Enterprise shipping is no longer just a game of volume. As the marketplace evolves and businesses learn to thrive in a faster tech‑driven world, high‑volume shippers need to embrace new standards in speed, efficiency and affordability to stay competitive.
But, for many businesses, these standards have been tough to meet. Though they stay current with the latest developments in e‑commerce and shipping technology, they overlook the essential importance of updating one system in particular: manifesting.
Numerous shippers still create their manifests through outdated means. Error‑prone data entry methods, unclear documentation, circuitous workflows and other inefficiencies are common among enterprise shippers—and very costly. Foregoing modern methods and technology may result in a substandard manifest that disrupts supply chains and affects a shipper’s bottom line.
Old, formerly reliable techniques can’t keep pace in today’s speedier market. If a business wants to meet modern expectations, they’ll need to streamline their manifesting process by balancing labor-saving technology with keen human insight.
The Burdens of Traditional Manifesting
For years, enterprise shippers relied on manual creation of their manifest and, though imperfect, this system was dependable and efficient enough to meet the standards of businesses and consumers alike.
But high shipping volumes generate high volumes of data. And high volumes of data necessitate a simple, accurate method of indexing, which manual creation cannot provide at scale.
With such massive quantities of cargo and numbers to sort through, small errors are bound to go unnoticed by shipping managers, ultimately resulting in expensive problems. An inaccurate manifest may, for instance, infringe upon compliance standards or create narrow bottlenecks where your ability to ship is dwarfed by product demand—both of which may cause delays and financial loss.
Avoiding These Problems
Fortunately, these problems are not inevitabilities. With the advent of fulfillment software and digital data indexing, we can now avoid the myriad flaws of manual manifest creation.
Many modern businesses have begun automating data entry. In fact, 36% of shippers have made automation a top priority[1]—and for good reason. Fewer touchpoints mean fewer errors; fewer errors mean fewer delays; and fewer delays mean more money saved.
Newly freed from the time-consuming burden of manual creation, logistics managers have begun to monitor their manifests using real-time data processing. With transparency across the whole supply chain—and precise, up‑to‑the‑second updates—shippers can make proactive adjustments to meet ever‑changing regulations and customer expectations, preventing any potential supply chain disruptions or bottlenecks. It’s human improvisation and instinct enhanced by cutting‑edge technology—the ideal way to ship in today’s marketplace.
Looking Toward the Future
In a logistics environment where speed and precision are necessary, some shippers are already thinking beyond automation and advanced data processing.
Recently, some future‑forward businesses have begun integrating AI into their manifesting systems with hopes of lowering costs, optimizing distribution and preventing common supply chain issues.[2]
These early adopters are not just responding to the market but are instead finding ways to stay ahead of their competitors. By continually refining their process and experimenting with technology, these businesses can dictate trends while improving their own operational systems.
Key Takeaway
Commerce has changed, and shipping has only grown more complex and laborious as a result. For enterprise shippers, today’s logistics landscape can pose unique challenges: a bottlenecked supply chain, inaccurate data entry, time‑consuming manual manifest creation and more.
But these problems aren’t unavoidable. By using new technology and thinking ahead of the competition, you can make your manifesting process quick, accurate and efficient—and stay relevant in the unpredictable world of shipping.
To learn more about the latest shipping and logistics solutions, explore expert insights through our vast trove of articles, infographics, tutorials and more on USPS Delivers.
Footnotes
keyboard_arrow_down- [1]Alexis Mizell-Pleasant, “Strategies and Challenges of High-Volume Parcel Shippers: Research,” Supply & Demand Chain Executive, Oct. 14, 2024. arrow_right_alt
- [2]Liz Young, “Companies Are Seeking Real-World Supply-Chain Gains in New AI Tools,” Wall Street Journal, March 27, 2024. arrow_right_alt
