{"id":37000,"date":"2021-09-28T15:53:37","date_gmt":"2021-09-28T13:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intellias.com\/?p=37000"},"modified":"2023-08-28T12:24:55","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T10:24:55","slug":"tracking-and-shipping-apis-the-missing-element-in-your-visibility","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/intellias.com\/tracking-shipping-apis\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracking and Shipping APIs: The Missing Element in Your Visibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raw materials, parts, and products travel via multiple modes of transportation, from transnational cargo ships to urban couriers on e-bikes. Few supply chain managers can actually trace a cargo\u2019s journey across geographies and delivery modes. Yet precise asset tracking is integral to effective supply chain management, as a mild delay can cause a domino effect of disruptions down the supply chain.<\/p>\n

Challenges of the modern shipping process<\/h2>\n

\"Tracking
\nSource: Transporteca<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Saying that global supply chains are complex is an understatement. To make an iPhone, Apple sources materials from suppliers in 43 countries<\/a> across six continents and delivers these to different factories. Once iPhones are assembled, they are sent to global warehouses and prepared for further distribution.<\/p>\n

Smaller companies may have a smaller supply footprint. Yet complexities often arise at the level of product distribution and fulfillment. Between resellers, direct e-commerce orders, and BOPIS (buy online, pick up in-store), goods change hands a lot.<\/p>\n

Yet small and large businesses have the same problem \u2014 not enough personnel to manage shipping processes. Many also lack tools for multiple carrier tracking, integrated courier and logistics tracking, and consolidated reporting.<\/p>\n

According to Orange, 68%<\/a> of supply managers are yet to adopt advanced technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA)<\/a>, IoT<\/a>, and tracking APIs to streamline and automate standard workflows.<\/p>\n

How shipping and tracking APIs supercharge supply chain management<\/h2>\n

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are integrators that let you incorporate data and operational components from other products into your business systems. They allow your teams to instantly get the information they need from a single interface instead of switching back and forth between multiple carrier apps.<\/p>\n

Sample API abstraction layer<\/b>
\n\"Tracking<\/p>\n

In short, a shipping API integration can automatically collect, input, monitor, and disseminate shipping information \u2014 statuses, locations, scheduled arrival dates, etc. \u2014 to those who need this data: other branches, business partners, customers. An API integration can also schedule deliveries, print labels, and generate freight documents.<\/p>\n

Crystal-clear data visibility is especially important for last-mile delivery<\/a> \u2014 an element that makes or breaks your customer experience. When shipping takes ages, a B2C consumer feels mild frustration. But a B2B buyer may be frantically dialing your support because a shipping delay at your end may disrupt their supply chain and result in multi-million-dollar losses.<\/p>\n

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38% of B2B industrial buyers want their international orders to arrive in 2 business days. They especially value shipping solutions and experiences that reduce any cross-border complexity and that support problem-free customs entry.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tUPS 2019 Industrial Buyer Dynamics Study<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/small>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/section>\n

Tracking and shipping APIs help to:<\/b><\/p>\n