Modern logistics requires significant investments, but it is important to invest wisely. The unpleasant truth is that many logistics companies are stuck in the digital status quo. Although digital transformation in logistics is changing the industry, many companies are still investing mostly in the “obvious” while the real changes - efficiency, flexibility, and customer focus - are being left behind.

It is time for logistics company owners or managers to seize the opportunity and prepare their logistics operations for the future. To avoid plateaus in the digitalization process, the following should be avoided:

1. The paradox of the material. Since logistics is about moving physical goods, it seems logical to invest in physical assets. However, it is the digital logistics infrastructure, although less obvious at first glance, that is the foundation on which future efficiency and innovation are built. Therefore, by prioritizing physical assets over digital infrastructure, you are hindering your business' ability to adapt and optimize processes. 

2. Expecting instant ROI is a cost-centric mindset. The obsession with getting quick gains and improvements blocks potentially transformative initiatives before they have a chance to demonstrate their value. The progressive approach is not to ask how quickly the investment will be returned, but to ask what strategic results it will bring, what tangible value this or that initiative has, what exactly it improves - increased efficiency or new sources of income, etc. Therefore, you should switch to an approach focused on the value of tools and solutions rather than the amount of spending. 

3. Digital transformation should not be seen as an auxiliary function, but as the main driver of business innovation. Too many companies are not utilizing the power of digital technologies to their full potential. Tools should not be isolated and disconnected from overall business goals, it is important to make them the basis of business processes, to use them in expertise and strategic interactions. 

But where to start? What really needs to be digitized to maximize the effect? We have analyzed the key processes that are definitely worth digitalizing. And yes, all these things are already working in the CONSOLID ecosystem.

Interaction between shipper and carrier

Logistics is always a team game. But when the players use different notebooks, Excel spreadsheets, or messengers, the team ceases to be effective.

What needs to be done:

• Transfer communication to a single digital environment;

• automate the exchange of information on routes, drivers, and statuses;

• have a transparent channel for agreeing on transportation conditions.

CONSOLID solves this problem thanks to the operating environment and tracker. It takes no more than a few minutes to create a route and is done in one menu section. Thanks to the tracker, transportation participants know where the cargo is at any given time. To do this, the driver sets statuses in the tracker app during the route. He also sees information about the next and previous routes. 

Route planning

In many companies, transportation planning still requires a lot of calls and communication with logisticians and partners. It works, but it eats up a lot of time and doesn't scale in any way in the face of growing transportation volumes. 

How to digitalize it:

• instead of calls, a digital tender environment where carriers see requests and submit their offers;

• automatic selection of a route operator;

• route, driver, and cargo control - all in one system.

This solution saves hours of daily routine and minimizes the human factor. In our digital ecosystem, a shipper just needs to create a tender, inviting all reliable carriers to participate. Once the winner is selected, he automatically receives a bill of lading and a notification of the route. However, if the carrier is known without any additional conditions, it is enough to create a route in a special menu and send it to the carrier. 

Route documents

The transition from paper to electronic documents can reduce processing time, reduce the likelihood of errors, and provide better transparency in interacting with partners. 

However, it is important to understand that going paperless means not just abandoning printouts of transportation documents, but fundamentally rethinking the core workflows. True optimization requires a critical analysis of operations, the elimination of bottlenecks, and the use of technology to create entirely new, more efficient ways of working. This is the only way to make going paperless a true digital transformation, not just a banal digitalization. For example, electronic data interchange (EDI) standardizes processes and improves efficiency.

How does it work at CONSOLID?

When you agree on transportation, it is important to record it. And not somewhere in correspondence, but in an official document. In CONSOLID, after the formation of a route, a route application is automatically created - a document that confirms all the conditions agreed between the parties.

This document

• is not mandatory, but very useful;

• can serve as proof of agreements in case of disputes;

• is stored in the system and will never be lost.

CONSOLID clients confirm that this is the best tool for avoiding misunderstandings with carriers regarding the cost.

The second fundamentally important document generated in our logistics ecosystem is the consignment note (bill of lading). This is the main document that accompanies the cargo in transit and confirms the fact of transportation.

We also plan to implement one-time application agreements between the parties and transfer full-fledged contracts via EDI. And for international transportation, we plan to integrate with the CMR format, which is a standard in Europe.

Payment control

Another process that should definitely be digitized is payments. Here, digitalization is not only about convenience, but also about trust and transparency. Digitalization of accounting in logistics makes it seamless, reduces delays, minimizes errors, and facilitates efficient cash flow. Unlike traditional payment methods, which are slow and error-prone, digitalization eliminates delays, optimizes invoicing, and reduces bureaucratic burdens. Digital transformation covers everything from ensuring transparent transactions between supply chain partners to increasing security and trust between partners. Disputes are resolved faster and easier when there are digital approvals of transportation conditions and transaction confirmations. All this improves the customer experience. 

CONSOLID's logic is as follows:

• If the shipper indicates that he needs to receive documents after the end of the trip, a payment obligation is generated only after they are received. 

• If this option is not selected, the system generates the obligation immediately after the end of the voyage. This avoids unnecessary questions: “When will the payment be made?” or ‘Why hasn't the invoice been generated yet?’. All stages are automated and transparent.

When everything is moving fast, it is important to keep the financial part of logistics under control. CONSOLID has a full cycle of electronic financial document flow: the formation of payment obligations, invoicing, and payment accounting.

This is especially convenient for companies that want to synchronize logistics with financial systems or integrate CONSOLID with their own ERP.

Analytics and forecasting

Analytical tools allow companies to analyze large amounts of data to identify trends, forecast demand, and optimize inventory. This helps to make informed decisions and reduce the risks associated with market fluctuations.

Choose what works

The logistics landscape is undergoing fundamental changes. Rising customer expectations, shrinking margins, and increasingly complex operations require a new approach. Companies that cling to outdated optimization strategies and fail to consider digital as a core strategic imperative will inevitably be left behind. 

A reliable digital logistics ecosystem makes logistics processes transparent, precise, and digitalized. CONSOLID.AI challenges traditional processes by offering a simple and straightforward solution to build more flexible, efficient, and customer-centric logistics operations. It is a way to avoid mistakes, speed up work, and make business more predictable. But it is important not just to go digital, but to choose solutions that meet the real needs of the company.

We have created an environment where you can manage logistics from “route planning” to “payment to the carrier” in one system. Our customers have already experienced the benefits of CONSOLID.