Transportation management gets an AI makeover
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the April edition of The Otterly Informed Shipper, Shipwell's monthly newsletter! I'm Karen Sage, and I'm thrilled to be your guide as we explore the latest trends and insights in the world of supply chain logistics.
This month, I'm excited to share some news about Shipwell's recent recognition by Gartner as a challenger in the TMS market. We're honored to be recognized for our commitment to usability and simplicity, which has been a design goal of ours from the beginning.
In addition to our recent accolades, we've also been exploring some cutting-edge technologies in the logistics space. For example, we recently became the first TMS provider to embrace integrating with one of the world’s most sophisticated and popular AI platforms, ChatGPT. While we were excited about the possibilities this technology could bring to the logistics industry, it was interesting to see some high-tech leaders suggest that the government put the brakes on AI less than a week later. We're keeping a close eye on developments in this space and will continue to explore innovative ways to improve logistics efficiency and customer satisfaction.
As always, we'll also be sharing some fun and lighthearted content to help you unwind and recharge after a long day of logistics wrangling. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into this month's edition of The Otterly Informed Shipper!
Best regards,
Karen Sage?—?CMO, Shipwell
This Month’s Topics
Transportation management gets an AI makeover
In the competitive world of logistics and freight management, speed can be a make-or-break factor for businesses, so it’s no wonder that many experts have been talking about the potential that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has for the supply chain. And with the world’s first integration of a TMS with ChatGPT, Shipwell has actually done it.
So now that transportation management has gotten its big glow up, how do ChatGPT’s AI capabilities get put to work??
One of the areas where ChatGPT has shown tremendous potential for our customers is in automating the email freight quoting process. Responding to email price requests are always time-consuming, and the process can lead to delays in customer responses. However, with ChatGPT, this problem can be eliminated. By automating email freight quoting, Shipwell provides a streamlined and cost-effective process that saves time and effort for our customers.?
The platform’s AI technology automatically identifies the price quote request, generates a response by assessing the relevant data in the platform and external market data to provide a quote based on informed decisions about carrier selection, pricing, and transit times, all leading to greater efficiency improvements and cost savings. With Shipwell and ChatGPT, businesses can stay ahead of their competitors by automating the quoting process and making customer communication quick and effortless.
Of course, customers expect instant answers and quick resolutions to all of their problems, and delays in areas outside of the quoting process can just as easily lead to frustration, lost business, and negative reviews — and the ChatGPT integration with Shipwell provides some pretty sweet benefits when it comes to managing those as well.?
Leveraging Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology, ChatGPT is able to deliver accurate and instant responses to common customer inquiries, freeing up support experts to help those with more complex issues. Providing 24/7 support and multilingual capabilities made possible by the integration of ChatGPT with the Shipwell TMS, the overall customer experience can be greatly improved. Not only that, but it also allows for the automation of routine tasks, allowing managers to allocate valuable support resources efficiently.?
The benefits of automation are clear: instant responses, real-time updates, and increased response and resolution rates. By adopting a TMS that’s enhanced by ChatGPT, logistics managers can provide world-class customer service while streamlining operations and maximizing their valuable resources.
And so far, Shipwell is the only TMS that delivers.
Train derailments and toxic chemicals
Conspiracy or something else entirely?
Well well well, it seems we’ve got ourselves quite the mystery on our hands. From Ohio to Philadelphia there’s been train derailments and chemical spills aplenty, all in a suspiciously short timeframe. It’s almost… TOO suspicious.
Some might say it’s a coordinated attack by environmental extremists, others might point the finger at greedy corporations looking for a quick buck. But let’s be real for a second, folks. These theories are more far-fetched than the plot of a B-list action movie. What we need to do is face facts – our national infrastructure and shipping technology are in dire need of an upgrade, and these incidents are a clear indication that we need to invest in our systems to keep both our communities and our deliveries safe. So let’s stop pointing fingers and start rolling up our sleeves.
It’s time for some serious change.
Automation brings big changes to bid management
Introduced in November of 2022, Shipwell’s automated bid-management solution, RFP Automation continues to transform the freight procurement process. Since its release, this revolutionary tool has enabled countless shippers like Mighty Swell to identify and compare carrier bids more quickly and efficiently than ever before.
Additional major efficiency gains Mighty Swell experienced in the bid-management and tender process include:
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What is the Gartner Magic Quadrant for TMS?
And what does Shipwell’s placement as a Challenger mean?
Shipwell is honored to have recently been recognized in the 2023 Gartner? Magic Quadrant? for TMS for the third year in a row — this time not as a Niche Player, but as a Challenger!
What is the Gartner Magic Quadrant?
If you're in the industry, you've almost certainly heard of the Gartner Magic Quadrant, or "the MQ" as it's commonly known. But what exactly is it, and why is it so important? Well, put simply, the MQ is a tool that helps companies make smarter and faster decisions by comparing their performance against market standards and other technologies in a given industry. This is done through a graphical presentation of the company's "Completeness of Vision" and their "Ability to Execute" that vision. For over 40 years, Gartner has been helping enterprises stay ahead of the curve with tools like the MQ, and it's become a staple of the industry for good reason. So if you're looking to take your company's performance to the next level, the Gartner Magic Quadrant is a great place to start.
So what does being a ‘Challenger’ mean??
According to Gartner, our previous placement as a Niche Player recognized Shipwell as possessing specialized capabilities and expertise to best fit certain requirements. However, Shipwell has continued to grow and expand our offerings and capabilities, and this year’s Challenger status recognition demonstrates that our TMS has been identified by Gartner as having the strength and capability to execute and deliver on our vision, strategy, and market capabilities.
Some of our strengths highlighted in the report include:
Community topic highlight
The vital nature of visibility
We recently polled our audience of supply chain professionals on which TMS functionality provides (or would provide) them with the greatest benefit, and it’s pretty clear from the 59% of respondents who voted for the winning option — visibility is vital.?
Anyone looking to streamline their operations and gain a competitive edge needs to be able to see the big picture — from the sourcing of raw materials to the final delivery of products. This is where supply chain visibility software comes in. Not simple track and trace, but actual end-to-end visibility.?
Because it's not just about tracking shipments from A to B — true end-to-end visibility software breaks down data silos and combines tracking with advanced analytics to really drive efficiency. By providing real-time tracking, analytics, and integrations with various tools, logistics teams can gain actionable insights, optimize inventory, and improve forecast accuracy.? So if you're looking to build a well-oiled supply chain, understanding what separates great visibility software from the rest should be a top priority.
Cast your vote in this week's poll
Have a question? A topic you think worth discussing? Something you’d like us to focus on? Leave a comment and we may feature it right here in the next issue!
We'd love to hear from you!
As always, the discussion about the supply chain doesn't stop here. Every month, the conversation continues right here with new and exciting topics, and we know that a lot of you have interesting ideas and valuable insights that we can all benefit from, so if you're out there, don't be shy! Leave us a comment or send us a message about what you'd like to see us discuss next!
Let us know what's on your mind. Share your tips, articles, industry initiatives, or just any feedback you might have on the newsletter itself. Whether it's via the comments section or a direct message — your opinion matters! Of course, at the end of the day our goal is to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to supply chain issues and upheavals so let's keep it going and make that happen. Stay tuned for next month's newsletter!
Meme of the Month