Just as geographical storms can be seen from miles away, a careful eye can see when a logistics storm is brewing. Today, many digital freight forwarding companies are trying to recover from past storms and float through current turbulence while maintaining resilience for future storms. These are individually difficult and, together, simply a massive undertaking. Managing a freight forwarding business through disruption has been made simpler with the help of modern logistics technology. Thus, digital freight forwarding companies are turning toward tech in droves to accommodate the disturbances in the logistical atmosphere.
Why Freight Forwarding Is Growing More Complex
“A storm is coming” can mean something completely different depending upon when and where it is declared. To the same degree, various aspects of today’s logistical storm impact digital freight forwarding companies in multiple ways based on their location and specializations in the supply chain. The role of visibility in forwarding efficiency has changed the playing field for those who were early to introduce IoT hardware versus those who are still confused about how the technology functions. The expansion of e-commerce has grown past expected proportions with the coronavirus’s reign, and it appears that two-day delivery expectations will continue to reign past COVID’s demise.
Although the market’s stability had gained its footing after the height of the pandemic, many are concerned over its steadiness amidst the current Russia-Ukraine war. According to Jeff Berman of Logistics Management, “Since Russia moved forward into Ukraine, there have been myriad impacts on logistics and supply chain operations, in the form: of rapidly increasing oil and gas prices, shippers and carriers implementing contingency plans; a ceasing of port operations in Ukraine, which the Wall Street Journal said could disrupt vital shipping routes that carry much of the world’s wheat and other agricultural products; and several global logistics and freight transportation services providers halting service into and out of both Russia and Ukraine.” How can digital freight forwarding companies prepare for expected disruptions such as this? The short answer is they need to start using more technology.
How Technology Enables Digital Freight Forwarding Companies
Despite the seen and unseen disruptions, 2022 freight forwarding tech is rising to meet the challenge to make forwarding easier than ever before. With a wealth of technology accessible virtually anywhere by smartphone, forwarders can grow their business, whether starting with one shipper contact or hiring additional employees to accommodate a healthy workload.
Since digital freight forwarding companies are leveraging their relationships between carriers and shippers to make moving freight faster and simpler for their customers, forwarders need to be efficient and effective communicators. With most of today’s communication taking place via technology, logistic tech solutions are incredible assets to track and sort each phone call and message appropriately.
Additional Opportunities for Forwarder Growth Through Technology
Digital freight forwarding companies are privileged to incorporate nearly limitless technology options into their business growth strategies. Some of these opportunities include:
- Less Back-Office Management Hassle – Administrative duties, such as document management, can be expedited when digitized, providing easy access to critical data at all times and locations.
- Better Understanding of Business Health – With analytical technology, forwarders can be equipped to make more productive choices at any point in the year instead of only making changes at an annual audit.
- Integrated Systems – Instead of operating out of separate systems, forwarders can streamline their workflow with integrations that provide every team member and customer with the data they need.
- Better Customer Experience – Digital freight forwarding companies can utilize automated technology to offer visibility for maximized customer experience and satisfaction to promote the likelihood of continued partnerships.
These core technology opportunities feed into the options for forwarders to do profitable business globally. Better network mapping and predictive analytics give forwarders better decision-making power for air and ocean route adjustments during global fluctuating factors such as dwell times. Logistics Management reported on these fluctuating factors sharing that “as of March 2, export dwell times for all European ports have increased by 25% since February 17,” which may change radically as global uncertainty continues. Thus, forwarders will need to increase their use of technology to create better, faster, and more efficient processes for their network partners and customers alike.
Embrace Automation With Cargologik–A Platform Built for Digital Freight Forwarding Companies
Technology is the friend of any trying to do business globally, especially in the storm of war. Automated tools give digital freight forwarders take back the time used on redundant tasks to build their company better, providing paths for materials to get to their final destination. To learn how a transportation logistics partner can increase business workflow and profitability, sign up with Cargologik today.
