Modernizing Breakbulk Logistics

By Brent Tisdale

Breakbulk logistics remains one of the most demanding and complex areas of global trade. Each project cargo move requires precise coordination across multiple transportation modes, partners, customs systems and documentation flows. Yet despite the stakes, many operators continue to rely on spreadsheets, emails and manual rekeying to keep shipments moving.

The consequences are all too familiar:

• Delayed shipments caused by missing or mismatched data

• Costly rework on bills of lading, manifests and customs paperwork

• Gaps in real-time visibility across multimodal transport legs

• Lengthy partner onboarding that can take weeks or even months

In a competitive environment where every delay translates into lost profit and strained customer relationships, these inefficiencies are no longer sustainable. To remain competitive, breakbulk operators need to modernize their processes and lay the groundwork for technology-driven improvements.

Step 1: Modernization Through Digital Integration

The first step in transforming breakbulk logistics is to replace fragmented, manual workflows with a unified digital integration platform. A solution such as the SEEBURGER Business Integration Suite (BIS) connects transportation management systems (TMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP), customs platforms and partner portals, ensuring that data flows seamlessly across every stakeholder.

For breakbulk operators, the impact is immediate:

• End-to-end visibility across global trade lanes and complex project cargo legs

• Rapid partner onboarding with prebuilt EDI and API templates for carriers, ports and customs authorities

• Elimination of manual rekeying, which reduces document errors and delays

• Faster, more informed decision-making enabled by synchronized, high-quality data

Integration modernizes the flow of information in breakbulk logistics, reducing costly inefficiencies and providing the reliable data foundation that future technologies require.

Step 2: Laying the Foundation for AI-Driven Decisions

Once systems and partners are connected, operators can unlock the next stage of modernization: AI-driven insights. Artificial intelligence is not a replacement for human expertise but a powerful complement, helping companies anticipate challenges and act proactively.

AI-enabled integration can deliver measurable improvements in several areas:

• Predictive ETAs generated from real-time and historical data

• Anomaly detection in documentation before errors trigger costly delays

• Performance scoring for carriers, ports and other partners based on transit times, compliance rates and error frequency

• Automated exception alerts that ensure potential issues are flagged and resolved before they escalate

Crucially, these benefits are only possible with integrated, standardized data. Without that foundation, AI models lack the consistent inputs needed to deliver reliable, actionable insights. With integration in place, however, AI becomes a strategic advantage that can optimize operations, improve service levels and reduce costs.

The Road Ahead

For breakbulk and project cargo operators, modernization is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s a competitive necessity. Manual processes and fragmented data not only slow down operations but also block access to the benefits of advanced technologies like AI.

By starting with digital integration and building toward AI readiness, breakbulk operators can transform inefficiency into opportunity — gaining real-time visibility, faster onboarding and predictive capabilities that set them apart in a demanding market. The industry is moving quickly, and those who embrace modernization today will be best positioned to lead tomorrow.

About the Author
Brent Tisdale is vice president of SME and new business sales at SEEBURGER. SEEBURGER is a global provider of business integration solutions, helping organizations connect systems, partners and data across complex supply chains. With decades of experience in logistics and manufacturing, SEEBURGER supports companies in modernizing operations, improving visibility, and preparing for the opportunities of automation and AI.

SEEBURGER will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Americas 2025.