Why Your Freight Forwarding Business Can’t Afford Manual Data Entry

Did you narrowly miss that fine because your AMS didn't match your ISF? Or worse, did you end up paying extra demurrage because you missed tracking that one container? If so, you’re not alone. 

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Global trade is becoming complex and testing the limits of human potential. As margins compress, freight forwarding companies can not afford an operational miss or fine due to a human mistake.

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The True Cost of Manual Data Entry

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We analyzed why freight forwarders lost money on files and the results were surprising. It wasn't because they quoted low; it was due to human error. Operators punched in the wrong data or missed an operational step. Simply said, if freight forwarders could replace manual data entry with real-time data, they could improve their profits by 20-30%.

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Here are 3 reasons why manual data entries are costly:

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• Human Error: Humans are great at making decisions, negotiating, and managing relationships; but they make mistakes. That one wrong number in your TMS could mean a delayed shipment, extra charges, or lost customers.
• Outdated Data: You created that job with an ETA of Dec 30th, but now it’s arriving early.  Static data puts you at a disadvantage when things change in real time.
• Inconsistent Source of Truth: The quote said $5000/container, but the customer gated late. Can your team easily and quickly reconcile everything across multiple documents and emails or will you absorb the extra cost?

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These mistakes cost you more than money. They can lead to:

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• Slow Response Times: Missing an ISF filing or entering the wrong data means delayed shipments and angry customers.
• Inaccurate Information: Errors in data entry can result in wrong pricing or shipment status, which frustrates customers and erodes trust.

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The Future: AI-Powered, Real-Time Data

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At Starboard, we’re revolutionizing freight forwarding by ditching the 90s manual TMS systems for 2030s AI-powered automation. Our AI bots extract live data from carriers, agents, and clients, so you can focus on the important things like customer service and growing your business. 

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With Starboard’s AI-powered solutions, you can: 

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Deliver exceptional service to your clients. Automate 90% of data processing for FCL shipments without human input. Our AI bots can reconcile AMS/ISF filings, extract rates from complex rate sheets, and adjust shipment schedule changes. This ensures your data is always accurate and up-to-date. 

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Unlock time for strategic work. Starboard processes data fast, taking care of repetitive and time-intensive tasks so your team can focus on the strategic stuff. With our tools, you can ingest rate sheets in any format without cleaning them up and easily generate customer requests. 

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Make more money. With automated data entry, you can say goodbye to expensive errors. Avoid fines due to late customs entry or extra demurrage charges caused by missed container tracking. Starboard helps you keep your operations running smoothly so you can maximize your revenue. 

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Conclusion

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In the increasingly competitive and complex world of logistics, reducing manual data entry is essential for efficiency and growth. AI-powered tools like Starboard reduce costs and allow freight forwarders to scale effortlessly, without sacrificing accuracy or speed. With AI, you can maintain the workflows you love while enjoying the benefits of standardization and automation.

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See how Starboard’s AI can automate your freight forwarding operations. Book a demo today!