Better Data, Better Freight Management

When it comes to managing inbound freight, oftentimes costs are hidden, shipments default to premium modes, and suppliers make decisions without transparency. The result is rising spend, wasted staff time, and risks to patient care when critical supplies don’t arrive as promised. The common thread across these challenges? A lack of accessible, actionable data. But what if there were a better way (one that has already helped health systems exceed savings goals by more than 200%)?

Cost Insights

Insights into your freight costs exist, but they’re often challenging to access – hidden in supplier invoices, scattered across carrier portals, and split between departments. Staff spend valuable time chasing down information, only to find they still can’t drill into carrier, mode, or service-level details. And with supply chain budgets under pressure and CFOs demanding line-item accountability, health systems can no longer afford to operate blind on inbound freight.

What if your freight data was all in one place? With VPL’s supply chain platform, there’s no more tracking down data across invoices, portals, or spreadsheets. The platform gives you a single, unified view of your inbound freight, with insights that are both easy to find and use – as demonstrated in the images below. Access them directly in the platform or have them delivered straight to your inbox in a clear, ready-to-read report.

Mode Optimization

When uncertainty exists, shipments often default to the fastest, and most expensive, option. Staff may choose overnight “just in case,” or suppliers may make the decision and pass the cost through. Without visibility, these costly defaults can continue unchecked.

What if your data showed exactly where service levels could be optimized? If staff control the mode, data helps align shipments to the right service level. If suppliers control it, reporting highlights trends that allow health systems to hold vendors accountable and renegotiate terms. With VPL, mode optimization becomes a built-in advantage, surfacing opportunities like shifting overnight to ground, consolidating shipments, or choosing carriers with better reliability at lower cost.

SLA Compliance

When suppliers control freight, health systems often lack visibility into whether shipments arrive on time. SLA performance data isn’t shared, and missed commitments can slip by unnoticed. Every delay puts operations and patient care at risk, while underperforming suppliers can inflate costs with little accountability.

What if you had visibility into supplier performance, and the leverage to hold them accountable when promises weren’t met? With reporting that tracks carrier performance, delivery times, and SLA compliance by supplier, health systems can measure reliability objectively. These insights provide leverage to enforce standards and build stronger vendor partnerships. With VPL’s supply chain platform, SLA compliance isn’t assumed – it’s tracked in real time, helping health systems focus on reliable delivery for patients.

Inbound freight doesn’t have to be a mystery. With centralized reporting, health systems can clearly see where costs come from, which service levels make sense, and whether suppliers are meeting commitments. VPL turns fragmented data into actionable insights, helping health systems control costs, optimize shipping decisions, and ensure reliable delivery. The result is a supply chain that’s not only more efficient, but more aligned with what matters most: patient care. To start seeing the data you could be missing, let’s connect.  

NOTE: Images above are illustrative examples only - does not represent actual data.