Decision-making for buying technology seem similar to those for many of life’s milestones: to wait until the time is right or to make a move now. But it’s actually a simple one when considering logistics software as a service (SaaS).

For every month you hesitate, your competitors move forward. They’re showcasing the speed and accessibility of the latest service offerings to poach your clients and improve their profit margins with greater productivity.

The roadblocks that stall the selection of a new system are seldom financial, especially since subscriptions to cloud-based software are so affordable. So, what are these obstacles and how can you move past them?

1. We’re too busy. Logistics is a pressurized, 24/7 industry. There are constant demands on staff to take care of the stream of issues and disruptions. But taking a little time to analyze your specific needs will pay off immensely when your operations are greatly streamlined in the future.
2. Implementation of our earlier systems failed. If you’re not cautious, you might end up with software that doesn’t address your needs, time and time again. Once you have the right solution, don’t think of the required training as a necessary evil. Think of it as a necessary good. The sooner you get a new system and learn the basics, the sooner you can start learning the advanced features that set you above your competitors. Failure to reap the benefits of a new system is often the result of a failure to commit to training.
3. There are too many unknowns. For freight forwarders coming off paper-based or spreadsheet-centric operations, the move to trusting an automated process is unnerving. For companies with aging ownership who have the sale of the business and retirement always in mind, taking the technology leap often appears too difficult. But the company has a better chance of success now and later by adapting to the latest technology. Planning to sell the business should be one of the most compelling arguments for installing a modern system.

When searching for the right logistics software solution, keep it simple. Don’t look for functionality that you’ll never use. Find the solution that brings you gains in productivity and efficiency.

Having a reliable, mature SaaS and the simplicity of ‘switch-on’ functionality, you can better focus on your customer service and streamline your documentation. Because a frontline pain point is often customer communication, consider a system that automates notifications and provides customer visibility.

Ultimately, when your technology helps you save some of your busy time, you can spend your time seeking more prospects and profit streams instead.

Bill Todd, is business development manager at WiseTech Global, a creator and developer of cloud-based software solutions headquartered in Sydney, Australia.