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ProShip ParcelCast Unwined

ProShip ParcelCast Unwined

By ProShip, Inc.

Are complex logistics tools and ever-changing customer demands leaving you feeling overwhelmed? Tune into "ProShip ParcelCast Unwind" – the podcast where industry experts sip cocktails and break down shipping complexities. Hosted by Jerri Dixon, learn to navigate the logistics world with ease and outshine the competition, discovering that optimizing your shipping operations can be as smooth as your favorite drink. Cheers to simplifying shipping, one cocktail conversation at a time!
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[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 7: Top Pitfalls to Avoid during New Tech Implementations

ProShip ParcelCast UnwinedMar 24, 2021

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29:17
[ProShip ParcelCast Unwined] Episode 35: Balancing Act: Shipping Efficiency without Breaking the Bank

[ProShip ParcelCast Unwined] Episode 35: Balancing Act: Shipping Efficiency without Breaking the Bank

In today’s dynamic parcel market, where demand fluctuates, consumer expectations shift constantly, and carrier rates change at their own pace, navigating shipping operations can be exceptionally difficult. Striking the perfect balance between optimization and cost control, while ensuring timely and affordable deliveries, is a challenge faced by businesses of all sizes.

In This ParcelCast Episode

Fear not, shippers – ProShip ParcelCast is back and with a twist! With a more relaxed and conversational atmosphere, ProShip’s podcast now not only features industry experts and the latest parcel shipping trends, but they also have a cocktail or mocktail in hand. In this month’s episode of the brand new ProShip ParcelCast Unwined, we’ve brought together supply chain experts Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip, and Timur Eligulashvili, President of Logistix Remix, joined by our lovely host, Jerri Dixon, Alliance Manager at ProShip. With a sazerac in hand, they dive deep into strategies and considerations essential for businesses aiming to achieve significant cost savings in their shipping operations. Listen in to hear more about:

  • Decoding Shipping Costs: Uncover the hidden fees and complex structures within shipper’s transportation spend including GRIs, demand surcharges, and dimensional weight calculations, which help ensure your budget stays on the right path.
  • Contract Negotiations: Learn the art of negotiating with confidence, with tips, powerful tools, and key points business should focus on to secure shipping contracts that protect your bottom line.
  • Advanced Cost Reduction Strategies: Discover data-driven decision-making, zone-based shipping strategies and the right tools to empower your cost-cutting efforts.

The episode concludes with some essential takeaways and our new recurring This or That segment, allowing our listeners and viewers to get to know our experts a little better.

Ready to achieve peak performance without blowing your budget? Tune in now and discover the 3 C’s of finding the right carrier fit plus more insider tips from Timur that you won’t want to miss. Grab your glass and listen now!

This Episode's Cocktail: The Cost-Cutting Sazerac

For this episode of ProShip ParcelCast Unwined, our experts enjoy The Cost-Cutting Sazerac with simplicity amidst complexity in mind. Cheers to smarter shipping with this symbolic cocktail – a reminder that simplicity and finesse can lead to impressive results.

Enjoy the Cost-Cutting Sazerac with our shipping experts:

Ingredients: sugar cube, sazerac bitters, lemon bitters, absinthe, rye whiskey

In a chilled glass, rinse with absinthe and pour out the excess. In a shaker, muddle the sugar cube with the sazerac and lemon bitters. Add ice and the rye whiskey, stirring until the sugar is nearly dissolved. Strain into the prepared chilled glass and add a lemon twist for garnish. Cheers!

Make sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast Unwined episode to learn about the latest trends and insights in modern logistics and supply chain!

Feb 28, 202442:37
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 34: Shipping Smart: Navigating FedEx's Ground Economy Transformation

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 34: Shipping Smart: Navigating FedEx's Ground Economy Transformation

As the transportation and supply chain industries continue to evolve, one prevalent theme has been the increase of diverse choices and customized services to meet the unique needs and requirements of shippers. As industry giants like Amazon set a high bar, offering essentially free shipping in two days or less, customer expectations have shifted dramatically. Adapting to these changing customer demands requires careful consideration of several factors in order to optimize your transportation strategy.

FedEx understands the importance of meeting those evolving customer demands and the individual needs of their shipping customers. As a result, they’ve worked at expanding their portfolio of services to better align with the changing needs of shippers and consumers alike. [Read more about FedEx and how they award their partners for customer compatible solutions.]

In this month’s episode of ProShip ParcelCast, we’ve brought together three supply chain experts from ProShip and FedEx: Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip, Bill Schroeder, President at ProShip, and Tom Thornton, Technical Principal at FedEx Services. With an impressive and lengthy combined tenure including Bill spending time working at FedEx, the[KS2]  three discuss the recent rebranding of FedEx’s SmartPost to FedEx Ground Economy and what this change is providing for shippers and their customers across the country.

The episode begins with a brief history of FedEx’s portfolio of service offerings and an overview of what sparked FedEx’s rebranding of SmartPost to FedEx Ground Economy. The three then move into a conversation about the differentiators between Ground Economy and home delivery or a standard ground service. Some of these differences include variables such as cost, tracking, and which days of the week they deliver. Bill then explains the role and importance of multi-carrier shipping software in facilitating the adaptation and adoption of new delivery solutions to optimize your shipping operations.

As the episode continues, the conversation shifts in the direction of technology. More specifically, the group touches on the importance tech and why it matters when it comes to making data-driven decisions. To conclude the discussion, each expert shares their final thoughts, covering key points on carrier rationalization, the importance of partnership, and how innovation and change aren’t going away.

Want to know just how much a FedEx customer using ProShip’s MCSS solution saved on per unit delivery costs? Tune in to find out!

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to learn more about modern logistics technology and trending supply chain topics!

Nov 06, 202324:03
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 33: Your Guide to Parcel Rate Shopping: Types, Tactics, and Takeaways

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 33: Your Guide to Parcel Rate Shopping: Types, Tactics, and Takeaways

Are you an enterprise shipper grappling with the challenges of rate shopping, where finding the fastest option can lead to overspending your transportation budget? For businesses like yours, the choice often extends beyond speed and cost-effectiveness; volume constraints and budget considerations add layers of complexity.

Shippers around the world face challenges like this on a daily basis. With a multitude of carrier and service options at your disposal, how do you equip your supply chain with the right shipping technology to make the best decisions for your business? The answer lies in carrier rate shopping, a strategic approach that simplifies the process while empowering shippers with the tools to optimize shipping costs and service quality.

In this month’s episode of ProShip ParcelCast, we’re joined by four of ProShip’s very own shipping experts: Justin Cramer, Jim Iles, Cody Remmel, and Jeff Saccomando. With a combined tenure of over 50 years at ProShip, the four discuss the evolution of rate shopping, the different ways to rate shop, and how these tools can assist shippers in enhancing their overall operations.

The episode begins with a basic explanation of basic rate shopping and the factors that determine what kind of results you get, such as the lowest cost or delivery commitment time. The conversation then moves into covering both advanced date shopping and reverse date shopping (or last available pickup) and the specific benefits from each option. Later in the conversation, Justin introduces the topic of when to produce the label and whether producing front of line or end of line may be more beneficial. Tune in to learn why producing the label front of line can eventually lead to necessary updates (or even complications!) down the line. [Learn how rating shipments upstream can improve your operations.]

The episode shifts into covering beneficial areas to rate shop where you may not already be rate shopping. For example, many shippers who utilize a single carrier think that they don’t need to rate shop. However, our experts dive into why single carrier shippers can also benefit from rate shopping. The group touches on the limitations of ship-from-store rate shopping and recommendations for this strategy. And finally, the episode wraps up with a summary of the variety of rate shopping tools that are only available to ProShip customers.

Want an exclusive look into the types of rate shopping in Beta for ProShip customers? Tune in to find out!

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to learn more about modern logistics technology and trending supply chain topics!

Oct 03, 202327:38
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 32: Data-Driven Deliveries: Business Intelligence in Shipping Software

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 32: Data-Driven Deliveries: Business Intelligence in Shipping Software

In an age where nearly everything is seamlessly connected through technology, it comes as no surprise that the role of technology has evolved into a complex and pivotal aspect of many modern-day businesses, especially the shipping industry. While the shipping industry may appear as a straightforward and routine process from the outside, what goes on behind the scenes is far more complex. Business intelligence (BI) technology is a tool that helps businesses by offering insights and information to empower them towards improved operations. These tools are significantly beneficial when it comes to navigating the intricate challenges of the parcel shipping landscape with precision and strategy.

In this month’s episode of ProShip ParcelCast, we’ve brought together two supply chain experts from ProShip and Korber : Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip, and Brett Hamrick, Director of BI & Analytics at Korber. The two discuss the power of business intelligence and the important roles it can play in improving a shipping company’s operational efficiency.

They begin the episode by discussing why shipping companies should first focus on analyzing their parcelspend, and the specific insights that this closer look can offer. The conversation continues into validationand how implementing the right BI platform with the right automated shipping software systems, brings both flexibility and real-time visibility to the components affecting your data, so brands can quickly and effectively make changes to empower the customer.

These supply chain experts strongly advise shippers against waiting until peak season to start analyzing and making changes to their data; this timing is far too late if businesses want to remain competitive. Furthermore, Cramer and Hamrick conclude with a discussion on the value a dedicated analyst brings to a company – including things like identifying data challenges and improving the overall customer experience.

Want to learn more about the understanding that a dedicated supply chain analyst can objectively bring to your organization? Tune in to find out!

Make sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to learn about more logistics technology and supply chain topics

Aug 28, 202329:51
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 31: Peak Season Power Moves: Optimizing Your Carrier Strategy

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 31: Peak Season Power Moves: Optimizing Your Carrier Strategy

We are less than 6 months away from peak season, a busy time filled with anticipation for both consumers and businesses alike. For shippers, however, the annual peak season is a period that can be lucrative yet challenging, especially if shippers are under prepared. As the influx of orders streams in and customer expectations heighten, it is crucial for businesses to be well-equipped to manage the surge in demand. Failing to adequately do so can lead to several consequences including delivery delays, inventory shortages, customer complaints, lost sales, and more. However, these negative implications are completely avoidable if shipping companies take the right steps to prepare with enough time before peak season commences, and our shipping experts have all the tips and tricks for doing so.

In this ParcelCast episode, ProShip’s own, Jerri Dixon and Rob Murphy, are joined by two guests from GLS, Steven Bergan and Jennifer Reano. The four experts discuss the current parcel shipping landscape and what companies should be focusing on to prepare for a successful peak season.

The episode begins with an overview of the current state of the parcel shipping environment and what businesses can expect this peak season. Although we are in a period of economic uncertainty, it is certain that e-commerce will continue to boom, and competition will increase from last year. The conversation transitions into how shippers must adapt their carrier strategy to not only uphold capacity, but also fit the unique needs of their customers. GLS is a great example of a carrier who meets unique needs, as their services offer things like later pickup times, a wider overnight delivery footprint, and low damage ratios. In addition to adapting carrier strategies, the four dive into some characteristics carriers must have for success during peak season. As the episode winds down, our experts share their thoughts on how the top shippers win.

Tune in to find out these experts’ top 3 tips for how shippers win!

Be sure to listen to the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to hear from our experts on business intelligence within the world of shipping.

Jul 25, 202323:58
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 30: Shipping Software: The Long-Term Strategy

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 30: Shipping Software: The Long-Term Strategy

It is widely known that software is constantly evolving, especially in such a technologically advanced and sophisticated world. However, it’s important to distinguish the difference between natural obsolescenceover time, and deliberate retirement of solutions by technology companies because they want to encourage their customers to upgrade their technology while aiming to enhance revenue streams. Sunsetting software is the intentional discontinuance or retirement of a software by the vendor, typicallywith the goal of encouraging users to pay for an upgrade. When you consider the supply chain industry and retail, manufacturing, and third-party logistics (3PL) shipper, this phenomenon poses significant challenges for those who rely heavily on these software solutions.

In this enlightening ParcelCast episode, Co-Founder of ProShip, Justin Cramer, shares his extensive wisdom accumulated from over 20 years in the industry. He covers the topic of shipping software longevity, with talking points addressing sunsetting software, paid upgrades, and why companies shopping for multi-carrier shipping software tend to return to ProShip.

Justin begins the conversation by exploring software vendor’s intentional discontinuation or retirement of software and what three options that leaves the shipper – pay their existing vendor for a software upgrade, move on to a new vendor, or risk using outdated software until it can no longer function. He explains that not all software is destined to sunset, especially advanced shipping software that utilizes continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) [Learn more about how and why ProShip uses this update process].

The episode then transitions into a conversation about costs. Justin helps listeners to understand how much they are paying for software relative to what they are getting out of it. The low upfront cost may be deceiving to the total cost when the software only lasts a few years, multiplying into a cost several times higher than a proper CI/CD solution. Justin wraps up the discussion by explaining why the ProShip CI/CD philosophy, staff, and efficient problem solving keeps customers coming back to ProShip’s multi-carrier shipping software.

Is your current shipping software at risk for sunsetting? Tune in to discover why you need a long-term, flexible shipping solution!

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to hear from supply chain experts on preparing your carrier strategy for peak season.

Jul 20, 202310:57
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 29: Inventory, Reporting, Visibility and AI – The WMS Conversation

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 29: Inventory, Reporting, Visibility and AI – The WMS Conversation

In today’s digital age, marked by complex supply chains and soaring customer expectations, efficient warehouse management has become a vital component to success. With customers expecting quick and accurate order fulfillment, businesses need to optimize their warehouse operations to guarantee seamless inventory management, streamlined processes, and fast deliveries. Utilizing an effective warehouse management system (WMS) enables businesses to reduce costs, accurately manage inventory, minimize errors, and improve their overall operational efficiency. In the existing competitive landscape, efficient warehouse management has become an imperative strategy for businesses aiming to succeed and surpass competitors in a rapidly changing market.

In this ParcelCast episode, Co-Founder of ProShip, Justin Cramer, is accompanied by Mike Mullane, EVP of Warehouse Solutions of Fog Software Group. The pair discuss the evolution of warehouse management systems over the past two decades, including who and why a company might benefit from utilizing WMS software.  

Mike and Justin begin the conversation by identifying concerns relating to both labor and space and how the pandemic has shifted the way companies value and utilize both. They discuss warehouse demographics, evaluating the shift from the original brick and mortar stores to a spike in e-commerce over the past two years, and finally into the direct-to-consumer platforms we see more of today. Mike explains more about the WMS market and the factors that help determine what type of WMS a company should be looking for. The conversation transitions into identifying some pain points that a WMS can solve for businesses who may be using a system that’s too restrictive for their needs. Lastly, the two wrap up in a discussion about the future, exploring the exciting possibilities and advancements of AI in WMS software and what that might look like.

Is your warehouse management system providing the functionality you need? Tune in to find out!

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to hear from ProShip’s resident expert, Justin Cramer, on the key strategy to finding a successful long-term shipping software.

Jul 03, 202359:14
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 27: The Second Annual Tech Talk

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 27: The Second Annual Tech Talk

The strategic focus on advancements in information technology remains prevalent as our world’s computing, software development, and data management capabilities continue to grow. This means that staying on top of technological progressions and implementing them into your business is crucial to remaining competitive and finding success. This extends into the supply chain and logistics departments for all retailers, manufacturers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers across the country.

In this month’s episode of ProShip ParcelCast, we’ve brought together three IT experts from ProShip: Justin Cramer, Jeff Lukaszewski, and Cody Remmel. These knowledgeable techies dive into a series of topics including:

-Artificial Intelligence

-OAuth and OIDC

-Carrier Technology and Tracking

-Architecture [The Differences Between Monolithic and Microlithic Solutions]

Will Artificial Intelligence replace humans? Tune in to hear their thoughts!

With technology changing so quickly, is your brand keeping pace? Having the flexibility to adapt to any security or supply chain IT need as it comes up will offer your brand a step ahead of those still scrambling to even address the problem. To learn more about how ProShip’s robust multi-carrier shipping software is authentically ProShip end-to-end and built for the enterprise shipper, reach out to one of our shipping experts today.  

Don’t miss more ParcelCast episodes covering supply chain trends and shipping topics later this year.

Jun 15, 202340:40
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 28: Shipping is the New Shopping: Reinventing Package Delivery & Returns to Drive a Positive CX

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 28: Shipping is the New Shopping: Reinventing Package Delivery & Returns to Drive a Positive CX

We are all aware of the pandemic's responsibility regarding the significant increase on e-commerce in the past few years. However, it’s also widely transformed what we know as the gig economy. The pandemic propelled the gig economy forward, as more and more of these workers redefined the dynamics of when, where, how, and compensation for their work. Today, a greater variety of jobs are available to gig economy workers and the demand for their skills is beyond doubt.

Veho is at the forefront of crowd sourced (gig economy) drivers for their delivery services. Although these gig workers may not conform to the typical 9-5 full-time office position, providing a great customer experience is just as crucial.

In this ParcelCast episode, ProShip’s Alliance Manager, Jerri Dixon, is joined by Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip, and Brian McDevitt, Chief Revenue Officer of Veho. The three discuss the increased importance of a positive customer experience and some recent data that breaks down the various carrier-related factors that can make or break the CX.

Brian and Justin decipher what makes a positive consumer experience when it comes to the delivery and returns process. Brian shares the importance of communication between the carrier and the customer from each step of the delivery process until the ‘moment of truth’ when the package reaches the customer's door. They also dive into the idea of a frictionless returns process and how the post-purchase experience heavily affects brand loyalty and customer retention. Lastly, Justin reiterates how important it is for shippers to consider more than capacity and coverage when it comes to rationalizing their carriers.

Are your carriers providing a frictionless delivery experience? Tune in to find out!

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to hear from our experts on trending IT topics surrounding the world of shipping.

Jun 07, 202336:53
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 26: Technology & A Good Foundation: A Parcel Carrier Shipping Story

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 26: Technology & A Good Foundation: A Parcel Carrier Shipping Story

In this month’s ParcelCast episode, ProShip brought together two parcel shipping experts to identify and discuss important factors that help build a successful parcel carrier and the factors that differentiate leading carriers from others in the shipping industry. Listeners this month will hear from Proship’s Alliance Manager and host, Jerri Dixon, as she is joined by Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip, and Josh Fredman, Senior VP at Better Trucks. These three shipping professionals kick off the discussion with a high-level look at the current parcel shipping landscape – highlighting key issues like capacity, funding, and market risk. After the pandemic helped shippers realize the importance of a diversified carrier mix, the next step for mature shippers is a rationalized carrier mix. Listeners will hear from Justin and Josh about the differentiators that set apart elite carriers. Diving into funding and debt, Justin and Josh discuss how these factors can impact flexibility and decision making when it comes to adverse situations and the role it can play in your carrier choices. They continue with the concept of dynamic pricing and the technology required to implement and succeed in finding better savings for both the company and its customers. Finally, the episode wraps up with a discussion on the rise of sustainability and how consumers are making more conscious choices – hint: that extends to parcel carriers. Learn about what Better Trucks has in the works!  

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to learn about other supply chain and logistics technology topics!

May 05, 202329:24
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 25: Cross-Border Shipping: Compliance, Documents and Changing Requirements – Oh My!

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 25: Cross-Border Shipping: Compliance, Documents and Changing Requirements – Oh My!

The ProShip team is traveling again – around the world to discuss international shipping. ProShip brought in our cross-border experts to answer questions about the difficulties that shippers may face and how they can circumvent the ever-changing international shipping environment. In this month’s ParcelCast episode, ProShip experts break down some of the foundational information you may encounter at a high level. They work through some of the international documents and acronyms you may encounter, such as Commercial Invoices [Learn more about the parts of a CI], and a B-13A.


Hosting this month is ProShip’s Customer Success Specialist, Katie Wanke. She is joined by Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip, and Rodolfo Gomez, Integration Engineer at ProShip. With a variety of international shipping experience from the technical to customer experience, these three shipping professionals highlight how these important requirements can apply to parcel shippers at any level – from small to enterprise.

Listeners will hear about compliance regulations regarding international shipping, as well as specific certifications for filling shipments, i.e. ACE/AESDirect. [Check out ProShip’s recent blog to learn more about what it means to partner with a certified vendor for ACE filings.] In addition, they will discuss changes with Brexit and offer tips for ensuring you are following current requirements. Listen in to hear differences between automated clearance and consolidated clearance and learn about some of the carriers that offer these services (it may be one you are already using!). In addition, they touch on how and what shipping profiles and delivery areas could influence you to put together your own delivery chain to create a unique consolidated clearance event for your business. Finally, they end the discussion by explaining how multi-carrier shipping software can serve as a source of truth for this important required information within your Enterprise Software Stack (ESS) so that it isn’t a manual process entered in by one of your warehouse, store, or other employees.

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to learn about other supply chain and logistics technology topics!


Mar 28, 202316:60
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 24: Time to Say Goodbye: Why Companies Are Breaking Up with Their Shipping Software Vendors

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 24: Time to Say Goodbye: Why Companies Are Breaking Up with Their Shipping Software Vendors

Breaking up is hard to do but sometimes necessary. In this month’s ParcelCast episode, ProShip experts dive into a discussion of what industry factors, vendor characteristics, and more can push a retailer, manufacturer, third-party logistics (3PL) provider, or other enterprise shipper to look for a new parcel shipping solution.

For her debut, Taylor Pawelka, Director of Marketing at ProShip, hosts this episode. She is joined by Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip, and Dave Salter, Business Development Representative. These three shipping professionals zero in on the fears or dislikes that brands are sharing about their current parcel shipping software applications.

Listeners will hear about shipping solutions who may have lost their parcel focus or have products that are no longer supported or are being sunsetted. These are real issues that shippers are dealing with that can have a huge impact on important success metrics like support and product improvement. Justin and Dave discuss development models and how these tie to crucial bottom-line factors like compliance, automation, and shipping costs. They also talk about the importance of flexibility and extensibility and how to determine your needs in these areas. Finally, all three share some transparency about the level of difficulty in technical support and why vendors are facing such scrutiny (and seeing such diverse levels of success) in the supply chain technology industry.

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode to learn about other supply chain and logistics technology topics!

Feb 27, 202335:46
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 23: What is a Peer-to-Peer Order Fulfillment Network

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 23: What is a Peer-to-Peer Order Fulfillment Network

This month’s ParcelCast episode brings two experts together for a discussion of distributed fulfillment and the process of intelligently bringing large-scale fulfillment centers closer to customers.

This episode is hosted by Justin Cramer, who is joined by Manish Chowdhary, Founder and CEO at Cahoot. Together, these experts dive into a discussion about the current fulfillment economy and how a collaboration platform is changing shipping technology with distributed fulfillment.

Those who listen in will gain a high-level understanding of distributed fulfillment and how it can benefit shippers in today’s volatile environment. Touching on the impacts of shippers like Amazonand American Eagle on e-commerce, Justin and Manish dive into the cost benefits of embracing a distributed fulfillment network. They also talk about the competitive environment that retailers may see themselves in and how this shipping technology is flipping that concept on its head. Finally, they explore how reverse logistics has changed over the last two years and what we will see in the coming years (Hint: some top retailers are already doing this!).

Jan 12, 202327:20
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 22: And in this Parcel Shipping Corner... WorldLink

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 22: And in this Parcel Shipping Corner... WorldLink

2020 through 2022 saw a shake-up in the parcel market. There were mergers, acquisitions, major investments, and several players left the business. With the constant and lightning-fast changes in technology, brands who want to stay innovative but keep their focus on their core business, will choose to acquire complementary products and services. ProShip has included CMS GlobalSoft’s parcel shipping software, WorldLink, as a new product line within our portfolio of solutions to provide value to the mid-market business sector and bring industry knowledge to the forefront with ProShip’s well-known strong reputation.

For this month’s ParcelCast episode, ProShip host, Justin Cramer, is joined by Yulia Popokh, President at both Varsity Logistics and WorldLink and Eric Levine, Sales Executive for WorldLink. Together, the three cover the reasoning behind the acquisition of CMS GlobalSoft by FOG Software and highlight the value points for this product.

Throughout their conversation, listeners will gain insight into the future of the WorldLink product including roadmap initiatives and what we can see from the team. With the ProShip multi-carrier shipping software top of mind, Eric and Justin will break down the similarities and differences of the WorldLink product. They also take a step back to provide an overview of the parcel market and how this product fits in. Finally, find out where you can meet these 3 in person in 2023 – hot tip: it’s across the country!

Want to learn more about WorldLink? Follow  on LinkedIn for product and event updates or reach out to sales@proshipinc.com directly. 

Be sure to tune into the next ProShip ParcelCast episode in 2023 to learn about cutting-edge supply chain and logistics topics!

Dec 15, 202218:51
 [ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 21: A Carrier’s Guide to Expecting the Parcel Delivery Unexpected

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 21: A Carrier’s Guide to Expecting the Parcel Delivery Unexpected

We are all familiar with the major influx of e-commerce sales that came during the pandemic. If we break it down by the numbers, the US Census Bureau calls out a 43% increase in e-commerce sales from 2019 to 2020. How some shipping carriers thrived (while others barely survived) may not be as familiar to all.

For this month’s ParcelCast episode, ProShip host, Jerri Dixon is joined by Justin Cramer and Dean Mills, the VP of Sales & Marketing, North America at Tforce Logistics. The 3 break down how leading brands rode the pandemic wave of e-commerce sales and what factors are at play for this year’s peak season.

Dean and Justin examine strategies that have worked in the past and forecast how those tactics will fare this year and in those to come. Dean shares the next step in carrier diversification – hint: it’s not about just the number of carriers in your library! Finally, sharpen your pencil and take some notes as both parties share some homework that shippers can do to prepare for Peak 2023 and beyond.

Want more tips for preparing for the upcoming peak season? ProShip has 6 upcoming webinars where experts will examine trending parcel (and LTL!) challenges. Register for the ProS Who Know 2022 Virtual Event at https://go.proshipinc.com/register-pros-who-know-2022 to learn more!

Sep 26, 202225:41
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 20: All Things Amazon & the Tech Changes That Matter

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 20: All Things Amazon & the Tech Changes That Matter

Amazon, the e-commerce behemoth, delivered more than 5 billion packages in the United States last year and is beefing up its infrastructure to be able to tackle whatever they determine will be their next step. Let’s crunch some numbers – as of January of this year, Amazon now operates 305 large fulfillment centers around the U.S., which average 800,000 square feet of storage space. They also operate over 70,000 delivery vehicles in their growing fleet. So, what do these numbers tell us? Hint: this blog post.

This month’s ParcelCastepisode brings together ProShip’s own IT and resident Amazon experts: Justin Cramer and Dan Scott, hosted by Alliance Manager, Jerri Dixon. These 3 break down Amazon’s evolving shipping and logistics tech landscape including, the software stack, fulfillment methods and selling programs. As a bonus – they touch on what we can expect from Amazon as a carrier. Listen now to find out their thoughts!

Aug 03, 202232:22
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 19: The Annual Tech Talk

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 19: The Annual Tech Talk

Supply chain technology advancements continue to be a strategic focus for many brands looking to thrive in an uncertain post-pandemic ecosystem. In a recent Gartner survey, over 60% of respondents say technology is a source of competitive advantage for them. So what kind of IT trends and topics should shippers pay attention to for the upcoming peak season?

This month’s ParcelCast episode brings together several IT experts from ProShip including Justin Cramer, Jeff Lukaszewski, Clint Boaz, and Cody Remmel. These knowledgeable techies cover topics like…

- Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment [Learn More about CI/CD]

- Separation of Concerns

- Auth0 and OAuth

- Business Rule Management [What you should know about Complex Business Rules]

- On-premise vs Cloud

The experts also address the age-old question – tabs or spaces? Listen in to find out their thoughts!

May 26, 202241:42
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 18: Check the Plumbing: Is Your Supply Chain Leaking Money?

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 18: Check the Plumbing: Is Your Supply Chain Leaking Money?

With a growing number of annual rate increases and surcharges, 2022 could be an even more expensive year for shippers who haven’t taken a proactive approach to their supply chain. That proactive supply chain should include an in-depth review of your supply chain performance, highlighting key data and analytics that can provide insight into any errors or unnecessary risks. This audit should demonstrate how reliable and flexible your current strategy is – including your partners. If your business relationships aren’t producing the required outcomes, an audit will offer the opportunity to grade vendor performance and open the discussion to improve.

In this month’s ParcelCast episode, ProShip’s, Tony Verrill, talks with Megan Bishop, Director of Global Operations at enVista. During their discussion, Megan dives into how brands across the retail, manufacturing, and third-party logistics industries have seen that carrier diversification is a strategy that has produced real and tangible results that are now necessary in the changing supply chain landscape. With carriers holding so much of the power in the market right now, Tony and Megan explain the importance of being a shipper of choice with a brand’s carriers and how holding this title will bring not only additional capacity but the ability to optimally manage transportation spend.

Mar 30, 202220:54
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 17: Why Retailers are Evolving Their Supply Chains

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 17: Why Retailers are Evolving Their Supply Chains

With explosive e-commerce acceleration over the past 2 years, traditional shipping strategies just don’t cut it anymore. Brands have experienced growing customer expectations and some have realized that major shippers and other logistics companies can’t offer the innovative functionalities, like advanced tracking, automated responses, and photos of packages on doorsteps, that they demand at this time. Retailers have found a work-around to stay competitive: acquiring their own shipping company.

In the first ParcelCast episode of 2022, ProShip’s Co-Founder, Justin Cramer, chats with Shekar Natarajan, Chief Supply Chain Officer at American Eagle Outfitters and CEO of AirTerra. Over the course of their discussion, Shekar talks about American Eagle’s innovative approach to building their supply chain and how that idea led them to AirTerra. Looking at the current shipping landscape, Justin and Shekar address the effect of COVID on consumer patterns and how this has required retailers to evolve. Shekar breaks down the vision of AirTerra and how it compares to 3rdParty Logistics (3PL) providers and carriers. He illustrates how AirTerra’s platform is a network that shares assets across the supply chain, benefitting shippers who are intending to diversify their carrier strategy.

Jan 26, 202240:45
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 16: A Supply Chain and IT Professional's Guide to NRF 2022

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 16: A Supply Chain and IT Professional's Guide to NRF 2022

In-person trade shows are back, and we are so excited for one of the biggest in the country, the National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail’s Big Show 2022. With an expected attendance of nearly 30,000 retailers, vendors, and industry experts, NRF 2022 is one of the largest can’t miss events in 2022.

With the sheer size of this trade show alone, it’s easy to get lost and feel overwhelmed by the activities and hundreds of vendors present. ProShip is happy to set the stage for supply chain and IT professionals with all the best things to do and see at NRF on our ProShip ParcelCast. With a first-time attender, Jeff Lukaszewski, and a veteran of the show, Justin Cramer, this podcast runs the gamut of informational and exciting reasons to attend NRF 2022.

This month’s episode features Justin Cramer, Co-Founder of ProShip, and Jeff Lukaszewski, Director of Research and Development at ProShip. They chat with host, John Wells, about some key attendee information about the show, as well as highlight some of the innovative experiences available such as the Innovation Lab and Startup Zone. A variety of elite technology vendors will be present (including some ProShip partners) exhibiting in the expo hall as well as tackling retail’s biggest topics with conference sessions, even some that feature ProShip customers.

With a chance to win $300 in gift cards, as well as details about the exclusive invite-only CIO party, tune in to find out more about how attending NRF 2022 can kickstart your 2022 supply chain strategy.

Dec 22, 202117:06
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 15: How Address Quality Shines the Light on Dirty Data

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 15: How Address Quality Shines the Light on Dirty Data

Did you know that over 4 billion pieces of mail are thrown away by the postal service every year due to bad address quality? In this month's episode of ProShip ParcelCast, host, John Wells, ProShip Head of Strategic Partnerships, is joined by Chris Lien, Executive Vice President of Postal Affairs at BCC Software, where they discuss the topic of address quality and validation. 

In an impressive 20-minute session, Chris Lien breaks down the complexity of address validation, the hard and soft costs of using a bad address, and why today's shippers can't rely on the carriers to ensure address validity. He also circles around to how address validation assists other areas of the business outside of supply chain, such as marketing.

Nov 30, 202120:32
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 14: The New Realities of Retail, Delivery Promises and Fulfillment

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 14: The New Realities of Retail, Delivery Promises and Fulfillment

In this month's episode of ProShip ParcelCast, host John Wells, ProShip Head of Strategic Partnerships, is joined by Bill Schroeder, President of ProShip, and Amy Tennent, Senior Director of Product Management at Manhattan Associates to discuss fulfillment optimization and honoring customer delivery promises.  

Amy, John and Bill begin the conversation by touching on the new realities for omnichannel retailers and the technical agility it requires to respond to the digital expectations customers have today. They then dive into inventory availability, planning and optimization and the challenges retailers face with regards to using alternative fulfillment options, such as ship-from-store and BOPIS (and the labor needed).

Nov 02, 202135:37
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 13: Idiot-Proof Business Intelligence Solutions

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 13: Idiot-Proof Business Intelligence Solutions

In this month’s episode of ProShip ParcelCast, host John Wells, ProShip Head of Strategic Partnerships, is joined by Clint Boaz, ProShip Senior Sales Engineer, and Michael Falls, the Director of Global Strategic Solutions at enVista to breakdown dynamic BI solutions.

Clint and Michael start the conversation by giving listeners are detailed breakdown of the difference between business information and Business Intelligence (BI) with the concept of, “Data Rich, Information Poor.” In a systematic manner, they go through problems and solutions for BI – helping to understand why you need a BI service, how it can be personalized for your unique and individual business, and what kind of baseline you can establish to measure the impact of optimization. They also give examples of how picking the right partner can make or break your BI journey (hint: finding the right fit is about more than just technology alignment)!

Sep 28, 202140:32
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 12: Carrier Concerns: Budgeting, Capacity, & Contracts

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 12: Carrier Concerns: Budgeting, Capacity, & Contracts

Any shipper that has been through a hectic peak season knows that the key to any good strategy is flexibility. The current shipping landscape requires shippers to have options so that they can pivot and adapt depending on capacity and carrier coverage considerations. But how can having more options enable elasticity in your shipping approach? With top multi-carrier shipping software customers touting a decreased operational risk and mitigated shipping expenses, a blueprint for progress towards optimizing your shipping strategy is necessary.  

In this month’s episode of ProShip ParcelCast, host John Wells, ProShip Head of Strategic Partnerships, and ProShip Co-Founder, Justin Cramer, are joined by Nate Skiver, Founder of LPF Spend Management.    

Justin and Nate have a detailed discussion breaking down the keys to navigating common carrier concerns including budgeting, capacity, and constraints. They delve into proven successful strategies like carrier diversification and how to simplify the process. (Hint: A good system is simple, not necessarily easy.) With budgeting at the forefront of so many peak planning processes, the experts give tips for prep work and planning when looking at your finances. They also address contract negotiations and how to take control of your diversified list of carriers to create the best possible shipping negotiation scenarios. Both Justin and Nate connect real-world examples of how our current ecosystem, and the factors affecting it, should determine your pivoting strategies – providing impactful benefits to the customer experience and intentional investments toward your future supply chain needs.

Aug 25, 202156:11
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 11: Steady as She Goes: Final-Mile Delivery in the Parcel Shipping Landscape

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 11: Steady as She Goes: Final-Mile Delivery in the Parcel Shipping Landscape

Anyone who has been following the final-mile delivery space can recognize the volatility and unpredictability of this part of the supply chain industry. With new start-ups and national-alternative carriers coming and going relatively quickly, shippers have had to have flexibility in their supply chain and the ability to adapt and shift carriers easily and quickly. So how can shippers build a flexible yet reliable shipping strategy to combat the ebb and flow that different parts of the industry may be seeing?

Listen to our latest ParcelCast to hear ProShip’s take on strategic preparedness with Co-Founder, Justin Cramer, and John Wells, Head of Strategic Parnerships, both of ProShip.

With a last-minute cancellation from a guest (a regional carrier who is recently no longer part of the industry), ProShip owns this discussion as they examine the history of the carrier ecosystem and what ties this has to the more modern landscape. Taking it one step further, Cramer and Wells address some of the problems facing shippers today and share solutions for these on-going issues. They break down specific steps for preparing a stable parcel shipping strategy (hint: it involves a department outside of Logistics and IT). Listen in to find out more!

Jul 27, 202127:50
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 10: Parcels to Pallets: Benefits of the Right Partner

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 10: Parcels to Pallets: Benefits of the Right Partner

It’s been long proven that forming strong vendor partnerships makes smart financial sense. 50% of companies in a recent global research study reported that they consistently get the best people, best pricing, and best ideas from their key suppliers, gaining a competitive advantage to their competitors. Afterall, in an increasingly competitive global ecosystem, collaboration is how top businesses win. So how does that collaboration translate to customer value? Listen to our latest ParcelCast to learn how elite global supply chain partner, Open Sky Group, supported by the ProShip solution, has deployed industry-leading concepts and best practices for top customers.

This ParcelCast episode features ProShip’s Tony Verrill and guest, Shannon Caflisch, Vice President of Sales at Open Sky Group, as they explore the mutually beneficial partnership between the two top companies. Listeners can expect to hear details of the modern landscape of WMS, as well as how supportive vendor partnerships and synergies can propel business for parcel shippers. Open Sky Group gives a glimpse behind the curtain to their effective and successful project approach and tips for the upcoming peak season.

Jun 30, 202138:00
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 9: On Top of the World: Canada & Your Supply Chain

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 9: On Top of the World: Canada & Your Supply Chain

With experts saying the shopping preference for online over brick-and-mortar will continue, businesses should facilitate access to all channels of their supply chain and take advantage of growing markets. One such channel to consider is Canada, the tenth-largest economy in the world. Since the consumer audience is (in many ways) similar to the United States, Canada is an attractive market for US- based companies. With the Canadian market as an additional source of revenue for your business, you’ll increase resilience during a possible crisis (such as the pandemic).

This ParcelCast episode features ProShip’s Justin Cramer and Jeff Lukaszewski as they dive into the Canadian market and why it’s the most likely natural extension of your base business. Our ProShip shipping experts are joined by guest executives, Becky Roesle and Rosemary Hill of Purolator International (see guest bios below). Together, these logistics professionals provide an in-depth look at both the B2B and B2C sector of the Canadian market. They also share advantages to working with Purolator International in assisting with consolidated clearance into Canada. Listen in to learn about what the “COVID effect” has had on consumer behavior in Canada (think: acceleration)!

May 26, 202140:47
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 8: Do This, Not That: Dangerous Goods Shipping 101
Apr 21, 202149:49
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 7: Top Pitfalls to Avoid during New Tech Implementations

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 7: Top Pitfalls to Avoid during New Tech Implementations

Many retailers and consumer goods companies struggle to implement new operational capabilities and associated technologies, most often by underestimating the enterprise impact. A program manager, whether internal or external, is the key to completely understanding how monumental this change is – companies are likely adjusting how every package is shipped.

In this ProShip ParcelCast episode, Justin Cramer, ProShip’s Co-Founder, confers with consultant expert, Josh Mayer, Managing Partner and Founder of Summit Advisory Team, about the top three pitfalls commonly observed when implementing new technologies and how to avoid them. During this conversation, they also touch on Business Intelligence and the importance of leveraging data into actionable insight.

Mar 24, 202129:17
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 6: Coordinating Supply Chain Productivity for an Omnichannel World

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 6: Coordinating Supply Chain Productivity for an Omnichannel World

The global pandemic has shaken supply chain industries to their core and pushed ahead the rise of unified commerce. For most businesses, this past year has highlighted parcel shipping challenges or lapses in the retail supply chain, setting a foundation for the importance of agility and visibility by using omnichannel fulfillment strategies.

In this episode of ProShip ParcelCast, ProShip’s Co-Founder, Justin Cramer, along with the President of Jesta I.S., Arvind Gupta, touch on the omnichannel shipping challenges seen in both the B2C and B2B markets and what kind of visibility expectations consumers are looking for in 2021. They also share how to offer same-view information on inventory in real-time to all parts of the supply chain.

Feb 23, 202145:42
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 5: Peak Postmortem (Hindsight is 20/20)

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 5: Peak Postmortem (Hindsight is 20/20)

The 2020 peak season presented shippers with a unique set of challenges. From already booming e-commerce business to an unprecedented disruption in supply chains due to the global pandemic, businesses of all types had to adapt to a quickly evolving shipping landscape. 

In this episode of ProShip ParcelCast, experts from ProShip along with Mark Taylor from enVista perform a postmortem on 2020 peak parcel shipping with a focus on capacity constraints, carriers severing contracts and the inability of shippers to get packages out the door. They also touch on how operational constraints affect strategy and provide actionable solutions to the shipping pains experienced in 2020.

Don't forget to register for our upcoming webinar with enVista, where we take a deeper dive into these topics and answer some questions from the audience! To register, visit bit.ly/proship2021.

Jan 20, 202139:47
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 4: Software-Driven Automation

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 4: Software-Driven Automation

Automation plays a huge role in the world of supply chain distribution. In a traditional sense, you may be thinking of automatic equipment like conveyors or autonomous vehicles. However, Accelogix looks at software-driven automation and poses the question, "Yes the different software solutions within your technology stack work, but do they work together?"  

Join us for a special New Year's Eve bonus episode of ProShip ParcelCast as Justin Cramer, Co-Founder of ProShip, interviews Ryan Kirklewski, COO of Accelogix, on software-driven automation, optimization, labor and LogistiVIEW, as they relate to supply chain distribution.

Dec 31, 202045:56
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 3: Capacity, Cost, Control & CX

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 3: Capacity, Cost, Control & CX

If you started 2020 with a shipping plan, that plan likely got thrown out the window. As the peak season comes to a close, shippers are scrambling to build new strategies in terms of managing high parcel volume and find new ways to deliver e-commerce orders to customers should trends continue into 2021.  

Join parcel shipping experts Bill Schroeder from ProShip and Rick Hernandez from Pitney Bowes as they discuss the 2020 peak shipping season and moving into 2021 as it relates to parcel capacity constraints, shipping costs, carrier control and the customer experience.

Dec 16, 202035:51
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 2: The Inside Scoop on Regional Carriers

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 2: The Inside Scoop on Regional Carriers

For years companies have regularly negotiated exclusive shipping contracts with major carriers who handle all their parcel shipping needs. Shippers benefited from predictable costs and delivery guarantees, and carriers could more easily forecast volume and revenue. But times have changed.

There's been a steep rise in parcel shipping volume due to online shopping surges from the pandemic, along with overall increases in e-commerce. The major carriers can no longer maintain the speed and reliability that consumers demand and have imposed multiple surcharges, as well as parcel volume capacity limits on shippers, leaving them in desperate need of a true multi-carrier strategy involving regional carriers.

Join parcel shipping experts Justin Cramer from ProShip and Josh Dinneen from LaserShip as they discuss the evolution of regional carriers and their service-level differences, e-commerce industry changes and new customer onboarding timelines for the carriers.

Nov 04, 202030:45
[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 1: A 20/20 Peek at Peak 2020

[ProShip ParcelCast] Episode 1: A 20/20 Peek at Peak 2020

This year we have all grasped for the elusive crystal ball that will give us 20/20 vision for what lies ahead. 2020 has already presented e-tailers with unusual challenges and opportunities, with uncertainty being one of the few certain aspects of the business environment.

As this unprecedented year has progressed, the peak holiday shipping season has loomed on the horizon. Peak 2020 will be upon us in several short weeks. The bad news is that the challenges facing shippers this peak are substantial. The good news is that those challenges are starting to shape up a bit more to give shippers some time to prepare. Crystal ball aside, recent industry headlines concerning the major carriers have shed light on some of the obstacles in the road ahead.

Join parcel shipping experts Justin Cramer and Clint Boaz from ProShip as they discuss... similarities to peak season 2013, peak 2020 issues and challenges, planning for 2021 and more.

Oct 08, 202034:11