Introduction
Freight forwarding software is essential for the modern import/export business.
However finding the right solution can be exhausting.
There’s no shortage of options in the market, all of which promise the latest features and the best service.
In this article, we’ll explore the (must have) features you should consider when choosing freight forwarding software and how we’ve designed our own software solution, Horizon, to meet all your needs.
What is Freight Forwarding Software?
Let’s start by looking at how freight forwarding software works.
The first thing to point out is that most software solutions will be SaaS platforms. SaaS stands for Software as a Service and means that the service provider will host the application online rather than on your computer or your servers. This makes it much easier to start using the software and means you and your team can access the tool from anywhere in the world virtually instantly.
Your typical freight forwarding software solution will help importers and exporters manage a number of key business tasks.
This includes managing their cargo, creating and storing customs documentation, and booking haulage.
Real-time tracking and analytics also help forwarders coordinate shipments and minimise company spending. Data automation simplifies the shipping process and identifies errors before they become serious.
Ultimately, freight forwarding software is all about streamlining operations, saving time and reducing costs. When looking for freight forwarding software for your business, it’s important to consider how each platform will help you achieve these goals.
Must Have Features In Your Freight Forwarding Software
The perfect freight forwarding software will give you an all-in-one platform that streamlines the shipping process. That means they need to have a number of key features that include:
Integrated document management
This feature eliminates manual data entry by automatically capturing and tracking documents associated with each shipment, like bills of lading and customs declarations.
Real-time tracking
Real-time tracking increases visibility over your shipments so you can get everything ready for their arrival in port. This beneficial feature also allows you to track inventory across your entire supply chain network and identify delays as soon as they occur.
Automated invoicing
Automated invoicing solutions make it easy to generate accurate invoices quickly and accurately, which in return, will save you time and money.
Comprehensive analytics
Analytics tools allow you to track key performance indicators (KPIs) in real-time to make informed decisions about optimising your operations. They can also provide detailed insights into customer behaviour, allowing you to manage customer relationships better.
Custom reporting dashboards
You shouldn’t have to run a new report every time you want to gain insights into your shipping process. That’s why freight forwarding software should have a reporting dashboard that lets you see your most important data in one place.
User-friendly and intuitive design
The whole point of using freight forwarding software is to save your business time and money. It’s no good, then, if you have to spend months learning how to use your new platform. If that’s the case, we recommend looking for a platform that is intuitive by design and can be learned in a day or two.
Remember, just because software is simple to use doesn’t mean it can’t be powerful.
Scalability
Hopefully, your business will grow substantially in the future. If it does, your freight forwarding software needs to keep pace. There’s no point in investing time and money into a solution that you’ll outgrow in 18 months. So make sure your platform can scale with your business both in terms of features and pricing.
Customer service
Even if you’re using the most intuitive platform in the market, odds are you’ll need support every so often. Your chosen software provider should be reachable by phone, email and live chat when you need them and make solving your issues a priority.
Why Use Horizon as Your Freight Forwarding Software
While there are several freight forwarder software solutions on the market today, we’ve designed our Horizon platform to be a market leader.
Here’s what you can expect…
Horizon is a customer-friendly cloud-based software solution designed specifically for global logistics companies and shippers looking for an end-to-end system that streamlines their entire freight forwarding process.
It provides users with access to real-time tracking, comprehensive analytics and integrated document management capabilities that mean your team has instant access to all of the data and documents they need in one place.
As with any business, hours and budget are precious. That’s why Horizon offers businesses several time-saving features like an easy-to-use VAT calculator tool (which helps make it faster and easier to calculate the total cost of imports) and built-in haulage booking so you can manage transportation without switching platforms.
Best of all, you get access to one of the best real-time GPS tracking solutions available. With Horizon’s control tower, users can pinpoint the location of their goods at any time. Identifying delays and organising onward transport has never been easier.
Exceptional Software Combined with Exceptional Service
It’s not just a market-leading product you get access to when you choose Horizon as your freight-forwarding software solution. You also get access to one of the most knowledgeable and experienced freight forwarding teams in the country.
At DG International, we combine cutting-edge technology with exceptional customer service to deliver a freight forwarding experience like no other. Hundreds of businesses trust us to handle their freight forwarding operations while managing everything through our Horizon platform.
Find out more about Horizon and how our team can streamline your shipping operations by speaking to a consultant today.
Contact us to start the conversation.
