The idea of a ‘One-Stop Shop’ has always been tantalizing. For the vast majority of projects, knowing where to look for resources or services, and then managing multiple sources or partners, has always been the difficult part. The same is true in logistics. A simplified carrier portfolio has always been the Holy Grail for shippers. Knowing that, there has been a push over the past decade for freight and parcel carriers to expand their offerings in order to provide a one size fits all solution to shipping. The desire to retain customers by offering any possible transportation option in house has been driving these carriers to diversify their services. 

But, as the WSJ recently noted, those same companies are finding out that a ‘One-Stop Shop’ is easier said than done. Many of the largest shippers in the nation, from FedEx and C.H. Robinson, to even Amazon themselves, are discovering the difficulties of running multiple transportation divisions in a competitive market. 

To keep things moving then, the solution might not be for carriers to diversify their services, but for shippers to diversify their carriers. 

Zero Down’s advanced logistics platform, FreightOptics, provides a comprehensive Transportation Spend Management System that consolidates shipping data across all carriers and modes. Our proprietary software suite automates many of the manual processes involved with utilizing and paying multiple carriers, simplifying the process while increasing accuracy and efficiency. As an added bonus, our best-in-class Transportation Spend Management System automatically audits shipping invoices, and our industry-leading resolution team manages all exceptions. 

While the effects of the global Pandemic may be subsiding slightly, the Digital Revolution and the rise of e-commerce have forever changed the game. Today’s customers want access to anything and everything at the tip of their fingers, delivered to their front door, with real-time tracking updates and easy return options. Instead of waiting for the carriers to provide a one size fits all solution to meet that demand, maybe it’s time shippers took matters into their own hands. 

If you need help diversifying your carrier portfolio, or managing your current carriers, reach out to us today, and we’ll do our best to help you ship better.