The logistics industry across the globe is entering a new era. The accelerated development of digital technologies, combined with recent pandemic events, is the main catalysts for this change. With an increased demand for mobility and remoteness, digitalization is affecting all transportation segments, including sales processes that were firmly rooted in traditional procedures. As a result, companies worldwide are following sales digitalization trends in the logistics industry. They gather, process, and organize large volumes of information and work on making them easy to understand and use.

Current and future sales digitalization trends in logistics

This emergence of digitalization across various fields is bringing a lot of new players to the market. Once primarily dominated by large businesses, the transportation industry is experiencing a large influx of smaller distribution companies. The rise of modern, dynamic, remote-focused, and customer-oriented companies is now creating high competitiveness, which calls for a range of changes, from marketing to sales procedures, for many. The sales funnels need to go through a complete transformation to improve business operations.

What changes in technologies will have a breakthrough impact on the business now and in the next few years? Here are several sales digitalization trends every logistics company should be aware of:

-Online sales and automated pricings

-Shifting the focus to customer journey

-Automatization of procedures (AI)

-Customer acquisition changes

-Blockchain efficiency

Online sales and automated pricings

More than half of logistics companies are establishing online sales processes. However, not all the steps are touched equally. One example is the ability to provide online quoting and price estimates. Previously, they served more as an approximate estimate based on a specific set of static rules. Followed later by calls or contacts in person for negotiations. But, the ongoing digital sales revolution calls for a more dynamic solution. In general, by considering the type of goods, average delivery time, prioritization of shipments, and overall costs, the sales departments need solutions to provide instant and more precise results.

One way to solve this problem is to use dynamic automated pricing engines. They will collect real-time data by analyzing and combining different resources. Only then will you be able to successfully forecast and derive instant and precise rates. More likely, something similar to the software solutions airline companies are using today.

Shifting the focus to customer journey

The future of sales lies in their ability to focus on the customer journey. So far, it’s been proven multiple times that relationships with customers are what drive the best results. In essence, this requires specific tools like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software solutions, which will allow you to better manage current and potential customers and communication with them. You will be able to gather behavioral and other data to help you increase sales through better customer service. In addition, CRM allows you to track and trace a variety of data – everything necessary to identify patterns so you can predict customer preferences. And prevent potential issues in the supply chains. There are also IoT tracking and tracing tools logistic companies can use to monitor shipments on both ends. Allowing such transparency will increase your company’s credibility, improve procedures, and make the transportation process more profitable.

Automatization of the procedures (AI)

Dealing with new technologies on a larger scale is never easy. Many companies experience difficulties when they need to adjust new salespeople to the changes. Fortunately, the training process can be much easier with the help of digital solutions. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) available today, we can automate many previously manual procedures, making the entire training and working system more efficient and less time-consuming. Rather than investing a lot of resources into slow mentor-like coaching, sales can use the capabilities of automation through upgrading their infrastructure and technology.

Another aspect of why AI is much better to focus on lies in these systems’ additional functionality. Features like tracking finances, anomalies, delays, and better delivery planning and predicting will reduce the overall logistical risks.

Customer acquisition changes

Like for many other industries, the logistics salesforce has to follow new arising trends in customer acquisition. This is the use of social media and other alternate networks. You can increase your business operations and provide better customer relations by using these digital platforms for engagement. Previously, social media channels were the mere focus of marketing teams. However, the need and goals of marketing and sales have to align and combine perfectly to give sales a chance to improve their operations. Whether we like it or not, this shift to social network communications is establishing itself as more than just a place of entertainment for customers. Active publishing means more quality leads for your sales in the future.

Blockchain efficiency

In addition, blockchain technology solutions can make your logistics process more effective. And improve your brand image as a whole. By allowing your customers to follow the delivery, you will increase the transparency and credibility of your services. It’s time effective and creates a better customer experience. Everything you will need to acquire more loyal customers.

Adopting all the digital solutions in your sales process doesn’t come without challenges, especially for older, larger, and more established logistics companies. When everything is firmly rooted in traditional approaches, transforming the entire business model is complex. Fortunately, scaling everything across your salesforce is everything but impossible. If you follow the best sales digitalization trends in the logistics industry, you can easily remain competitive in this new industrial revolution that is shaking the transportation world.

_______________________________________________________________

Dave Atkinson is currently working with the Best Movers in Florida on providing helpful information and guidelines for researching, improving, and planning the moving business. His writings can be used by both transportation companies and their customers to better understand advanced technologies in logistics processes.