Inbound Freight Workflow
- 1Carrier selects time slot on public booking page
- 2Warehouse receives automated dock schedule alert
- 3Staff uploads photo of received goods upon arrival
- 4System emails confirmation and pallet count to shipper
Systems for Warehousing
The business model for third-party logistics and warehousing facilities runs through pallet storage fees, cross-docking, and pick-and-pack fulfillment services. Profit often leaks through unbilled accessorial charges, inefficient dock scheduling, and communication gaps during peak receiving hours.
Logistics & Transportation
Also for: Warehousing Companies
How the business actually works
Inbound Inquiry
Prospective shippers or brokers submit freight profiles and volume requirements through a structured digital intake.
Quote Approval
Storage agreements and rate schedules for detention, handling, and pallet positions are electronically signed.
Dock Scheduling
Inbound carriers book specific time slots to prevent yard congestion and manage labor allocation.
Receiving
Tallies are confirmed against bills of lading and immediate digital notifications are sent to the client.
Inventory Management
Items are tracked in dedicated or shared space with automated reporting on aging and stock levels.
Order Processing
Outbound pick tickets are generated and staged for loading according to carrier arrival times.
Dispatch and Billing
Final weights and measures are logged and invoices are issued including all accessorial labor costs.
Where it leaks
Unscheduled arrivals lead to yard bottlenecks and driver detention fees. Without a central booking system, warehouse staff are either idle or overwhelmed by overlapping truck arrivals.
Extra labor for floor loading, labeling, or shrink wrapping often goes unrecorded and unbilled. These small costs aggregate into significant monthly losses if not captured at the point of activity.
Manual data entry between the warehouse floor and the office leads to discrepancies in stock counts. Shippers lose confidence when physical inventory does not match the digital ledger.
Office staff spend hours answering emails and calls regarding shipment status or proof of delivery. A lack of self-service options forces manual intervention for every routine status update.
Managing recurring storage fees alongside variable labor charges creates invoicing bottlenecks. Delays in billing affect cash flow and complicate end-of-month reconciliations.
What LATTICE can build
Instantly trigger an SMS or email to the client the moment a Bill of Lading is signed and uploaded.
Provide a self-service calendar where freight brokers and carriers can reserve dock doors based on real-time availability.
Mobile-friendly forms allow floor workers to log extra pallet restacking or wrapping tasks immediately for automated billing.
Offer shippers a secure login to view their current pallet counts, transaction history, and pending outbound orders.
Automatically attach and send signed BOLs and photos of staged loads to the customer upon shipment departure.
Set up automated billing cycles that calculate fees based on pallet positions occupied or square footage used.
Identify previous clients who have not utilized the facility in a set period and send automated availability updates.
Example systems
Tell us what's slowing the business down. LATTICE can build around the way your business operates.
Yes. The system allows you to create custom profiles for each shipper with unique rate schedules for storage, handling, and specialized labor. Invoices are automatically generated based on these specific contract parameters.
By implementing a digital dock scheduling calendar, you require carriers to book specific windows. The system can automatically reject double-bookings and send reminders to drivers to ensure timely arrivals.
The client portal provides a transparent view of their specific goods. This reduces the number of status inquiries your office staff must handle while increasing trust with your shipping partners.
The workflow automation captures time and resource data for specific tasks like kitting or container stripping. This data helps you understand your true margins on labor-intensive accounts.
The interface is designed for use on tablets and smartphones, allowing dock workers and forklift operators to update statuses and upload documentation without returning to a central office.