While the industry has indeed transformed from manual processes to an algorithmic, cloud-based, and real-time tracking powerhouse, this transformation isn’t about replacing humans entirely, but rather redefining their roles and the skills they need.
Tech and Human Synergy
Technology excels at automated, real-time tracking, optimizing delivery routes, and managing paperwork, such as customs and inventory, for vast numbers of shipments. However, when unexpected issues arise – such as road closures, address changes, or port delays – human expertise becomes indispensable to navigate these exceptions.
Importance Of Experience
Shipping is fundamentally a human-centric endeavor involving the coordination of people, vehicles, schedules, and communication under tight deadlines. While technology can flag a delay, only human intuition and experience can swiftly resolve it. For instance, experienced drivers and customs brokers possess invaluable practical knowledge that allows them to anticipate and circumvent problems before they escalate, a capability that technology cannot replicate.
Teaching Tech
While newer employees easily master technological systems, they often lack the contextual understanding that comes from years of experience. Mentorship from older, seasoned workers is crucial to provide this “why” behind processes, such as understanding specific client needs or supplier intricacies. The goal is to foster workplaces that equally value human intuition and digital skills, leading to smarter decisions, stronger teams, and fewer errors.
Human Oversight
Technology is not without its flaws; system incompatibilities (e.g., units of measurement), scanning errors, or synchronization issues between different programs are common. Human oversight is essential to identify these discrepancies and intervene, for example, by clarifying shipment destinations. Familiarity with shipping terms is vital for new employees to accurately interpret these crucial details and prevent costly misunderstandings.
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Source: The American Reporter
