It improved their reputation. Namely, the Battle of Zama was the decisive third and last battle of the Punic wars where the Romans and Carthaginians were waging war. The Romans won this battle as Scipio won against Hannibal in a decisive manner. After this battle, the Carthaginians and Romans settled for peace on very bad and humiliating terms for the Carthaginians.
All of this improved the way how Scipio, other Roman generals and Rome's army in general was viewed.
He was the captain of a ship that transported slaves. He saw thesituation from a completely different view because he was the person who was bringing those massive, overcrowded boats to new areas and just dumping the people off.
