Auto transport can frequently be a disconnected process with handoffs at different transactions throughout the transportation. But for the auto transport industry to meet the demand of a more digital age, it’s more important now to create a seamless, interconnected process for vehicle shipping businesses and the customers.
Auto Transport shippers and carriers operating on old auto transport software, or manual processes, are hindering their business from building a healthier operation, more productive workflows, a more secure system, and better vehicle shipping experiences.
Technology is only going to continue to improve, thus leaving those on old auto transport systems further and further behind. Here are some of the ways outdated technology could be impacting you.
Slowed Productivity
As with any technology, the most updated will be quickest performing. The older the software, the slower the processing will be. Or if you’re leveraging multiple devices and systems, but they aren’t integrated to work together, then your business is running inefficiently. This costs you valuable time and creates an organization running through a disconnected process. And with an industry like auto transport, time is critical. It’s the thing that keeps customers coming back, sets you apart from your competitors, and helps build a name for yourself in the industry.
“For auto transport brokers, slowed productivity due to outdated tech is also losing you customers.”
Slowed processes doesn’t just mean the quickness of the technology, it also refers to how old software hinders your productivity. For auto transport brokers, slowed productivity due to outdated tech is also losing you customers. According to a Microsoft survey, 90% of respondents said they would consider working with a different company if an organization was using old technology. Lack of productivity and inefficient workflows are the first step to losing repeat business or putting your business behind more advanced competitors.
Lack of Visibility
Visibility into the performance of your business, whether that be forecasting financials, calculating driver pay, or tracking load movements, is critical to maintaining a healthy operation. And old auto transport software simply does not have the agile visibility required in vehicle shipping.
“Auto transport businesses need a single source of truth…”
With limited visibility comes inflexibility. If you have too little insight, you don’t really know how your business is doing. How can you make time-sensitive or important decisions without all of the information? Auto transport businesses need a single source of truth into the performance of their business or else the business will fail. This is a cost that is too difficult to recover from and often one discovered too late.
Security
Statista reported that in 2019, there were 1,473 data breaches with over 164.68 million sensitive records exposed. Some of the most vulnerable to breaches are those operating on older technology. If you are building your business on legacy technology or manual systems to manage your company data, employee information, and financial records, you are increasing the chances of inaccuracies and putting your sensitive information at risk. Outdated systems, especially ones that don’t regularly update, not only gamble with likelihood of data being stolen, but also doesn’t guarantee all of your documents are saved.
“Statista reported that in 2019, there were 1,473 data breaches with over 164.68 million sensitive records exposed.”
Technology is changing and improving every day, but one of the ways this evolution has managed to stay ahead of the curve is with security. So the fastest and easiest way to ensure your business is protected is to update to a more advanced software. Whether that’s your accounting software or CRM, it’s critical that your technology is looking out for you.
Is it Time to Update Your Technology?
If you’re not sure if the cost of new software or the time invested into migrating, consider the following questions:
Is your legacy TMS or load board causing more problems than it’s worth?
Can your system scale with you as you grow?
Are you housing important financial data on spreadsheets alone?
Is your customer and driver data secure?
Are you overdue for a TMS or CRM update?
Does your TMS integrate with important software like your CRM or accounting software?
Does your TMS connect to a load board or import from external load boards?
After considering these potential risk factors and the above questions, it’s time to audit your technology and decide what’s best for your business.
If your auto transport software is holding you back, it’s time to consider which platform won’t just assist you today, but help you thrive tomorrow. If you’re interested in learning more about what an advanced auto transport platform can do for you, sign up for a free trial today and get access to all the tools you need for a better experience and growing business.
