Carrier invoices don’t just vary from one carrier to another; they vary from one country to another. The same service might be described with completely different terms, formats, and pricing structures depending on where it originates. For AI-only freight audit platforms, this creates a massive blind spot.
Why Language and Context Matter?
In many regions, billing terminology has no direct English equivalent. AI translation tools can miss subtle differences in meaning, leading to misclassification of charges or overlooked disputes.
Example: In one European market, a specific surcharge name looks almost identical to another in English, but one is mandatory and the other is negotiable. AI might lump them together, but a human auditor knows better.
The Risks of “Good Enough” Translation
- Missed dispute opportunities due to misread contract terms.
- False positives that waste time chasing non-existent errors.
- Inconsistent categorization that skews spend analytics and benchmarking.
How a Global Audit Team Changes the Game?
Having experienced auditors embedded in the regions where your freight moves means nothing gets lost in translation.
- Native language skills ensure a precise understanding of carrier documentation.
- Local market knowledge helps auditors identify which charges are negotiable and which ones are non-compliant.
- Cultural familiarity speeds up resolution and improves carrier relationships.
AI plays an important role in scanning and comparing invoices at scale. But without the ability to interpret them through a local lens, companies risk significant leakage in savings potential.
The takeaway: Freight audit isn’t just about reading numbers; it’s about reading between the lines. And that takes people.