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November 18, 2025
- Written By
Jarrett Stewart
According to findings from the 2025 State of Logistics Report, 73% of brands rank delivery speed and reliability as their top priority, while 67% still cite cost competitiveness as the key factor in selecting a 3PL. That tension between speed and cost isn’t going away, but the brands who master their data are proving you don’t have to choose.
At GoBolt, we’ve seen firsthand how retailers can turn complex shipping data into simple, measurable results. Here are five ways to move from watching dashboards to driving performance.
Most brands track too much. Dashboards are filled with graphs that look impressive but don’t provide insight. The key is to focus on decision-critical metrics, the few that directly influence your customer experience or margins.
Start with three:
Set thresholds that trigger investigation, for example, when on-time rate drops below 98%. These data-driven triggers keep your team proactive rather than reactive.
Data shouldn’t only tell you what went wrong, it should guide what you do about it.
The 2025 State of Logistics Report found that 68% of brands want to expand their carrier mix, and 65% believe doing so will reduce costs while improving delivery speed. Yet most still rely on only two or three major carriers.
Diversification, powered by performance data, helps retailers balance cost and speed. Partnering with regional carriers like Tusk alongside national networks lets brands adapt faster to disruptions and reduce dependency on a single provider.
Having real-time visibility isn’t enough, the magic happens when visibility leads to faster decision-making.
That means using data not just to track packages, but to predict and prevent issues. The 2025 State of Logistics Report noted that 77% of startup brands view last-mile performance and cost tracking as critical technologies for their fulfillment operations.
Modern logistics tools now combine GPS tracking, AI-powered proof-of-delivery, and geo-fencing to ensure teams can control variables before the shopper feels them.
Platforms like GoBolt’s Merchant Portal are examples of tools helping merchants translate visibility into faster action.
Shipping data can tell a powerful sustainability story. The Logistics Report revealed that 51% of brands prioritize sustainable carrier partnerships, while 65% say route optimization for fuel efficiency is valuable to their business.
That’s data in action: when brands measure emissions avoidance, they can prove that efficiency and environmental impact go hand-in-hand.
At GoBolt, we’ve seen this firsthand, one apparel brand reduced shipping costs by 45% while avoiding 970 tonnes of CO₂e through optimized routes and EV usage.
The best logistics strategies fail if insights stay siloed in spreadsheets. To truly act on data, it must be accessible to every operator, not just analysts.
Tools that enable self-service, allowing teams to answer “Where’s my order?” or “What’s causing delays?” reduce dependency on technical teams (and customer support inquiries) and speed up resolution times.
Whether through dashboards or integrated portals, visibility and usability should be non-negotiable. Simplified data access turns insight-driven action into an everyday habit.
Shipping data should do more than report on what happened, it should guide what happens next.
The 2025 State of Logistics Report shows brands are already moving this way: diversifying carriers, investing in real-time visibility, and measuring sustainability outcomes as business KPIs.
The future of logistics belongs to those who turn information into action, simplifying complexity, improving predictability, and making every delivery smarter.
For a deeper dive into building action frameworks for shipping data, read our full guide on the GoBolt blog.
