Uber Freight’s Bid to Advance End-to-End Logistics

Uber Freight has used its annual conference to reveal the evolution of its end-to-end enterprise logistics platform, designed to meet the industry’s complex and evolving needs.

Unveiled at Deliver, taking place in Frisco, Texas, the enhancements include a strategic integration with Uber Direct, modular TMS functionality, advanced Insights AI features and flexible procurement software.

It’s hoped these capabilities will provide Uber Freight’s customers with greater transparency, control and intelligence across the entire supply chain. 

The company is using Deliver to demonstrate impressive progress against its next-generation roadmap laid out last year and has also announced the innovative Design Partner Program, a unique initiative allowing customers to collaborate on product development. 

Uber Freight’s impressive progress

It’s been a strong year for Uber Freight, which supports almost US$20bn in freight under management and partners with 30% of the Fortune 500. 

In the past 12 months, the business has managed more than 24 million loads across nearly 6,000 brands, leveraging a vast, AI-optimised network and sophisticated procurement strategies to drive efficiencies and deliver more than US$1.5bn in savings for shippers.

“Over the past year, we’ve worked closely with our shipper partners to understand their evolving challenges and anticipate their future needs,” explains Lior Ron, Founder and CEO at Uber Freight. 

“The progress we’ve made and the innovations we’re unveiling are guided by these valuable customer insights. By collaborating with our customers, we’ve not only advanced our technology but also empowered them to achieve greater efficiency, resilience and control across their supply chains. 

“Together, we’re not just navigating the complexities of modern logistics – we’re redefining what’s possible.”

Seamless delivery solutions

Uber Freight’s integration with Uber Direct, Uber's on-demand delivery-as-a-service platform, brings together one of North America’s largest logistics networks with one of the largest same-day delivery courier networks.

Central to this is Uber Freight’s Parcel Transportation Management System (PTMS), which is now integrated with the Uber Direct platform to power new and faster delivery options including same-day and scheduled deliveries.

Uber Freight has managed in excess of 250 million parcels over the last 12 months through its PTMS, while millions of packages are delivered annually by retailers and merchants using Uber Direct. 

Their integration is set to further optimise every stage of the logistics process, reinforcing Uber Freight’s commitment to delivering comprehensive solutions that anticipate and meet the evolving and growing needs of shippers.

“We’re confident this will deliver meaningful value to growing and enterprise shippers by speeding up their network, lowering transportation costs, improving service reliability and enhancing customer experience,” says Hany Elkordy, Head of Last Mile for Uber Freight.

“It’s the right time to offer this expanded service to shippers leveraging our scale at Uber Freight and integration with Uber Direct and others.”

A flexible TMS for modern shipping

Significant enhancements to Uber Freight’s next-generation Transportation Management System (TMS) are designed to ensure it is dynamic and adaptable like the supply chains it supports.

Updates introduce a more modular, extensible and flexible experience that enhances visibility, streamlines operations and integrates seamlessly with platforms like Uber Freight Exchange.

Key new features include an intuitive tracking portal, a simplified dock scheduler, a streamlined load management experience with intelligent data handling and upgraded financial management tools. 

What’s more, upcoming AI-powered search and shipment execution workflows, running on new forms of LLM-powered automation, promise even greater efficiency and intelligence.

Daniel Moran, Corporate Logistics Manager at Meridian Adhesives, says Uber Freight TMS provides his business with the visibility, foresight and control required to manage its entire logistics operation.

He continues: “The system's adaptability to our specific needs ensures we’re always equipped with the right tools to manage logistics efficiently, streamlining everything from procurement and execution to payments. This has not only saved us time and money but also improved our overall business outcomes.”

Next-generation procurement software

Uber Freight is expanding access to Uber Freight Exchange: Contract, making the procurement platform generally available to all shippers. It has also launched early access to Uber Freight Exchange: Spot exclusively for Uber Freight Managed Transportation customers, with full availability expected in 2025. 

Additionally, shippers can manage freight awarded through Exchange directly within the Uber Freight TMS, providing a single, transparent hub for all load procurement and management activities.

More than US$350m in contract freight has been awarded across 8,500 lanes since Uber Freight Exchange was launched last year. The platform has transformed how shippers and carriers secure freight by unlocking cost and time savings, improved collaboration, faster and more informed decision-making and network growth.

“Uber Freight Exchange has helped us centralise our procurement operations, allowing us to act faster and smarter in a rapidly-changing logistics landscape," says Robert Chase, Director, Transportation and Inbound Logistics at Tosca. 

“We previously spent considerable time manually setting up and running contract bids, as well as managing individual spot auctions. The time and cost savings we've achieved, along with the ability to grow our network and build strong relationships with our carriers, have significantly strengthened our transportation strategy and made our supply chain more efficient.”

What else is new?

Logistics AI for supercharged decision-making: Uber Freight is infusing new, advanced features into Insights AI, the company’s Gen AI-powered insights tool designed to revolutionise how shippers manage their networks, including enhanced chat functionality for more complex queries and a new KPI dashboard that delivers real-time, actionable insights.

Design Partner Program: This newly-announced initiative encourages deep collaboration between Uber Freight and its customers on products that influence the future movement of goods.

To date, almost 40 Design Partners have played an instrumental role in shaping the development of next-generation solutions, providing critical insights and feedback that guide the innovation process.

Check out the latest edition of Supply Chain Magazine and sign up to our global conference series – Procurement and Supply Chain LIVE 2024. 

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