Small parcel audit to improve bottom line

Small parcel audit: necessary to improve your bottom line

by BlogSpend Intelligence

Same-day shipping has become the norm for most e-commerce orders. Further, according to reports, e-commerce sales are growing exponentially every year. Emphasis on digitalization and cashless payments are on the rise. There are chances of shipping and invoicing mistakes by shippers and shipping carriers. Identifying these mistakes is essential for conducting profitable businesses. A small parcel audit helps shippers identify and rectify these mistakes.

In this article, we will explore the concept of small-parcel shipping. In addition, we will discuss small parcel auditing. We will also discuss why small parcel audits are necessary for logistic businesses globally.

Small parcel shipping

Small parcels are packages that weigh less than seventy pounds. Goods get packed in envelopes, poly mailers, or boxes for cost-effective shipping. Customers receive their small parcels through shipping carriers. Shipping small parcels requires careful planning and good logistics. The choice of shipping carriers can impact the shippers’ bottom line.

Small parcel delivery is vital for businesses to retain their reputation. Shippers face the customers’ ire if a small parcel gets delayed, damaged, or misplaced. Customer satisfaction is paramount for business to grow. Thus, tracking small parcel deliveries and saving time is necessary for shippers. A small parcel audit can help any business save money and time.

What is a small parcel audit?

A small parcel audit involves reviewing shipping bills and invoices. It helps identify overcharges and service failures by shipping carriers. Many shipping carriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL promise refunds for errors or service failures. A small parcel audit reviews each shipment for errors and service failures. In addition, it conveys the results to the shippers for appropriate action.

What are service failures?

Small parcel delivery services are possible through small parcel carriers like FedEx, UPS, Ontrac, DHL, CanadaPost, Purolator, etc. Their failure to ship small parcels as committed is a service failure. There are several service failures from shipping carriers.

Some of the service failures by shipping carriers include:

  • Late deliveries- Delivery to the customer beyond the committed time and date.
  • Voids- Packages are billed but not shipped.
  • Duplicate charges- Invoice billing done twice.
  • Avoidable address corrections- Charges for trivial address corrections.
  • Incorrect dimensional weight charges- carriers have taken the wrong measurements of the parcel.
  • Account validation – failure to validate shipments considered for payment for an existing customer account number.
  • Proof-of-Delivery –incorrect identification of POD or an invalid POD.
  • Zone validation – fail to use correct postal codes to validate carrier zone assignment.
  • Erroneous rates- the shipping carrier has given the incorrect discount.

These service failures need rectification immediately so that shippers do not lose money. Logistic businesses can claim refunds for service failures from small parcel carriers. Further, it can reduce shipping costs.

Small parcel auditing

Earlier, there was manual parcel auditing. Employees had to identify all billing errors physically. They had to review several invoices. The review of excessive paperwork was tedious. Shippers had to hire specialist auditors for this labor-intensive work. It took time to gather information and was not cost-effective. Many resources had to spend time and money during auditing. Shippers could save money and resources by adopting small parcel auditing software.

Software-assisted small parcel auditing

US parcel shipping volumes are likely to reach 225 billion by 2028, according to Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index. There’s a need to optimize shipping operations with shipping volumes increase. Shipping companies have started adopting software technology, which is maximizing their profits. Shippers require in-depth visibility of parcel spend with the help of data. Further, shippers can review their invoices digitally. By analyzing the data readily available, enhancement of shipping methods is possible.

Small parcel auditing is possible with specialized software. It gives complete visibility of the shipping operations. Small parcel management with real-time tracking of shipments is beneficial for shippers. Further, refunds for late deliveries from shipping carriers aid businesses in saving money and time. In addition, surcharges like residential delivery surcharges, address correction surcharges, remote area fees, etc., are monitored by the software. Businesses can avoid extra fees with data-backed small parcel audit software.

Small parcel audits benefit a logistic business

Small parcel audits are essential for logistic business operations. These audits help in saving shipping costs for shipping companies. Businesses can monitor the complexity of managing fees, agreements, and money-back guarantees. Small parcel audit processes reduce overall shipping costs for companies. Shipping costs can decrease to about 20% by claiming eligible refunds from shipping carriers.

Small parcel audits allow businesses to save money through refunds from small parcel carriers. Small parcel audits help in the timely identification of late deliveries and automatic refunds. Moreover, shippers can profit by renegotiating their carrier contracts with the shipping carriers. Shippers can negotiate for an advantageous deal with valuable insights from small parcel audits.

Additional benefits of using small parcel audit services

Shippers can save immensely by reviewing data from small parcel audits. It helps shippers to understand any inefficiencies in their systems. These audits identify additional surcharges to companies. For instance, a small parcel audit can identify a parcel sent to the wrong location and recover money. Based on shipment complexity, in-house auditing is expensive for businesses. And so, when logistic companies want to save time and money, they outsource to companies providing small parcel audit services.

One such company is Audintel, which can analyze data to identify billing errors and overcharges. We can strategize solutions to remedy the mistakes. We provide small parcel audit services with state-of-the-art AI-powered dashboards and business intelligence tools. Moreover, we give easy-to-understand shipping reports for businesses to save thousands of dollars.

How do small parcel audit services function?

Companies offering small parcel audit services understand the shippers’ business needs. Small parcel audit services create an online login for the shipper. Further, there is a linkage with the parcel carrier’s systems. Real-time parcel tracking till the point of delivery of the shipment is carried out. Whenever there is a service failure, the generation of an invoice occurs. Subsequently, there is an automatic invoice audit, and an automatic claim is submitted. The audit team contacts the shipping carriers with the claim. The shipping company gets a quick refund. The entire process involves a software tool working in the background.

Small parcel auditing and technology

Small parcel audit services have a dedicated database for each shipping company. There is visibility on each aspect of the shipping information. The data ranges from the parcel origin, destination, charges, etc. Small parcel audit companies use interactive, AI-powered dashboards. An automated BI platform helps to identify extra fees. They help in analyzing problematic areas and negotiate knowledgeably with shipping carriers. After a parcel is shipped, there is an audit at each level. In addition, there is evidence at each service level.

Shippers can save money by claiming UPS and FedEx refunds that otherwise go unclaimed every year. Small parcel management is possible with easy-to-use dashboards and dynamic shipping reports provided by small parcel audit services.

What are the advantages of using small parcel audit services?

The services provided by a small parcel audit company include:

  • E-connectivity with the shipping carrier and parcel invoicing system
  • Transparency in shipment operations
  • Tracking each parcel with accuracy
  • Interacting with parcel carriers to resolve any disputes
  • Check for any violation of guaranteed service agreements
  • Identifying any overcharges made by the parcel carriers

Small parcel audit services provide support to logistic companies. The experts providing these services are well-versed in each aspect of the shipping process. Their exhaustive auditing processes help shippers reduce costs.

Summary

Customer satisfaction is paramount for the logistics industry. Customers can change their choice of company or business based on a bad or good shipping experience. It is painful for shippers if they lose customer trust. A small parcel audit helps identify each charge and ask for a refund. It is vital for real-time confirmation of billing errors. Logistic companies can reduce shipment spend by doing a small parcel audit. Audintel provides small parcel audit solutions for seamless shipping operations.

For further queries on small parcel audits, please call Audintel at +1 (619) 354 8539 or drop a mail at [email protected].

Late FedEx Package Delivery

Late FedEx package delivery: request for a refund

by BlogTSM Services

Does your business ship packages through FedEx? Are you aware that your business is eligible for a refund if a package is delivered late by a minute? But, FedEx will not notify businesses if packages delay. Companies have to keep track of late packages. In addition, FedEx will not notify companies if they suspend or revoke the refund. FedEx refunds are primarily for Express and Ground services with a guaranteed delivery date and time.

FedEx Express

Express shipments involve shipping packages by a given deadline domestically or internationally. FedEx Express shipping services disruption was due to the pandemic, war, etc. Only select FedEx Express services are eligible for FedEx Money-Back Guarantee (MBG) as on January 3, 2023. They are

  • FedEx First Overnight®
  • FedEx Priority Overnight®
  • FedEx Standard Overnight®
  • FedEx First Overnight Extra Hours
  • FedEx Priority Overnight Extra Hours
  • FedEx Standard Overnight Extra Hours
  • FedEx International First®
  • FedEx International Priority®
  • FedEx International Priority® Express
  • FedEx International Priority® Freight

However, FedEx has suspended the money-back guarantee for services like FedEx Ground®, FedEx Freight®, FedEx SameDay® City, and FedEx Office® services till further notice.

Understanding FedEx Money-back Guarantee Policy

According to FedEx’s Money-back Guarantee (MBG) policy, if there is a service failure by FedEx, a business can recover all or a portion of the FedEx charges for a shipment. Late FedEx package delivery help shippers get about 100% refund of their shipping costs. In addition, FedEx offers Money-back Guarantee services to its customers when negotiating contracts. Shippers can receive a refund from FedEx for fifty or more service failures like lost packages, wrong address correction charges, and more.

Exceptions and Limitations to FedEx Money-Back Guarantee Policy

Like any policy, there are exceptions and limitations to the FedEx Money-Back Guarantee Policy. The limitations are

  • FedEx refunds will be credited to the payer only
  • One refund is for each package
  • In a multi-package shipment, a refund request for each package is possible when there is a service failure
  • It is calculated on the number and weight of packages within a shipment where there is service failure for FedEx International Priority Direct Distribution and FedEx International Priority Direct Distribution Freight
  • MBG applies only to transportation charges and not to taxes, duties, or other charges
  • It does not apply to invoice adjustment requests based on overcharges or shipments to P.O. Box addresses for delivery
  • It does not apply to shipments where the recipient has requested modified or customized delivery

Late Delivery Refund Exceptions

FedEx will not pay transportation charges in the form of a refund or credit for

  • Dangerous goods or dry ice shipments
  • Undeliverable or returned packages
  • Wrong address or ZIP code on the shipments
  • Unavailability or refusal of a person to accept delivery or sign the package
  • Customs or regulatory delays
  • Incorrect tracking numbers applied on FedEx shipments by customers
  • Shipments for delivery seven days before Christmas Day
  • Shipment scheduled on Wednesday before Thanksgiving
  • Incomplete recipient information

Further information about FedEx exceptions and limitations to its Money-Back Guarantee policy is available in the FedEx Service Guide, 2023.

How to request a FedEx refund?

FedEx refunds are possible only when there is a claim request. The claim request for a FedEx refund has been filed within fifteen calendar days from the invoice date. A refund request due to a service failure is possible by the following methods

  • Using internet application-FedEx Billing Online at fedex.com; or
  • Using the invoice adjustment feature at fedex.com; or
  • Through telephone invoice adjustment system at 1.800.463.3339 by saying “billing.”

Further, the request must have a FedEx account number,  if any; the FedEx tracking number; and the date of the shipment.

Shippers will find it difficult to audit each invoice to claim refunds from FedEx. Further, during carrier contract negotiations, FedEx may tempt shippers with a Money-Back Guarantee waiver with discounts. Shippers need professionals who help with contract negotiations and claiming FedEx refunds in time.

 Audintel helps shippers claim their refunds from FedEx in time. Our software and team of experts audit invoices and save money for our clients. In addition, Audintel helps clients understand the fine print of the carrier contracts so that they do not sign on Money-Back Guarantee Waiver and lose money.    

To Sum it up

Online businesses find it troublesome to explain the late delivery of packages to customers. In addition to customer dissatisfaction, shippers lose money if they don’t receive refunds from FedEx in time. Partnering with Audintel helps shippers receive refunds from FedEx in time. Audintel monitors packages for late deliveries and discusses with FedEx service failures for refunds. Contact us at +1 (619) 354 8539 to discover about FedEx money-back guarantee services or visit our Audintel website.

FedEx and UPS Service Guarantees

Reduce shipping expenses with FedEx and UPS Service Guarantees

by BlogTSM Services

Does your company face frequent package delays from your shipping carriers? Hence, it is time to shift to a reliable shipping carrier. UPS and FedEx are the most reliable, trusted shipping carriers. Moreover, they offer Service Guarantees on specific services. Our earlier blogs covered the various aspects of FedEx money-back and UPS service Guarantees. Here, we discuss shipping delays, FedEx and UPS Service Guarantees, refunds, and more.

Shippers face new demands from their customers every day. Further, online shippers expect their orders to be on time and cheaper. Shipping carriers have different shipping rates for packages according to service levels, zones, and package weight. In addition, the shipping industry faces frequent package delays by shipping carriers. The reasons for the shipment delays are

  • Incorrect package labelling
  • Pick-up of parcels delayed at warehouses or fulfillment centers
  • Incorrect customer address delivery information
  • The communication gap in the supply chain

Further, some package delivery delays are out of the control of the shipping carriers due to bad weather, labor issues, or in recent times, the pandemic. These factors affect the shipping costs of businesses and are vital to reduce shipping carrier delays.

Ways to minimize shipping carrier delays

 Companies can minimize shipping carrier delays by

  • Reviewing package sizes and weights to remove inaccurate information
  • Schedule pick-up time with the drivers
  • Ensure correct and proper labeling of parcels
  • Reduce backlogs in warehouse operations
  • Prioritize orders on expected transit time
  • Real-time tracking of packages

In addition, companies should opt for shipping carriers having excellent service guarantees. Many shippers choose FedEx and UPS Service Guarantees to receive refunds for late parcel deliveries. UPS and FedEx suspended Service Guarantees during the pandemic period. But now, FedEx and UPS Service Guarantees have been restored for specific services.

UPS Service Guarantee

According to the UPS website, UPS considers itself the leader in on-time delivery for four years. The UPS Service Guarantee allows shippers to receive refunds from UPS for any shipping delays. UPS Service Guarantee gives shippers the confidence to expect on-time deliveries of parcels. UPS Service Guarantee is active for specific US domestic and international services. These services include UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Saver, UPS Next Day Air Early, UPS Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Express, etc. However, it is interesting to note that UPS Service Guarantee does not apply to UPS 2nd Day Air A.M Packages for Residential deliveries, UPS Ground Returns Service Packages, etc. Further, UPS Service Guarantee does not cover on-time delivery to a Post Office Box as it is subject to address change.

UPS refund policy

In addition to learning about the specific UPS services, shippers need to know about the UPS refund policy. UPS refunds the amount to shippers only after receiving a request. The request has to be within fifteen days of the quoted delivery date. Shippers can fill out a form to claim the refund online. Additionally, shippers can file a claim by phone. Usually, UPS refund claims take approximately ten days to get processed.

Audintel helps in tracking UPS Service Guarantee refunds for its clients. In addition, we help clients understand the new guidelines and service changes made by UPS. We also suggest a shift to regional carriers for our clients to save time and money. Further, our team audits our client’s shipping invoices to request a UPS refund.

What’s new about FedEx Money Back Guarantee in 2023?

The reinstatement of the FedEx money-back guarantee for select services is from Jan 2, 2023. Some specific services included are FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight Extra Hours*, FedEx International First®, etc. However, FedEx’s money-back guarantee for FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight®, FedEx SameDay® City, and FedEx Office® services remains suspended. The FedEx money-back guarantee allows shippers to request a refund if there is a delay in parcel delivery, even by a minute.  

FedEx money-back guarantee services are not applicable if a shipment is rerouted from the delivery address, has an incorrect address or ZIP code, has dangerous goods, etc.

Requesting refunds from FedEx

Shippers can file a claim for FedEx money-back guarantee on the FedEx website. In addition, they can file a claim by phone. A refund claim should include the FedEx account number, the tracking number, and the shipment date. Further, the claim has to be within fifteen days of the ship date for the FedEx money-back guarantee. If the client has signed up for FedEx My Rewards program, they can claim the refunds for Ground and Home Delivery Packages on the FedEx website.

Audintel audits the shipping invoices of companies. We regularly request refunds from FedEx if the packages are delivered late. Our software solutions help make UPS and FedEx shipping refunds easy. In addition, our automated services are cost-effective and save money for the shippers.

Finally

Package delays can hamper a company’s reputation. Businesses lose out on customers who experience shipping delays. Further, it is necessary to minimize shipping costs by utilizing FedEx and UPS Service Guarantee refunds. Shippers having huge shipping volumes find it hard to keep track of individual shipment delays. Audintel aids shippers in receiving refunds from UPS and FedEx for shipping delays. Know more about our audit services and automated software by contacting us at +1 (619) 354 8539 and visiting our Audintel website.

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Competitive parcel auditing services: essential for shippers

by BlogSpend Intelligence

With rising inflation and skyrocketing fuel prices, businesses need to economize and improve profitability. Shipping small packages to customers needs scrutiny as service failures lead to higher expenses for shippers.

Affordable patent auditing services are essential to monitoring shipping expenses. Our earlier blog focused on affordable parcel auditing services that reduce shipping costs. This article focuses on the various aspects of parcel auditing services, such as package shipping spend, services offered, and their software.

Affordable parcel auditing services

Parcel auditing analyzes the shipping data of companies and unearths any invoice errors. Parcel auditing services of parcel auditing companies work to fix the invoice errors and get refunds from the shipping carriers. Web-based technology used by parcel auditors spares shippers from purchasing hardware, thus saving money. In addition, parcel auditing services do not involve set-up fees or up-gradation in current technology resulting in cost savings.

Parcel shipping spend

According to the latest reports in business wire, US parcel volume will grow exponentially by 2027. It is due to increasing demand for internet retail. Small parcel shipping is a critical component of shipping systems. An audit on small parcel shipping spend allows companies to save money. Shippers are eligible for a refund from shipping carriers for service failures like late deliveries, invalid surcharges, billing errors, and more. Parcel auditors like Audintel have a real-time dashboard that monitors small packages’ shipping spend while controlling shipping costs.

Outsourcing parcel auditing

Manual parcel auditing is time-consuming and is prone to human errors. So, by outsourcing parcel audit work to a third party, shippers save time as they do not need to track each shipment and file refund claims. Further, the parcel auditors secure refunds for service failures with direct credit to shippers’ accounts. Parcel auditing services provided by a third party give companies valuable insights into their shipping process.

Services offered by a parcel auditing company

Small parcel auditing is a complex process that requires data evaluation at each stage of the shipping process. Parcel auditing companies analyze the parcel invoices from the shipping carriers. In addition, tracking parcel delivery to customers and information about any shortcomings is conveyed to the business owner. Some of the common service failures made by parcel carriers include:

  • Late deliveries: Parcel delivery to the customer beyond the scheduled delivery time
  • Surcharge errors: Parcel invoices with incorrect address correction charges, delivery area surcharge, and other surcharge errors
  • Dimensional weight errors: Shipping carriers levy wrong dimensional weight charges on packages
  • Duplicate charges: Double invoicing for a single parcel shipment
  • Manifested not shipped parcels: Shipping carriers like UPS charge for a package manifested but not sent to its destination
  • Deviation from negotiated shipping rates and discounts: Parcel shipment with different shipping rates and discounts.

Parcel auditing services offered by parcel auditing companies provide effective solutions for service failures. They inform business owners about billing errors, changes in shipping rates, additional surcharges, etc. Parcel auditors use intuitive auditing software that automatically notifies any discrepancies in the shipping process.

Small parcel auditing software

The tracking and monitoring of each small parcel shipment use cloud-based shipping software. The data analysis improves shipping spend management and curbs excessive expenses. In addition, the software monitors the performance of shipping carriers, identifies invoice errors, and files for unclaimed refunds. Shippers reduce their parcel shipping spend and improve their shipping operations with ease.

Freight audit software

Freight audit software minimizes complex freight auditing processes. Due to the automation of the freight audit process, labor decreases, and cost-efficiency increases. The shippers get greater clarity of their shipping expenses. Also, there is streamlining of the shipping process. Further, automatic uploading of the shipping documents into the system helps track invoices efficiently. Freight audit software benefits many industries such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, electronics, etc.

The software used by parcel auditors improves customer satisfaction and increases brand loyalty, which benefits shippers’ businesses.

Benefits of using Audintel’s services

Parcel auditing services of Audintel are economical and customized to cater to our client’s needs. We provide greater transparency to our clients by using their shipping data. Audintel has more than forty customized dashboards and shipping reports for our clients. Our team uses updated, secure technology to track and monitor the shipping data of our clients. We assist business owners in negotiating the best carrier contracts and saving money. Companies benefit tremendously by partnering with Audintel as it honors their parcel delivery commitments to customers. We help shippers receive refunds promptly from shipping carriers for service failures and increase their profits.

Final thoughts

Small parcel delivery services like FedEx and UPS do not always stick to their delivery commitments. It impacts the shippers as they have to deal with angry customers. Companies offer extra credit or special offers to keep customers happy, thus involving double expenses. Audintel’s parcel auditing services give companies a helping hand in receiving all the refund credits from shipping carriers. To know better about the full extent of our parcel auditing services, contact us at +1 (619) 354 8539 or visit our Audintel website.