In a recent freight industry survey, we uncovered that 42% of small business (SMB) shippers are actively seeking solutions to help them improve efficiency across shipping operations. At the same time, 43% of SMB shippers plan to increase their use of technology over time. If your small business shares these goals, we’d love to meet you at the intersection.

At Amazon Freight, we believe in using technology to streamline shipping for our customers. For example, we offer a self-service online portal that allows SMB shippers to book a load with us in just a few clicks. We also provide our carriers and drivers the Amazon Relay app—an easy-to-use tool that delivers load alerts, truck-specific navigation features, route planning support, and more—to assist them on the road.

Rooted in this tech-forward approach to transportation, here are three ways Amazon Freight makes shipping easy for small businesses.

1. We offer online load scheduling and tracking
When it comes to freight tech options, online tools for load visibility top the SMB shipper wish list. In fact, our research revealed that 36% of SMB shippers are more likely to work with a freight provider offering advanced tracking tools. Why? Visibility is key to ensuring customer satisfaction in today's fast delivery economy.

So, as previously mentioned, Amazon Freight offers an online portal for shippers to book a load in three easy steps: 1) Create a login, 2) Share pickup and delivery details, and 3) Tell us what we’re carrying. From there, scheduling a shipment is just a click away.

While that load is in transit, you can use this same portal to access electronic documents, such as your bill of lading (BOL) and proof of delivery (POD). Providing these items electronically allows us to send essential load information to you faster.

“I like getting Amazon Freight’s notifications that keep me informed so I know everything is running smoothly and can grab a load’s POD quickly,” says Bryan Cuevas, CEO of C Group Logistics.

Taking the freight tech benefits one step further, we can also integrate our web-based tracking into transportation management systems through API and EDI integrations. For more information on this capability, check out this blog post.

2. We provide accessible billing and pricing
Speaking of going electronic, Amazon Freight also provides digital pricing and invoicing options. Besides being more convenient for many SMB shippers, paperless billing is better for the environment, easier to organize, and faster to search.

“The ability to quote, modify, and book shipments all within a single platform with zero emails required means huge time savings for our teams,” says Michael Lardakis, Director of Logistics at Reach Logistics and an Amazon Freight customer.

Need to reference a past invoice for a meeting? Log into your account to locate and download statements. Working on next year’s freight budget? Use the portal to review past invoices and give yourself a good starting point.

At the end of the day, working with Amazon Freight can help your small business decrease time wasted and physical filing space (and papercuts).

3. We deliver reliable, transparent communication
We’ve touched on how Amazon Freight uses technology to provide visibility into your shipments. However, we also believe communication is key to a successful transportation provider/shipper relationship.

By balancing innovative technology with human-centric experiences, Amazon Freight provides frequent, reliable communication to our SMB shippers. For example, we leverage advanced tech and GPS tracking to paint a full picture of a shipment’s status. Combined with the human touch of our dedicated transportation consultants and 24/7 shipper support team, these innovations can enhance logistics for your business.

“As a transportation consultant, I offer a highly personalized approach and additional information to help resolve disruptions,” says Dan Espiritu, a Dedicated Transportation Consultant for Amazon Freight. Dan regularly schedules meetings with his shippers to help them identify potential roadblocks and develop solutions to work around these blocks. His proactive approach to doing business is an excellent example of what it’s like to work with Amazon Freight. Click here to read more about Dan and his role.

Ready to grow with us?
Online load scheduling and shipment visibility, paperless invoicing, and reliable communication – for all these reasons and more, shipping with Amazon Freight could be the right move for your small businesses. Book your first load with us today to experience the difference.