factors like demand, surcharges, and capacity limitations can shift throughout the duration of peak season, making the availability of real-time data through MCSS essential. Having instant visibility into available carrier options is crucial for avoiding excessive fees and delivery delays. Multi-carrier shipping software equips businesses with the flexibility to quickly adapt to changing conditions, whether for smaller parcel shipments or larger freight, offering alternative carriers and services when necessary to minimize costs without sacrificing delivery speed and reliability.


Data-Driven Optimization: Additionally, advanced features like automatic rate comparison and integrated analytics empower businesses to evaluate and adjust their shipping strategies. Historical data can help companies analyze shipping patterns and carrier performance to identify key trends and optimize routes. Embracing a data-driven approach not only enhances efficiency during peak season but also puts shippers in a better position to achieve long-term success by integrating rate shopping as a key component in their overall shipping strategy.

The complexities that come with the chaos of peak holiday season aren’t going anywhere, especially carrier surcharges. However, as businesses continue to search for ways to effectively navigate these hurdles and optimize their shipping operations, Varsity Logistics stands as a trusted partner. With a comprehensive multi-carrier shipping software suite built exclusively for shippers on the IBM i (AS/400) Power Systems, our shipping solution is designed to empower businesses with the robust tools they need, like advanced rate shopping capabilities, to ensure they can effectively manage costs while maintaining top-notch service quality.


For parcel shippers, Varsity’s ShipSoft-Parcel suite offers a top-tier automated carrier selection module, ShipSelect, that evaluates every shipment based on various criteria such as transit time, cost, mode, performance, and carrier service types. This advanced functionality ensures that shippers always choose the optimal and most cost-effective carrier while also adhering to routing guides and various business requirements, all from the moment the order is placed.


Beyond Varsity’s rate shopping capabilities for parcel alone, our MCSS solution allows for advanced carrier rate shopping functionality that enables shippers to compare rates across both parcel and less-than-truckload carriers simultaneously. This automated process streamlines the best-fit carrier selection process, allowing businesses to lower transportation costs significantly, keep shipping operations running smoothly, and ultimately create a better customer experience.


Today’s ever-evolving supply chain landscape requires effective shipping management to remain competitive. With Varsity Logistics on your team, your business can be confident when navigating peak season surcharges, optimizing your shipping strategy for smooth operations and delivering positive customer experiences – all while protecting your bottom line. Ready to learn more about what Varsity can do for your business? Contact our team today or schedule a demo call with our shipping experts to take control of your next peak season.

5 Ways Online Holiday Shopping is Affecting Your Supply Chain

Discover how the upcoming holiday shopping season will affect your supply chain and how advanced shipping software can help

The holiday season has always been a busy time for both retailers and shoppers, but in recent years, the landscape has shifted dramatically. With the rise of e-commerce, online shopping has become a central part of holiday preparations, transforming how consumers purchase everything from gifts to decorations and more. Just last year, 2023 holiday sales in the U.S. grew 3.8% to a record amount of $964.4 billion. This shift isn’t just changing how people shop; it’s redefining the entire supply chain.


In 2024, 20.1% of all retail purchases are expected to take place online, with 34% of shoppers making online purchases at least once a week. As more consumers opt for the convenience of online shopping during the holidays, the effects are felt across logistics and distribution networks that keep products moving. The growing dependence on e-commerce presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses, making it essential to understand how these shifts impact the supply chain.

As shoppers increasingly rely on e-commerce to fulfill their holiday needs, businesses are faced with a set of unique challenges that require strategic adaptations and innovations. To better prepare supply chain professionals for the upcoming peak season, let’s explore five critical ways that online holiday shopping is impacting the supply chain.

1. Holiday Shopping is Starting Earlier

In recent years, the holiday shopping season has steadily crept earlier on the calendar. What used to begin around the November shopping holiday, Black Friday, is now in full swing by October. According to a survey following last year’s holiday season, 50% of U.S. consumers planned to begin their holiday shopping in October of 2023. Consumer demand for earlier deals also plays a part, as many shoppers prefer more time to spread out their holiday purchases.


For the supply chain, this extended holiday shopping window presents both opportunities and challenges. While an earlier start can help level out demand, reducing the risk of overwhelming peak seasons, it also complicates forecasting. This forces businesses to adapt to longer periods of sustained activity, ensuring they have the right amount of stock and resources on hand for a season that’s less predictable than ever. Failure to do so can be detrimental.


The earlier shopping season also heightens competition among retailers, pushing them to promise higher, earlier discounts than the retailer before them. This intensifies the importance of top-notch preparation and fulfillment strategies for these businesses. With customers shopping earlier, retailers must be ready to meet their demands sooner, requiring a more agile and responsive supply chain to stay competitive.

2. Promotions are Being Offered Earlier

It only makes sense that an earlier holiday shopping season is followed by earlier holiday promotions, and that is what we’re seeing. Most major retailers are increasingly launching their holiday campaigns earlier every year with messaging that encourages shoppers to “beat the rush” or gain “early access” to deals. Flash sales, early Black Friday deals, and extended promotional periods have also become the norm for businesses looking to capture consumers’ attention, prompting them to start their shopping before they historically might have.


Social media holds major influence over online retail, as 74% of U.S Gen Z’s use TikTok for searching. Large online retailers rely heavily on social media influence for deals such as Amazon’s Prime Day, who saw an 11.1% increase in revenue due to social. And having access to hundreds of thousands of stores through your device, constantly promoting coupon codes and significant savings, at any time of day, makes online holiday shopping hard to resist.


However, when promotions begin early, it causes demand to spike sooner than anticipated by supply chain professionals, forcing them to adjust quickly. Trying to account for sudden increases in orders while also preparing for the traditional peak season rush can make inventory planning highly difficult. Furthermore, earlier promotions mean retailers need to have stock available and fulfillment systems in place earlier, reducing the time to build up inventory before the peak season.


It is necessary for the supply chain to be flexible and adaptive to handle the shift in earlier deals and keep up with ever-changing consumer behaviors. Businesses must have a solid understanding of promotional timing and its impact on logistics – without it, they risk stockouts, shipping delays, and unhappy customers.

3. Increases in Volume and Pressure

With the rise of e-commerce, more consumers turn to online shopping for their holiday purchases, causing the sheer volume of orders to skyrocket during peak season. The surge of orders creates significant pressure across the supply chain, from inventory management to fulfillment and shipping operations. Both retailers and logistics providers are tasked with handling a higher volume of packages while maintaining speed and accuracy in the shipping process at the same time.


At the same time, a significant increase in orders can cause operational bottlenecks in distribution centers and transportation networks that aren’t equipped to process and deliver an overwhelming number of packages in a short timeframe. This can result in delays, fulfillment errors, and increase operational costs. Yet, retailers are still expected to meet increased volumes, while maintaining efficiency and accuracy, ensuring that customer expectations are met.


Consumers also expect faster delivery times as options like overnight, 1-day, and 2-day shipping have become more widely available. This increases the pressure on the supply chain because regardless of climbing orders, consumers still expect their packages to arrive in a timely manner. Managing this spike in demand requires careful coordination, robust technology, and a strategic approach to scaling operations during peak shopping seasons.

4. Omnichannel is Changing the Speed of Shopping

As omnichannel retailing has grown over the years, it has transformed how consumers shop during the holiday season. Shoppers now expect a seamless experience across online platforms, mobile apps, and physical stores, allowing them to browse, purchase, and receive products in a way that suits their individual preferences. Leading brands are driving this shift with innovative ways to integrate online and offline shopping experiences. For example, Target’s mobile app allows shoppers to check inventory by store location, provides item locations in store, enables consumers to buy online and pickup in-store (BOPIS), and more.


The intersection of mobile, e-commerce, and in-store purchasing not only provides consumers with more options, but it’s also accelerating the speed that they shop. However, this omni-channel shift presents new challenges for the supply chain. Inventory systems must be agile enough to respond to real-time demand across multiple channels, ensuring that products are available where and when customers need them. Fulfillment processes must also be highly capable of balancing the demand of online and in-store shopping. As these channels merge, the need for a responsive, well-coordinated supply chain has never been greater.

5. Complexity in Last-Mile Delivery

The last mile – the final move from the distribution center to the customer’s doorstep – is arguably the most crucial part of the delivery process. While this step is what transforms an online object into a tangible reality, it’s also where some of the greatest inefficiencies and obstacles arise. Increased order volumes, tighter delivery windows, and rising customer expectations for faster, more affordable shipping have all added layers of complexity to this stage of the logistics process.


Urban congestion, remote delivery locations, and the immense diversity of delivery destinations present a significant challenge for carriers trying to optimize their routes and meet deadlines. As consumers continue to expect same-day or next-day deliveries, it chips away at the time allotted for fulfillment. For businesses to meet the growing demand for speed, it is necessary they’re equipped with tools that can provide highly efficient routing, flexible delivery options, and real-time communication with customers to prevent delays, missed deliveries, and dissatisfaction.


When it comes to the last mile, the most important thing is finding a balance between cost, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. The businesses that can adapt quickly and effectively to these shifts in demand will put themselves in a better position to meet the growing expectations of the modern consumer and the holiday shopping season.

As the holiday shopping season continues to move earlier, volume continues to increase, consumer expectations continue to grow, and last-mile complexities remain, the challenges of peak season require more than traditional shipping methods. An advanced shipping solution like comprehensive multi-carrier shipping software plays a crucial role in helping businesses navigate the complexities of modern logistics with unmatched efficiency and flexibility.

Navigating Peak with Ease with Varsity Logistics

Having a reliable shipping solution is critical to maintaining smooth operations. Varsity Logistics, a top tier multi-carrier shipping software suite for shippers on IBM i (AS/400) Power systems, is designed to help high-volume shippers seamlessly navigate peak seasons. Varsity integrates seamlessly with all major IBM i enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, warehouse management systems (WMS), and home-grown systems. This allows retailers to automate their shipping processes, manage carrier selection, and optimize costs across each platform without compromising speed or accuracy.


Varsity’s software suite equips shippers with advanced ShipSoft-Parcel and ShipSoft-Freight modules that will:

  • Simplify Carrier Management: Varsity automates the carrier selection process by enabling shippers to leverage rate shopping across multiple parcel and LTL carriers based on various criteria such as transit time and carrier preference. This ensures businesses can always choose the most cost-effective and timely options for each shipment, even when facing the high demands of peak season. [Learn more about Varsity’s carrier selection process].
  • Enhance Flexibility and Scalability: Varsity’s software is built to scale quickly to meet increased demand. The platform’s flexibility allows businesses to handle fluctuating shipping volumes effortlessly, ensuring that operations run smoothly no matter how high the holiday rush may be. [Discover how Varsity streamlines increased parcel throughput].
  • Improve Last-Mile Delivery Performance: Varsity offers optimized routing, automated decision-making capabilities, and real-time tracking, enabling businesses to efficiently manage deliveries across different regions and ensure timely arrival. This lowers last-mile costs, results in faster deliveries, and improves customer satisfaction. [Read more about Varsity’s real-time communication functionality].

A lot goes into planning for the rush of the holiday season. Don’t go at it alone. Reach out to our expert team or schedule a pressure-free demo from a Varsity Shipping Specialist to learn how Varsity multi-carrier shipping software can optimize your supply chain logistics for peak holiday shipping success and beyond.

Optimizing in the Off-Season: Dos and Don’ts for Parcel Shippers on IBM i (AS/400) Power Systems

Learn how to take advantage of the off-season to future-proof your supply chain strategy

The shipping industry is not one that remains consistent year-round. In fact, the only consistency we can expect from the supply chain world is the various peaks and valleys that take place throughout the course of each year. Whether it’s the holiday rush, back to school, or the summer season, peak seasons will always occur. After the whirlwind of peak shipping season winds down, many shippers look forward to the off-season – a time often viewed as a period of respite.


However, this lull in activity should not be mistaken for time to rest. The off-season presents the ideal opportunity for shippers to strategically maximize their supply chain operations for the coming year. Especially for shippers utilizing IBM i (AS/400) Power systems, optimization is not just beneficial but a necessity for staying competitive and meeting customer demands.


In this blog, we’ll dive into the dos and don’ts of maximizing your supply chain during the off-season. From analyzing your past performance to investing in technology upgrades, we’ll explore actionable strategies to ensure that your valuable off-season time isn’t wasted, but utilized for planning, improvement, and setting the tone for success in the next peak-season.

With the peak season rush over and done with, it’s time to sharpen up your shipping strategy. These off-season dos and don’ts will guide you in avoiding common pitfalls and empower you to seize opportunities to enhance efficiency in your shipping strategy.

Don’t: Remain Complacent with Last Year’s Strategy

Perhaps your business just had its most successful peak season yet, surpassing numbers you never could have imagined. While the supply chain strategy you used last year led your business to great success, the reality is that the shipping landscape is always changing. This means there’s a good chance that whatever worked last year won’t produce the same outcome. Not only that but clinging to a static strategy can lead to a lack of competitiveness and missed opportunities. And let’s face it, there is always room for improvement.


Going into the upcoming peak season without considering the evolving market trends and changing customer expectations can leave your supply chain vulnerable to inefficiencies and major setbacks. Especially in today’s environment, flexibility and adaptability are crucial if you want to avoid the risk of falling behind the competition. That’s why it’s essential to break free from familiarity and adopt a mindset of innovation and adaptability in the competitive marketplace.

Do: Analyze Past Performance

One of the most beneficial things businesses can do post-peak to maximize their supply chain strategy is to look back into past performance data. IBM i (AS/400) Power systems users can uncover valuable insights to make informed decisions when reevaluating their supply chain strategy. Analyzing factors such as delivery times, order accuracy, and error rates can highlight bottlenecks, recurring issues, or specific areas that need improvement. Being aware of these key insights enables shippers to implement the necessary adjustments to their strategy to enhance efficiency and service quality for the next peak season.


However, oftentimes, historical data is not stored consistently or stored at all, and the time and costs associated with pulling together misplaced data can be extremely high. This is where leveraging a shipping and transportation database can be a game-changer. Having a centralized, organized, and easy to access place for your historical shipping data streamlines the post-peak analysis process. These efficient tools enable businesses to access valuable insights, ultimately driving informed decision-making and strategic planning in the off-season. [Learn more about transportation datamarts.]

Don’t: Put Technology on Hold

During the off-season, it might seem tempting to hit the pause button on technology upgrades. And with lower shipping volumes after peak, it might appear that your current shipping technology is performing adequately. But here’s the catch: technology is always advancing, so what may be working for you currently might be the reason you crash and burn when holiday shipping season rolls around. This is because outdated technology often lacks the speed and capabilities needed to streamline operations, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and falling short of your competitors. In other words, putting technology on hold is self-sabotage! Failure to remain agile in the supply chain landscape is guaranteed to impede your supply chain performance.


Another important point to mention is the process of implementing new technology is not a quick one. It takes time (several months or longer) to identify your needs, do research on what’s out there, narrow down your options, and set up demos. And, once you decide what solution best fits your needs, it takes even more time for it to be implemented. All of this to say, if you put technology on hold, chances are you won’t have it up and ready to go (and adequately tested) for your next peak season.

Do: Invest in Native Technology Solutions

It is no surprise that in today’s time, technology runs the world. From the way we communicate with others to how we buy everyday necessities; everything is driven by technology. That is why shippers on IBM i (AS/400) Power systems can unlock a world of opportunities by investing in robust, IBM i-native technological solutions designed to automate and optimize their operations, and the off-season is the perfect time to do it. The lull of the off-season provides ample time to evaluate your current technology and consider upgrading or investing in something new.


By investing in advanced shipping software solutions, such as multi-carrier shipping software, shippers can automate several tasks throughout the shipping process such as order processing, shipment tracking, and inventory management. This not only eliminates the risk for costly human errors, but reducing the time spent on manual tasks frees up valuable resources that can be dedicated to perfecting your strategy for the next peak season.


Furthermore, industry-leading shipping solutions enable shippers to optimize their supply chain by providing real-time visibility into shipments, inventory levels, and delivery routes across various carriers. Providing access to these valuable insights helps businesses make informed decisions, anticipate industry volatility, and proactively address it before things escalate. Additionally, top-tier multi-carrier shipping software solutions can seamlessly integrate with your existing IBM i system, fostering collaboration across the supply chain ecosystem. This way shippers can seamlessly stay connected with carriers, suppliers, and customers, ensuring smooth communication and collaboration to drive operational efficiency and outstanding customer service. That is why investing in the right shipping software in the off-season is not just a recommendation but a crucial step for shippers. [Discover 5 ways to master market volatility with shipping software.]

Don’t: Run on Autopilot

Getting through the hectic peak shipping season is no easy feat. Shippers put in a lot of hard work to keep orders flowing smoothly and customers satisfied. When the off-season officially begins, it’s a natural tendency to feel like you’re running on autopilot; Afterall, it’s the mind’s way of adjusting back to normal levels after the bustling holiday season. However, treating the off-season as a time to simply coast can be a costly mistake.


Think of it like this: when the Green Bay Packers are in their off-season, they aren’t just resting at home or treating it like a vacation. They are finding time to practice, analyze game film, identify their opponents’ weaknesses, and train on new plays and skills. This effort and hard work in the off-season is what makes them a strong competitor when the regular season arrives. The same goes for shippers.


By running on autopilot and neglecting strategic planning during the off-season, you put your business at risk of several pitfalls, including:

  • Inefficiencies: Unnoticed or unaddressed inefficiencies can lead to wasted resources, increased costs, and decreased productivity.
  • Lack of preparedness: Failure to plan ahead leaves shippers unprepared for potential challenges like fluctuations in demand, changes in regulations, or supply chain disruptions. This can result in delays, shortages, and unsatisfied customers.
  • Inability to anticipate customer needs: Without proactive planning, shippers may fail to adapt to shifting customer preferences and demands, leading to dissatisfaction and loss of business.
  • Difficulty implementing changes: Making significant changes to your operations without planning accordingly can be complex and disruptive. Shippers may encounter resistance from employees, unforeseen obstacles, and undesired outcomes.

Do: Take Proactive Measures

Now is the perfect time to future-proof your supply chain for the upcoming peak season by taking proactive measures. Supply chain uncertainty is a constant companion so taking proactive measures isn’t just about optimizing your current operations – it’s about preparing for unforeseen challenges as well. Instead of waiting for industry challenges to arise, shippers on IBM i (AS/400) Power systems should take advantage of the off-season to anticipate and address potential issues before they escalate.


Developing contingency plans for potential scenarios such as severe weather events, carrier service outages, or sudden fluctuations in demand can provide your operations with a safety net. By identifying possible vulnerabilities and conducting risk assessments, shippers can gain insight into potential threats and their impact on operations.

Once these risks are identified, shippers can develop contingency plans to help mitigate possible negative impacts and maintain business continuity. These plans may include alternative resource allocation, backup carrier services, or inventory management protocols. Leveraging multi-carrier shipping software can further enhance efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions. This software provides shippers with access to a network of global, regional, and final mile carriers, allowing adaptability and flexibility in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

With fluctuating market demands and shifting customer expectations, shippers need a strategic partner to help them through peak season successfully. For shippers on IBM i (AS/400) Power systems, leveraging a comprehensive solution offers a strategic advantage, enabling them to seamlessly implement the “dos” during off season and stay away from the “don’ts”. From analyzing past performance to taking proactive measures, the right multi-carrier shipping software can empower shippers to optimize their operations with efficiency and flexibility.


Enter Varsity Logistics, a trusted partner for IBM i shippers navigating complexities. Understanding the unique demands and challenges faced during peak seasons, Varsity offers a multi-carrier shipping software solution designed to meet parcel and LTL challenges head-on. Varsity empowers shippers to surpass the basic shipping functionalities and embrace a robust solution that revolutionizes the way they handle peak season hurdles.

Success with Varsity Logistics

Varsity Logistics, the only holistic shipping solution built for the IBM i, is an industry-leading multi-carrier shipping software provider. Integrating seamlessly with all custom and major IBM i Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMSs), Varsity’s solution offers shippers several key functionalities, including:

  • Optimal Carrier Selection: Varsity’s shipping software considers essential factors such as transit time, cost, and service types to select the best carrier for each shipment. This ensures cost-effective choices without sacrificing service quality and enables shippers to adapt quickly to unforeseen circumstances, minimizing disruptions and enhancing customer satisfaction. [Learn more about the key benefits of automated carrier selection.]
  • Workflow Automation: Varsity’s solution automates the shipping process, reducing manual tasks and minimizing the risk of human error. From order processing to label generation and shipment tracking, it enhances efficiency, reduces labor costs, and improves order accuracy, ultimately enhancing the customer experience.
  • Data and Analytics: Varsity Logistics offers easy access to comprehensive historical data, empowering shippers to make informed decisions, negotiate with carriers, and identify areas for improvement. This eliminates barriers associated with accessing poorly maintained data, enhancing decision-making processes. [Learn more about Varsity’s analytics for transportation management.]

Don’t fall into the habit of letting your guard down during off-season; use this period to your advantage. As the shipping landscape continues to evolve, so should your shipping strategy. It is essential to use this time to reflect and analyze the past, leverage next technology solutions, and maximize efficiency to prepare your operations for not only the next peak season, but to achieve sustained success in an ever-changing industry.


Ready to maximize your supply chain operations? Contact Varsity’s team of shipping experts or schedule a pressure-free demo to learn how Varsity’s parcel and LTL multi-carrier shipping solutions can ease your logistics pain points and meet your unique needs.