Streamlining Shipping Documentation: Why Retailers Need Intelligent Automation

In today’s fast-paced retail world, staying efficient in supply chain operations isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for success.

One area that often gets overlooked but can make a huge difference is shipping documentation.

For businesses managing both international and domestic shipments, the mountain of paperwork—like commercial invoices, bills of lading, export licenses, and certificates of authenticity—can feel overwhelming. So, how can retailers keep up and stay ahead?

The Growing Challenge of Shipping Documentation

Retailers today face more pressure than ever to process shipping paperwork quickly and accurately. And unfortunately, global trends are making things harder:

• Rising Documentation Requirements: Post-Brexit regulations alone have caused an 80% increase in the number of required customs forms. A single freight shipment can now require up to 10 different documents.
• Geopolitical Disruptions: Supply chain instability has forced retailers to work with new suppliers, further complicating documentation.
• Labour Shortages: With fewer skilled employees available, shipping paperwork management often slows down, leading to errors.

Data Fragmentation: Shipping information is scattered across different systems, making it hard to track shipments or respond to customer inquiries promptly.

All these challenges don’t just slow things down—they increase costs, frustrate employees, and hurt relationships with customers.

The Hidden Costs of Manual Processing

For many retailers, shipping documentation is still a manual, paper-based process. And while it might seem manageable, the costs of sticking to this outdated method can quickly add up:

• Time-Consuming Data Entry: Manually entering data from multiple documents takes time and slows down operations.
• High Error Rates: Mistakes in manual entry can lead to shipping delays, compliance issues, and higher costs.
• Customer Dissatisfaction: Errors and delays mean slower shipments, which can damage customer trust and satisfaction.
• Rising Operational Costs: To keep up during peak times, businesses often need to hire extra staff, increasing overhead.

Intelligent Automation: The Smarter Solution

So, how can retailers move past these inefficiencies? The answer lies in Intelligent Automation. Automation solutions, like those from Tungsten Automation, are transforming shipping documentation by simplifying the process and reducing errors.

Here’s how they make a difference:

• Faster Processing: AI-powered systems handle large volumes of paperwork quickly, cutting turnaround times drastically.
• Error-Free Documentation: Automation ensures 100% accuracy, so you don’t have to worry about costly mistakes or compliance issues.
• Scalability Without Extra Staff: Automated workflows let you grow your operations without hiring additional employees.
• Real-Time Verification: Documents are matched instantly to shipments, purchase orders, or ERP records, keeping everything running smoothly.
• Proactive Problem Solving: Missing data? Automation flags it for human review, preventing delays before they happen.
• Enhanced Visibility: A centralised digital system gives you full transparency across all shipments, improving customer responsiveness by up to 80%.

The Competitive Edge

Retailers who embrace Intelligent Automation for shipping documentation aren’t just keeping up—they’re gaining a competitive edge. By reducing manual effort, minimising errors, and improving customer satisfaction, they’re lowering costs and boosting efficiency.

If your business is struggling with slow, error-prone shipping documentation, it might be time to explore Tungsten Automation’s Intelligent Automation solutions.

Ready to Automate?

Don’t let outdated processes hold your business back. Discover how automation can revolutionise your supply chain.

📊 See the difference: Check out our latest infographic comparing manual processing with Intelligent Automation.
🚀 Get started today: Learn more about Tungsten Automation’s supply chain solutions and unlock new levels of efficiency.