Freight Forwarder Software
Managing freight forwarding can be a time consuming and difficult job, especially for
companies operating complicated freight routes and with many annual imports and exports.
With increasing world market competitiveness, the need to move products between countries has become more widespread with many manufacturing facilities now outsourced to Asia, and cheap products and raw materials being produced in countries such as China, involving increased freight transportation
In order to maintain control, Freight forwarder software can be used. By maintaining an accurate database of individual freight movements, goods can be accurately tracked at all times. Having the ability to monitor documentation and check on progress gives full financial control throughout the transportation process.
A number of software packages are available to use, from simple spreadsheets through to custom software packages designed specifically for freight movement. The volume of freight shipped and the quantity to transport will dictate the level of power that your software will require.
Programs are designed to function as a database of all movements which will enable to the easy extraction of data on any item being shipped. Data needs to be regularly provided to the system for up to date tracking. Many software packages offer real time monitoring of freight at the touch of a button, together with expected arrival dates, cost of transport and all of the freight documentation accessible in one place for easy reference.
Freight forwarder software can calculate shipping costs and can be used to select the most efficient routes to take, incorporating rates from a range of providers. The efficiency of the process and the ability to calculate the best freight transportation rates can save thousands of dollars in shipping costs.
Most programs also provide a thorough warehousing inventory, allowing you to keep track of all stock, with a full accounting package to keep track of shipment costs and to advise when bills need to be paid.
Many larger freight companies provide a software management program for customers to use, either for download to use locally on a PC, or online versions for tracking. Free software and spreadsheets can be downloaded from the internet, for simple tracking and rate calculation.
Redberry offer an excellent freight forwarding software program, which is widely used within the air cargo industry. It was recently awarded “Best IT provider for the air cargo industry” in 2009 at the ACW World Cargo Awards. The program is considered a benchmark in the industry, and provides a complete solution to logistics management. For the budget conscious, Magaya offer a free logistics management program which has a user friendly interface and contains a wide range of functions including bar code tacking, labelling, and proof of delivery recording to accurately keep track of cargo shipments.