Why Shipment Visibility Matters + How to Optimize It [2024]

Not long ago, when people ordered something online, they’d just get an email saying, “Your order is on the way” or “We’ve shipped your item.”

Now, customers want more details about their deliveries, like where the package is and how long it will take to arrive.

Sending just one email or update isn’t enough anymore.

People want to know when their package has been shipped, where it stops, and how long it will take to reach them.

They expect real-time updates and full visibility right up to the last mile delivery.

In simple terms, shipment visibility means knowing where a package is at every step, from when it’s shipped to when it’s delivered.

How can you make your shipping process more transparent? Don’t worry—we’re here to break it down for you.

What Does Shipment Visibility Mean?

Shipment visibility is about making the shipping process more open and easy to track compared to regular shipping.

It uses advanced tools and technology to track orders in real-time. It also helps predict demand and delivery times and provides helpful data to improve the shipping process.

With shipment visibility, you, your team, and your customers can see when a package leaves the warehouse, the route it takes, and the exact time it reaches the customer.

This process collects real-time updates about the package’s location and estimated delivery time (ETA).

It also includes predictive ETAs, which account for possible delays or issues during delivery. This gives customers a clear idea of when to expect their package.

Nobody wants to worry about whether their new sneakers will show up on time.

Shipment visibility removes that worry, so your customers can relax and focus on what matters most—enjoying their day.

Why Is Shipment Visibility Important?

Managing the supply chain is essential for keeping things running smoothly in society.

It’s not just about delivering clothes—it’s also about essentials like food and medical supplies.

Shipment visibility matters because, in today’s global supply chains, it makes ordering and delivering goods more convenient, transparent, and flexible.

For example, if you’re a shipper and there’s an issue with an order, you’ll get notified right away. This helps you fix the problem faster and avoid delays.

At the same time, customers can check if their package is stuck somewhere and whether it might arrive later than expected.

This added transparency makes things easier for everyone. It helps you reduce waste and inefficiencies, while also making customers happier.

Keeping customers satisfied is always a top priority. After all, that’s why McDonald’s came up with the Happy Meal 🍟.

In shipping, convenience is the key to success!

The Benefits and Challenges of Shipment Visibility

Tracking shipments, sending notifications, and using package forwarders can make shipment visibility tricky.

However, the benefits often outweigh the challenges. In today’s unpredictable world, having clear shipment visibility can be a game-changer.

Let’s look at some of the benefits and challenges of shipment visibility.

Benefits

Shipment visibility comes with many advantages, from cutting costs to improving customer satisfaction and service.

One major benefit is better forecasting. Real-time tracking helps you analyze how long deliveries take to reach their destinations, making it easier to plan ahead.

For instance, imagine you have a dispatch center in Los Angeles and regularly ship packages to customers in Seattle.

Forecasting helps you understand how long it typically takes for deliveries to reach their destinations. It allos you to identify any bottlenecks in the supply chain along the way, and adjust your production schedules accordingly.

This also connects to another key benefit: smarter decision-making. Real-time updates on shipment statuses, package locations, and data make it easier to plan and optimize your deliveries.

This not only reduces costs but also saves money. On top of that, it improves the customer experience by making deliveries more convenient and keeping customers satisfied.

Challenges

We’ve talked about the benefits, but every change in business operations comes with its own set of challenges.

Improving real-time visibility can run into obstacles that affect your supply chain.

For example, managing data can be a big hurdle. If your route data isn’t handled properly, you might not be able to use forecasting analytics to improve your deliveries.

In fact, using bad data or mismanaging it could make deliveries less effective instead of better.

Another challenge involves stakeholders. Shipping is often managed by a third party. This means clear communication is essential between the seller, dispatcher, and customer to ensure everything goes smoothly.

If there’s poor coordination among these groups, it can throw off your shipping visibility efforts.

But these challenges aren’t impossible to overcome. Better communication tools and a dependable dispatch partner can go a long way in solving these issues.

How to Improve Shipment Visibility

Even with the challenges, there are steps you can take to make shipment visibility better. These include smart strategies and helpful technology to turn issues into solutions.

Start by finding the right partners before focusing on technology. Work with carriers, shippers, and dispatchers who align with your business needs.

You’ll need to collaborate with them to fine-tune your logistics and ensure they can meet your expectations.

That said, technology still plays a big role in improving visibility.

For instance, GPS-enabled tracking devices can provide real-time updates on the location and status of your shipments.

You can attach these devices to your delivery vehicles to track their movement. For high-value deliveries, you can even attach them directly to packages to ensure complete visibility.

GPS-enabled tracking devices can also work together with another handy tool: a cloud-based transportation management system (TMS).

A TMS creates an all-in-one system for managing shipments. It can track deliveries and use predictive analytics to help you plan better.

You can access a TMS from anywhere, making it easy to manage shipments globally while improving efficiency and cutting costs.

Adding the latest logistics technology to your shipment visibility strategy is essential. After all, advanced tech is what makes shipment visibility possible.

That said, technology isn’t enough on its own. You still need strong teamwork, clear communication, and reliable partnerships to make it all work.

Best Practices for Maintaining Shipment Visibility

Using technology is helpful, but there are some simple steps you can take to keep shipment visibility running smoothly and make your operations more efficient.

One important step is to regularly check and update your tracking systems. This practice helps to ensure they provide accurate and up-to-date information.

You might also want to connect these tracking systems to your TMS to get the most out of both tools.

Another good practice is to train your employees on how to use the tracking systems and other tools in the supply chain.

This helps keep everyone on the same page, ensures the technology is used correctly, and reduces the chances of mistakes.

Here are a few more tips to keep shipment visibility on track:

• Regularly check your supply chain for any inefficiencies.
• Keep improving your processes to make things run more smoothly.
• Use predictive analytics to spot potential problems before they occur.
• Ensure all data is properly stored and managed.
• Monitor performance metrics regularly to catch issues and find ways to improve.

Doing these things consistently can help your shipment visibility efforts stay strong over time.

While technology is a big help, managing it effectively requires a solid plan.

So, don’t rely only on the tech 🤖. Work closely with your team, keep them engaged, and build a long-term strategy for success together.

Improve Your Company’s Shipment Visibility

In today’s world, customers expect detailed updates about their deliveries.

Shipment visibility isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s a great way to boost customer satisfaction, streamline operations, and cut costs.

Thanks to technology, managing shipments and the supply chain is easier than ever.

Tools like TMS, GPS tracking, and analytics play a key role in building a strong shipment visibility strategy by improving optimization.

However, it’s not all smooth sailing — to see long-term success, you’ll need to follow best practices and work with reliable partners to manage your supply chain.

As consumer demands grow, the need for faster data analytics and advanced visibility tools will only increase.

Now is the perfect time to focus on shipment visibility and get ahead of the curve.

Utilizing eLogii's Real-Time Tracking for The Best Results

eLogii’s route optimization software helps you improve your company’s shipment visibility with real-time tracking and smarter routes.

Namely, eLogii isn’t just a tool for route planning and optimization—it’s also a complete delivery management platform.

With eLogii, you can plan your operations, dispatch drivers and fleets, and oversee their activities throughout the entire delivery process.

This includes last-mile tracking, a critical part of efficient delivery management.

Here’s a quick look at how eLogii helps with last-mile tracking:

• Setting Up eLogii for Last-Mile Tracking
• Monitoring Screen: Internal Last-Mile Tracking with eLogii
• API Integration and Webhooks: Carrier Tracking with eLogii
• Tracking Links: Customer-Facing Delivery Tracking with eLogii

With these powerful features, eLogii ensures seamless tracking and delivery management. Thus, it gives your business the tools it needs to enhance efficiency and keep customers informed every step of the way.