16 Apr Leveraging the power of technology for Freight Forwarders to go digital
Truth is always bitter and in case of the Logistics customers – shippers – are continually seeking ways to do cost cutting out of the supply chain in order to improve their operational performance – particularly when it comes to inventory and transportation. As a Logistics provider, this means Freight Forwarders can either enter a battle to offer a lower freight price than their competition or can differentiate their service offering by helping shippers manage their logistics smarter and more efficiently.
One does not need a management degree to know that pricing is not a sustainable competitive advantage, which is why the most frequently asked question by forwarders who fail to embrace this change, ask like “Why would I want to give my customers visibility? That would confuse them. We sell freight. We’ll leave the technology to someone else.” Sigh!
Thankfully, there is a new generation of logistics professionals at organisations small and large leading the charge to digitize their business. These business leaders are insisting much on technology adoption and making them the backbone thereby allowing their organisation to be beyond a freight or logistics service provider.
Also, they tend to help their clients to automate as well as digitise processes that will enable their customers to have network-wide visibility and achieve greater operational efficiencies and cost savings. With industry competition intensifying, the race to establish market-leading positions built on the latest technologies and innovations is now well and truly on, with key players going head to head to deliver the optimal customer experience.
What Freight Forwarders’ Tech stacks must include?
SaaS-based carrier sourcing and dispatching
Any accomplished freight forwarder today would require a software-as-a-service (SaaS) based carrier sourcing and dispatching process as part of its freight forwarding technology stack. With a SaaS product that is advanced in nature, a freight forwarder would be able to connect the full top-down supply chain. Also, they can reduce the time lost between redundant calls, texts as well as emails. Precisely, productivity and pro-activeness would be their focus.
Embedded CRM software
The first bit is easy to understand. A Freight Forwarding management system must include a customer relationship management tool/application. This Freight Forwarding software/tool is an advanced contact and communications log that brings all your network together in a single frame. Furthermore, the technology in the CRM should allow customer support teams to work more efficiently together. Many of these enterprise solutions can be quite pricey, so seeking out lightweight options is a viable alternative for an organisation looking to enhance and augment its business with commercial intelligence. Commercial intelligence is critical to being able to advise your clients and to exceed standard levels of service – thereby differentiating your organisation and driving that customer back to your own, over, and over again.
Cloud-based analytics
Next to embedded CRM, Freight forwarders need a cloud-based examination. Cloud-based examination offer bits of knowledge into all parts of advanced freight forwarding technology. What’s more? examination that depends on AI and man-made brainpower is the venturing stone to further developed use instances of computerisation. For example, advanced mechanics measure mechanization (RPA) can apply ML and AI to become familiar with overseeing freight special cases and change manual demands or issues into completely computerised measures. Therefore, forwarders can invest more energy getting, booking, and keeping up customers and less time agonizing over what may occur. It’s an incredible method to put the “human” back into your associations with less time squandered and more important discussions that keep your customers steadfast.
Advanced document management platform
An extensive computerised report the board stage makes up another fundamental tech stack segment that a cutting edge freight forwarder should use. It incorporates all advanced record the board structures, going from requesting tenders through POD and into freight claims the executives. Uniting everything inside an advanced, associated documentation stockpiling and recovery framework kills stresses over following desk work and smoothens out different exercises. It additionally engages clients with more proficient traditions and exchange consistence rehearses. This straightforwardly prompts computerized freight settlement frameworks and exercises that abbreviate the instalment clock while giving outcomes straightforwardly to your own customers’ end-shoppers. Having the option to access and share this stage effectively with your clients is a phenomenal method to fortify your organisation’s differentiators.
Put the right Freight Forwarding technology to work
Despite where an organization remains in the time of advanced change, a computerized freight forwarding innovation stage ought to fit all activities and smooth out administration. The outcome is something similar—making successful freight the board, getting more appointments, and building higher client care levels. An extensive freight forwarding tech stack should empower advanced cycles, constant bits of knowledge, and computerized administrative center administration – while giving more insight to keep the boat deliberately pushing ahead.
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