In today's rapidly evolving world, the logistics and shipping industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by digitalisation. Digital transformation has emerged as a strategic imperative for businesses to stay competitive, enhance efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. In this article, we delve into the concept of digital transformation in the logistics and shipping industry, its significance, the key drivers behind it, and how BIZ Courier & Logistics S.A. is leading the way in embracing the ongoing shift of priority and changing success factors in the market.
What is Digital Transformation?
In the logistics and shipping world, digital transformation means using digital tools, relying on data, and adopting new solutions to make business processes better. At BIZ Courier & Logistics S.A., this approach helps us work more efficiently, serve our customers better, and stay competitive. Thanks to digital transformation, we are able to offer our clients top-notch logistics and shipping services.
To achieve this transformation, we leverage a range of advanced technologies and solutions. These include:
- Automatic Waybill Generation: Automates and expedites necessary consignment documents, ensuring rapid and streamlined deliveries
- Service Aggregation: Ensures seamless integration between varied logistical facets throughout our EU-wide network of locations, enhancing operational fluidity
- Barcode and Document Scanning: Modernises and accelerates shipping and logistics processes alike, offering live updates and a precise inventory
- Real-time Tracking: Enhances transparency and client trust, as detailed in our relevant article, by allowing clients to monitor their shipments every step of the way
- Automatic Volumetric Measurement: Facilitates accurate billing and space management via Computer Vision, optimising size calculations and cargo space utilisation
- Augmented Reality Solutions: Provides state-of-the-art, enhanced visualisation capabilities, enabling more efficient operations from warehousing to delivery
- Microservices and Serverless Architecture: As an Amazon Web Services Partner, BIZ utilises robust cloud infrastructure to deploy scalable and modular digital solutions that adapt to ever-growing logistics needs
- Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Our tech infrastructure is always up-to-date and resilient, thanks to adaptable software and continuous updates
- Content Creation via AI: Employs artificial intelligence for dynamic and automated content generation, further improving client engagement
Seamlessly Spearheading Logistics through Advanced Digital Solutions
At the core of logistics are accuracy, efficiency, and the ability to adapt. BIZ Courier & Logistics S.A. has consistently shown that we are at the forefront of using digital tools to meet today's business needs. Here are three key solutions we offer:
- Web Services for e-shops: Our Web Service is not merely a feature—it is a gateway that enables seamless access to customer shipments through any software, advancing e-commerce logistics. By integrating Web Services into diverse IT platforms, businesses can benefit from real-time access and complete automation of their dispatch process. This eradicates traditional operational challenges such as email coordination or manual excel sheet entries. The primary advantage is its seamless integration with existing systems, ensuring users experience no disruption while still enjoying the peace of mind offered by improved delivery oversight.
- EasyBIZ App: It bridges the gap between Fulfillment and Last Mile Logistics. This is great for smaller businesses, especially if they do not have their own shipping software. It offers a single point of access to the entirety of our EU-wide network. Features include creating an online inventory, assigning Consignments to BIZ and tracking their progress from dispatch to delivery.
- BIZ WMS: Our next-gen Warehouse Management System stands as a testament to our commitment of integrating modern technology with logistical precision. Designed with meticulous care, it offers a blend of features for optimal warehouse operations. Its efficient pattern of use ensures that manual intervention is kept to a minimum, reducing errors and amplifying reliability. The user-centric design, tailored for touch-screen workstations, complemented by a native mobile app (iOS/Android), coupled with real-time inventory insights, define our concept of the “Dynamic Warehouse Plan”. Leveraging modern tools, from barcode printers to Bluetooth sensors, the WMS is a key factor to our network's operational readiness, enabled by smart alerts and proactive monitoring via reliable open-source communication protocols.
These innovative solutions not only underscore our dedication to spearheading digital advancement in logistics, but also epitomise our relentless pursuit of overall client satisfaction, ensuring our clients receive a consistent service level, rooted in precision, adaptability, and forward-thinking strategy.
The Bigger Picture
Using digital tools helps BIZ Courier & Logistics S.A. streamline our operations across our supply chain. By harnessing automation, data analysis, and innovative technologies, we have refined processes, from storing goods to managing inventory and dispatching orders. This results into less errors, fast service, and overall good performance.
History of Technological Milestones:
- 2013: Adoption of a comprehensive ERP solution specifically tailored for shipping, laying the groundwork for a systematic and efficient approach to our operations
- 2017: Launch of EasyBIZ, our aforementioned desktop application, offering clients a consolidated solution for shipment management across the BIZ EU Network
- 2018: Introduction of our SOAP Web Services, setting a new standard for scalable logistics, further evolved with the advent of our next-gen REST Web Services in 2023
- 2022: Stable rollout of BIZ LiNK, our e-commerce integration tool, streamlining operations for e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce in particular
The combination of above milestones not only demonstrates our proactive approach to embracing digitalisation but also embodies our steadfast mission: to continually elevate our business clients’ experience by leveraging the finest in digital solutions.
The Key Drivers of Digital Transformation in the Industry
Several factors are driving the need for digital transformation in the logistics and shipping industry:
- Technological Advancements: Rapid advancements in technologies such as digital marketing, affiliate networks, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, IoT and Big Data are reshaping the industry, offering immense potential for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enabling innovation.
- Changing Customer Expectations: Customers now demand seamless, personalised, and transparent logistics services, which end-users have learnt to expect. Digital transformation enables businesses to meet these expectations by offering effective monitoring, proactive communication, and tailored experiences.
- Globalisation and Complex Supply Chains: The globalisation of markets has led to more complex and interconnected supply chains. Digital transformation equips businesses with the tools and insights to manage these complexities, optimise operations, mitigate risks and gain range of access to the biggest markets, such as the EU.
- Increasing Cost Pressures: Increased fuel costs, rising labour expenses, and competitive pressures necessitate the adoption of digital technologies to drive growth, reduce operational costs and recover from temporary setbacks in sales performance.
BIZ Technology Roadmap: Highlights from the Last Two Years (2021-2023)
- Pricelist Management Advancement: Developed a refined pricelist authoring and storage system, ensuring quicker service launches and a seamless transition from traditional ERP workflow to our streamlined internal tool: BIZ PAY.
- AR-Enhanced Production Lines: Integrated state-of-the-art real-time networks and AR technologies into our production lines, redefining operational efficiency.
- Warehouse Mobility with Mobile Apps: Launched a sophisticated mobile app, BIZ GO WMS to augment warehouse operations, facilitating swift batch picking and efficient navigation of the warehouse floor. This innovation paves the way for the implementation of our home-grown “Dynamic Warehouse Plan”.
- Data-Centric Operations: Rolled out a centralised shipping management and data analytics platform BIZ MiLE, driving decisions with real-time insights and ensuring business agility by means of a standardised operational monitoring procedure throughout our EU-wide Network.
BIZ Courier & Logistics S.A. Leading the Digital Transformation
At BIZ Courier & Logistics S.A., we recognise how important digital transformation is to provide the best logistics and shipping services. We are committed to using the latest digital tools to work efficiently, offer transparency, and give our customers the best experience. As the industry keeps changing, it is clear that adopting new tools early is essential to stay competitive and enjoy the benefits in the long term, while these mature and critical knowledge is gained. We do not settle; we opt for the “best-of-breed” approach to our selection of software and hardware infrastructure for our logistics business, and subsequently your e-commerce enterprise.
Global access to online tools is reshaping the logistics and shipping industry, presenting businesses like yours with immense opportunities to enhance operations, improve customer experience, and drive innovation. By embracing digital technologies, companies gain a competitive edge, achieve sustainable growth, and navigate the complexities of the modern supply chain landscape. As the industry continues to evolve, embracing digital transformation is no longer an option, but a clear necessity to thrive in this era.
Current Milestones
- EasyBIZ PRO: Aiming to transcend the successes of its predecessor, EasyBIZ Pro is its next-gen upgrade, incorporating live customer interaction elements. It has an architecture which is tailored to withstand larger volumes of data, making it especially beneficial for business Logistics clients who manage a wider inventory of SKUs.
- EU-wide Locker Solution: While locker technology is not new, having existed -in some form- for over two decades, our aggregated service is rather unique, even in today’s landscape. We offer parcel locker selection in multiple EU countries, whereby consignees are able to select their preferred locker from a single, comprehensive, real-time map, or search for it based on their location. We are one step away from launching this solution throughout the EU network, thus responding well to the needs of those not directly benefited by conventional home delivery means.
- BIZ SiGN: Envisioning a frictionless future, our digital onboarding and compliance processes will be enhanced with BIZ SiGN. A tool tailored in line with our refined KYC ("Know Your Customer") practices, BIZ SiGN introduces digital signatures, a simplified tiered pricing structure, and values transparency, efficiency, and legal compliance. Its ultimate aim? Accelerate your onboarding, enabling you to dispatch shipments and stock swiftly, further enhancing the efficiency of your e-commerce ventures.
