Automation is in full swing in the postal and logistics sector as ever greater efficiencies and cost savings are required. To be competitive, you need to be able to operate at maximum capacity. Unforeseen events and disruptions as much as workforce challenges require flexible and agile solutions to ensure consistent operations and no additional costs. However, paper-based data is still prevalent, making it difficult for the industry to fully leverage automated solutions. While digitization technologies like OCR can help transform analog data for improved workflows, 5-20% of all transactions are not properly digitized. This is where outsourced data capture services come in – an excellent way to close the final automation gap.
Download PDF about Digitization Solutions
So What Exactly Are Data Capture Services and Where Can They Be Used in the Postal and Logistics Industry
Data capture services refer to the process of digitizing and capturing information from physical documents, such as paper invoices, receipts, forms, labels, and other paperwork, and converting them into electronic format for further processing. These services can be applied in various industries, including the postal and logistics sector.
For companies in this industry, data capture services are a helpful means to streamline operations and increase efficiency. Some areas that data capture services cover in postal and logistics companies are:
- Package tracking: Data capture services can be used to capture and digitize package tracking information, such as barcodes and tracking numbers, allowing for real-time tracking of packages as they move through the delivery process.
- Invoicing and billing: The capture and digitization of billing information, such as invoices and receipts, enables faster and more accurate billing processes.
- Address verification: To reduce the number of undeliverable packages and improve processing speed and delivery accuracy, data capture services for video coding help to record and verify customer address information.
- Customs documentation: External data capture services can help speed customs clearance by digitizing CN labels and recording and adding missing information on senders, recipients, package contents, and commercial information.
Overall, data capture services help postal and logistics companies improve their operational efficiency, reduce costs, and provide better customer service by automating manual processes and improving the accuracy of databases.
Make Sorting Centers More Efficient by Using External Support for Address Data Entry
Sorting centers are a good place to benefit from outsourced data capture. Despite automated sorting systems, a significant portion of shipments must be processed by humans because the addresses cannot be recognized by the machines. With the increasing volume of parcels and other shipments, it is becoming more and more difficult for employees in sorting centers to keep up. In addition, the daily volume of shipments is difficult to predict, as is the demand for labor. The monotony of the work is unattractive, and the unpredictability of the volume of shipments poses a threat to business efficiency, even with automated sorting equipment. With minimum wages on the rise, labor is also a major cost factor for postal and logistics companies.
So what solutions are there to minimize and ultimately overcome these challenges? The answer is to outsource manual data capture to experts to achieve greater efficiency, ensure that the workflow can be easily scaled up or down, and reduce costs. Postal and logistics companies can thus focus on their core business and guarantee their customers stable and fast transit times. Outsourcing manual activities also improves working conditions for employees, making jobs in sorting centers more attractive.
How do fixed personnel costs for manual address and customs data capture in the sorting center compare to costs per item on an as-needed basis?
Find out with our price calculator: VC Price Calculator
How Can Postal and Parcel Logistics Companies Benefit From Outsourcing Data Capture Tasks?
Data capture services offer a range of benefits to businesses looking to streamline their operations. Here are some of the advantages of outsourcing data capture:
- Increased Accuracy: Utilizing a data capture service is beneficial since it eliminates the risk of human error in manually inputting data. This reduces data entry mistakes and increases accuracy.
- Increased Efficiency: Outsourcing data capture is an efficient way to save time and money. Those services can typically complete tasks faster than in-house staff, and are usually more cost-effective.
- Improved Focus: By outsourcing data capture, postal, parcel and fulfillment companies can shift their focus to more important tasks, such as customer service, marketing and other aspects of their business. This helps to increase their productivity and provide better services to their customers.
- Access to Professional Skills: Data capture services usually employ experienced and trained professionals, who have the necessary skills and knowledge to enter data quickly and accurately. This ensures that the data is inputted correctly and efficiently.
Your Turn to Increase Your Operational Efficiency
Spectos captures data 24/7 365 days a year. Our ongoing data entry process is compatible with any kind of shipment format and sorting machines. Stop worrying about digitizing your data and focus on your core business by outsourcing your data capture to experts!
Interested in learning more about digitalization, data capture, and data maintenance services?
Make sure to check out our latest blog post about Outsourced Manual Data Capture to Close the Gap in Automated Parcel Sorting
Tune into the podcast or read the full interview What’s up in the Postal Industry? with Spectos CEO Niels Delater about trends and emerging technologies in the postal sector
Get to know more about Spectos Data Capture Services and Digitization Support
Watch our webinar recording to find out how we support postal and logistics companies 
Stay up to date with our events, case studies, and news by following us on LinkedIn!
