This fireside chat recap is from FreightWaves’ Domestic Supply Chain Summit on Wednesday.
FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Tech crossroads: The buy-vs.-build dilemma in 3PLs
DETAILS: As 3PLs look ahead to 2024, Walter “Mitch” Mitchell, CEO of Tai Software, and FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell break down the pros and cons of buying or building a transportation management system. Tai, headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, is a fully integrated freight broker platform for freight management and transportation.
KEY QUOTES FROM MITCHELL:
“There’s two real big factors that we’ve got to think about: One is security and number two is, are we building something that’s part of our core business? And so as a freight broker, I think it applies to a customer relationship management (CRM), as well as a TMS or even an email client.”
“When we think about build versus buy, what I think we want to be really talking about is, is there a real added value to spending that many resources and distracting my business from its core work to building something that’s a TMS that I can buy off the shelf. And that even applies to us as a technology company. We don’t build a CRM, we buy a CRM, and then we adapt it to our needs.”
“We as a software company want to focus our time and energy on building products that help our customers. And as a freight broker, I think they should do the same thing. Focus your energy on building things and building your business in areas that benefit your customer, and then allow technology to come in to help you out and then supplement it.”
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now