A Look Under the Hood
Advice from Expert Tabi Connect Users
What do you look at when deciding to add more shippers to Tabi Connect?
When considering the addition of extra shippers to TabiConnect, there are several aspects we consider:
Volume plays a significant role. If one or more team members find themselves dedicating a significant portion of their day to bidding and rebidding on spot boards, a simple analysis reveals that spending 1-2 hours daily or placing bids for 10 or more loads per day can diminish productivity. Moreover, this practice detracts from other tasks that generate revenue.
Another crucial factor is the operational makeup of the customers. Shipments from customers that exhibit numerous idiosyncrasies and exceptions may not align with our system and necessitate human interaction. On the other hand, customers who have shipments characterized by redundancy, predictability, and consistency are ideal candidates for TabiConnect.
Did you experience any resistance in change management with your team? If so, how did you address it?
When it comes to change management within our team, the term "understanding" is more appropriate. In general, our team did not exhibit resistance but rather expressed a desire to comprehend the workings of the process, familiarize themselves with the user interface (UI), and gain clarity on the expectations associated with utilizing TabiConnect.
We have found that the most effective approach in introducing any new technology is to actively solicit feedback from our users. Additionally, we emphasize the benefits that TabiConnect brings to their workflow, particularly in terms of eliminating redundant tasks and delivering freight with minimal human intervention, effectively simplifying the process. By showcasing these advantages, we help our team members grasp the value and embrace the changes more easily What reporting cadence do you typically follow?
In terms of our reporting cadence, our typical approach is as follows:
During the implementation phase and immediately after, it is crucial to examine the data and reporting on a daily basis, and possibly multiple times throughout the day. This allows us to not only comprehend how each parameter functions individually but also understand how these parameters and logic apply to each individual load. This load-by-load analysis provides valuable insights.
Once the implementation is underway and we have gone through a trial and error phase to establish what constitutes "good and bad" outcomes, we have identified a best practice. Instead of making daily changes to the parameters, we have found it more effective to review the data daily to identify wins, losses, and trends. By assessing the data regularly, we can make informed decisions and effectively communicate with our customers, ultimately transforming spot freight into contracted freight. As a result, we have settled on a weekly parameter adjustment schedule, which has proven to be successful in our operations.
How have you best used the data from TabiConnect to present back to your shippers or to use internally to direct your company?
The data obtained from TabiConnect has been leveraged in two primary ways: presenting it back to our shippers and utilizing it internally to guide our company's direction.
When observing upward volume trends in spot lanes or markets, it often indicates that the customer is encountering capacity challenges or potentially paying more than necessary as they test existing pricing structures. In such cases, we utilize the data to initiate conversations with our shippers, sharing the insights and inquiring about the possibility of securing the freight through contractual agreements.
This approach is particularly effective because it allows us to provide consistency and stability to our shippers when the spot market indicates an imbalance or inconsistency.
By utilizing the data from TABiConnect in this manner, we can engage in productive discussions with our shippers, identify opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships, and optimize our operations accordingly.
How have you best used the data from TabiConnect to present back to your shippers or to use internally to direct your company?
The data obtained from TabiConnect has been leveraged in two primary ways: presenting it back to our shippers and utilizing it internally to guide our company's direction.
When observing upward volume trends in spot lanes or markets, it often indicates that the customer is encountering capacity challenges or potentially paying more than necessary as they test existing pricing structures. In such cases, we utilize the data to initiate conversations with our shippers, sharing the insights and inquiring about the possibility of securing the freight through contractual agreements.
This approach is particularly effective because it allows us to provide consistency and stability to our shippers when the spot market indicates an imbalance or inconsistency.
By utilizing the data from TabiConnect in this manner, we can engage in productive discussions with our shippers, identify opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships, and optimize our operations accordingly.
How has Tabi worked for your team?
Are you happ y with the system?
Tabi has proven to be effective for our team, and we are satisfied with the system. Here are the key aspects of our experience:
Tabi has demonstrated its value by facilitating an increase in tendered spot loads over the past year across the platforms our customers utilize, such as E2Open, Transplace/Uber, and others. We rely on Tabi for real-time rating and spot board quoting whenever applicable. It is important to note that your experience may differ based on how your customer base engages in spot bidding and real-time rating.
From a user interface (UI) perspective, the system is user-friendly and intuitive. It allows for easy modification of parameters on the go. Moreover, assessing the impact of parameters on a load-by-load basis, such as their influence on margin or determining a "no bid" scenario, is straightforward and transparent.
Overall, our team has found Tabi to be a valuable tool that enhances our operations and contributes to our success.
Did you find the ROI you expected?
Regarding the expected return on investment (ROI), we have found that it aligns with our expectations. The implementation of TabiConnect has enabled our users to shift their focus from constantly monitoring spot boards to nurturing customer relationships, which is a crucial aspect of our business. It is important to note that the ROI can vary based on the specific circumstances and operations of your organization.
There are two key components to consider when evaluating the ROI:
a. Soft ROI: By freeing up our team's time from spot board activities, they have more availability to concentrate on other revenue-generating tasks. This intangible benefit enhances our overall business performance.
b. Hard ROI: While we do not have an exact figure, the ROI can be measured by considering factors such as labor cost savings or redirecting resources towards relationship building, resulting in additional volume awarded. In the best-case scenario, the ROI can range from 15 to 20 times the investment, while in the worst-case scenario, it may be around 2 to 3 times. It is important to emphasize that these estimates can vary on a case-by-case basis, depending on the unique circumstances and individual customers.
Ultimately, the ROI achieved through TabiConnect will be influenced by your organization's specific needs and operations.
What is one piece of advice that you would give to new Tabi Connect users?
1. Start small
2. Have a game plan
3. Train, then train some more
4. Start with an individual/smaller group and make them champions of the tool a. The more buy-in, the more attention the tool will garner b. More time spent on the front end is less on the backend Do not over complicate automation - if it does not work, it is likely not a tool issue, it is likely you missed one of the 4 points above When reflecting on Tabi, here are my honest takeaways that I share with anyone who asks:
It is crucial to assess how your customer base operationalizes spot quoting. Understanding their specific needs and preferences in this area is key to effectively implementing Tabi.
Consider who will be responsible for handling the parameters. Will it be managed at a desk level or at the corporate level? This decision depends on your organizational structure and is of vital importance. In our case, we control the parameters at the corporate level, while looking at each parameter set at a customer level.
With 10 customers across multiple modalities, this approach is manageable. However, if you have a larger customer base, it may require additional manpower to fine-tune the parameters. a. Another factor to consider is if the parameters are controlled at a desk level. In such cases, each user may have different parameter sets and levels of experience, resulting in potentially varied outcomes. Users who do not see the desired results may revert to manual bidding.
It's important to recognize that the effectiveness of the parameters depends on the input provided by the user(s). To optimize the results, we have discovered several best practices: a. Regularly review the parameters at least twice a week and make necessary tweaks based on the results of the quotes. The data can be easily viewed and exported to Excel for analysis. b. Start with a small set of parameters and gradually build upon them. Beginning with too many parameters can cause complications when trying to achieve desired outcomes. c. Input from your users is valuable.
Before moving forward, ensure that users receive proper training on how each parameter set works (Hubtek provides a PDF document for reference) as well as overall training and onboarding. Each customer is unique, so before going live, it's beneficial to sit down with the user(s) or team(s) and have them complete a customer profile to gain a better understanding of each customer's operational characteristics, such as price sensitivity, volume, multiple pickup/drop-off needs, weekend shipping, and more.
By considering these factors and implementing these best practices, you can maximize the effectiveness of Tabi and ensure a smoother transition and operation for your team.