ZUUM Transportation rolls out new automated broker platform

Irvine, Calif.-based ZUUM Transportation Inc. recently announced it has rolled out a new platform for freight brokers, entitled ZUUM Automated Broker, which it said is the most powerful software available focusing on digitizing freight brokerages.  

Company officials said that this offering is a SaaS-enabled platform for freight brokers geared towards accelerating growth through digitizing operations and is also the first modular platform within its modular product line which addresses capability gaps for freight brokerages, 3PLs, and freight forwarders—the Logistics Super Platform.  And they added that this new offering highlights ZUUM’s focus on “defragmenting the logistics industry by providing the tools necessary for efficient collaboration.

Matt Tabatabai, ZUUM COO and Co-Founder, provided LM with a thorough overview of ZUUM Automated Broker, which follows below.

LM: What drove the need for ZUUM Automated Broker?

Tabatabai: The Logistic and Transportation industry has grown to be extremely fragmented. Shippers, brokers, and carriers each have their own set of technologies to choose from to help with day-to-day tasks.

Your average freight broker is most likely utilizing upwards of 5-10 tools and touch points throughout the complete shipment cycle and relies on manual entry to ensure data flow. However, a freight broker’s output is limited by many human capital intensive and manual processes which also leaves room for human error.

This especially poses a barrier for freight brokerages that are looking to scale their operations and remain competitive in a market where new tech firms are providing services that have the potential to displace freight brokers. With our software, brokers are able to cover more shipments, automate manual processes, improve customer satisfaction, and maximize profits.

LM: What are its main benefits for customers? What does it offer/provide that was previously missing or lacking? 

Tabatabai: ZUUM Automated Broker is our first platform for freight brokerages, third-party logistics providers, and freight forwarders. Our product development team has been working very closely with our operations team for the past few years to make sure the technology not only addresses their true pain points but also remains intuitive and enjoyable to use.

Brokerages can free up to 2-3 hours a day per broker with ZUUM Automated Broker’s automated load board posting, spot bidding, automated dispatch, and real-time track & trace, resulting in a 45% productivity increase. Our automated accounting, billing & payments modules, and digital document management can translate up to $5 million in digitization cost savings. Digital load tendering and automated notifications saves users time which enables them to match loads 35% faster. 

Users can achieve 50% faster operation to scale with our Customer and Carrier management, comprehensive pricing tools (Dynamic Smart Rate and Dynamic RFPs), and advanced reports and predictive analytics. 

Many brokerages reach a critical moment in their growth and need to determine how to effectively manage existing customer relationships while pursuing new opportunities. Traditionally, this is solved by increasing headcount. Firms can save up to 40% on workforce costs by providing the tools for their operators to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.

LM: Can you please provide a basic example of the system at work?

Tabatabai: ZUUM Automated Broker provides tools to help optimize the complete cycle of a shipment. A key element to scaling a brokerage is being able to win more bids. Brokers can submit basic shipment information to access historical rate data, external rate data, and recommended pricing to determine a rate that is profitable and attractive to both the customer and carrier.

To ensure shipments are delivered on time, brokers can track the location of a shipment through our driver mobile app. Drivers can also upload a picture of their signed PODs, which automatically appears in the shipments documents tab. Notifications are automatically sent to the customer as the shipment reaches different milestones, freeing the broker up for other important tasks. Our technology allows brokers to win more loads, deliver more shipments on time and improve customer satisfaction.

By leveraging fully integrated shipper and carrier applications, brokers can optimize data flow and collaborate with their carriers and customers more effectively.

LM: What are the main competitive advantages of this offering? 

Tabatabai: What sets our technology apart is that we are not looking to convince freight brokerages and third-party logistics providers to uproot their operations. They have clearly demonstrated their ability to run a profitable business. ZUUM Automated Broker is intended to enhance their operations by connecting their existing systems to optimize data flow, centralizing customer and carrier relationship management, providing live market insights for better decision-making and ultimately accelerating growth. 

Transportation companies typically fall under one of three categories when it comes to their tech stack. They either have no tech, low tech, or legacy tech. We developed Automated Broker so that it meets their current needs, regardless of their stack, and has the ability to advance their capabilities in a sustainable manner.

As they grow, they can maximize their capabilities with our upgrades and customizations. The Dynamic Smart Rate stays on the cutting edge of automated pricing and enables brokers to capture more bids and win more business. Dynamic RFPs allow businesses to remain flexible in volatile markets. The Carrier Routing Guide streamlines load tendering for dedicated lanes and collects freight rates and service requirements for preferred carrier partners. AI-driven, Multi-lane Pricing lets users acquire data for multiple lanes simultaneously to expedite pricing. Spot Market Win/Loss Ratio & Lane Analytics provides visibility into costs, revenue, and profitability of all their lanes. Lane Seeker for Dedicated and Spot Freight automatically finds dedicated carriers to minimize risk during unstable market conditions. Our Workforce Management platform, ZUUManity provides insights and analytics for organizational KPIs, which creates transparency and collective incentive to drive performance and growth. Universal Touch transforms tribal knowledge among brokers into a pricing algorithm operators can manage, second by second. These tools were central to helping us realize 3x growth in 2020.

We designed our advanced reports and predictive analytics dashboard so that any relevant stakeholders are able to quickly grasp their performance and where they can make improvements.

ZUUM Automated Broker offers fully integrated shipper and carrier applications for our customers’ freight networks to optimize data flow and collaborate with their partners more effectively.

For companies that want to leverage their brand recognition, reputation, and company messaging, we also white label ZUUM Automated Broker to support internal adoption.