FAP analytics in action: four real examples of how to reduce transportation costs and improve margins

For many transportation leaders, Freight Audit and Payment (FAP) solutions look very similar. They audit invoices, ensure carriers are paid, and produce standard dashboards.

But the real value isn’t just about auditing and payments alone; it’s how analytics help you understand why costs are changing, and what to do about it.

That’s the gap many shippers face: data without answers.

You may already know what you’re spending, but do you know why that spend is going up or down? Can you trace the drivers behind cost shifts and turn them into actionable strategies?

That’s where business intelligence and analytics tied to FAP make the difference. When data is transformed into visibility and coupled with expert guidance, shippers gain the ability to spot hidden cost drivers, quantify risks, and act with confidence. And often, the savings opportunities are larger and simpler than expected.

The following examples show how organizations across industries have done exactly that.

1. Service level optimization: $5.2M in savings

A leading medical distributor was unknowingly overspending by using the wrong service level for shipments out of one of its facilities. The issue involved a secondary carrier that was not central to its network, but one with costs that added up quickly.

Before applying FAP analytics, the company had no visibility into this. Once uncovered, the fix was simple: shut off the unnecessary service level. That one change delivered $5.2 million in annual savings.

Even small service-level misalignments can drain millions if they stay hidden.

Some of the world’s most established brands run into this challenge. Without visibility, inefficiencies like this remain buried in day-to-day operations. With the right analysis, they become immediate opportunities.

2. Mode shift opportunities: $200K in savings

A leading IT solutions provider had been pushing oversize packages through the parcel network.

The result: a steady stream of unauthorized charges. These costs were hiding in plain sight, scattered across invoices.

Analytics revealed the issue quickly and highlighted the fix: shift the appropriate shipments to less-than-truckload (LTL). With clear visibility into carrier options and cost impact, the customer made the switch and unlocked $200,000 in annual savings.

What this shows: mode selection is as powerful a cost lever as carrier negotiations.

Sometimes the most effective cost reductions don’t require complex overhauls; they come from aligning mode choices with the realities of shipment profiles.

3. Inventory re-allocation: $2.85M in savings

A global ecommerce electronics retailer was paying high costs on shipments consistently moving into zones 6, 7, and 8. At first, these costs looked like the unavoidable result of demand patterns.

But a closer look at the data showed that inventory was often being shipped from the wrong distribution center, even when closer facilities were available. By reallocating inventory to better align with customer demand, the retailer reduced high-zone shipments and their associated expenses.

Along with packaging and service-level adjustments, these changes generated $2.85 million in annual savings and built a more efficient, scalable fulfillment model.

What this shows: fulfillment costs are just as much about network design as they are about freight rates.

4. Accessorial charge management: $750K in savings

For a home shopping TV network, accessorial charges had become a creeping burden. Vendor compliance issues and unclear contract terms led to unpredictable costs that kept rising.

Through detailed spend monitoring, analytics pinpointed the root causes of these charges. That clarity allowed the company to adjust shipping practices and enforce better compliance. The impact was more than $750,000 in annual savings.

What this shows: even “background noise” costs can become strategic opportunities when visibility is clear.

Accessorials are often dismissed as unavoidable “noise” in transportation spend. But with the right visibility, they can be measured, managed and reduced.

Turning analytics into action

Across these four stories, the pattern is clear: the savings were not hidden in the data itself, they were hiding in everyday operations.

What unlocked the savings wasn’t more dashboards; it was visibility plus the ability to connect the dots between spend shifts and business decisions.

• Service levels got right-sized.
• Modes were matched more intelligently to shipment profiles.
• Inventory was placed in the right locations.
• Accessorials were finally brought under control.

And importantly, these weren’t one-and-done wins. With the right approach, new opportunities can surface every month, giving transportation teams a steady pipeline of improvements to act on.

And these were not one-time wins. With ongoing analysis and account-level expertise, new opportunities can surface every month, giving transportation teams a steady pipeline of improvements to act on.

What strong FAP analytics programs should deliver

Accurate invoices and static dashboards are the baseline. What really makes a freight audit and payment program valuable is how it helps transportation teams manage their spend, not just track it. The right program should:

•  Explain not just what you’re spending, but why costs are rising or falling.
• Turn data into a clear story, linking patterns directly to operational decisions.
• Provide tools that are easy to use every day, without requiring IT support.
• Surface practical opportunities on a regular basis, from service-level shifts to smarter network design.

When these pieces come together, analytics stop being a reporting exercise. They become a decision-making tool that helps shippers stay ahead of costs and find improvements others miss.

How Infios can help you put this into practice

At Infios, our analytics platform is built for transportation, so getting answers from data is quick and straightforward without the overhead of generic BI systems.

But the real value comes from our people. Our analysts work side by side with customers, meeting regularly to interpret patterns, share what’s working across similar industries, and point out opportunities that are ready to act on.

By combining flexible tools with hands-on expertise, we help shippers move beyond watching spend to actively managing it.

The payoff: a program that not only keeps costs under control but continuously uncovers new ways to run smarter and leaner.