Logistics technology has come a long way over the years, automating an industry that once dragged its feet when it came to adopting new systems. Both freight forwarders and their shipper customers now have access to powerful and easy-to-use applications that can improve the way they run their operations.
Since we’ve written quite a bit on this particular topic, we’re including several other links to other relevant, key pieces throughout this article.
Read our previous blog: How To Be a Modern Digital Freight Forwarder
Read our previous blog: How To Choose the Right Freight Visibility System
While the freight forwarding industry wasn’t always so accepting of technology, it did have a few reasons to be a little hesitant. For one thing, the technology we did have was not cheap. And when people would talk about early logistics technology, they were really referring to a TMS or WMS within a larger ERP system. Then, the introduction of smaller, more easily integrated SaaS-based solutions completely changed the game for many companies of all sizes. This, fortunately, is where the industry is at today and a great benefit to freight forwarders.
Another critical development involved the increased availability of more specialized software that could handle a company-specific range of responsibilities. These crucial resources have allowed forwarders to build their own logistics technology stacks, which group together different technology from varying providers to create a customized solution that often meets a forwarder’s needs better than more expensive alternatives and in scalable ways.
Read our previous blog: Here’s What Your Logistics Technology Stack Is Missing
Without applications that provide true data interoperability, however, these types of solutions enabling users to easily cherry-pick the technology they want would not be possible. There are many ways forwarders and shippers can benefit from investing in specialized logistics technology, from gaining instant access to competitive contract rates, to capitalizing on state-of-the-art customer relationship management.
Read our previous blog: How To Identify Online Self-Service Freight Management Portals That Guarantee an Immediate ROI
Most freight forwarders rely on technology to manage many moving parts within their operations. GAMA’s platform seamlessly synchronizes data between forwarders, vendors, carriers, and customers, giving users direct visibility into rates, shipment status updates, and important shipping documentation.
Read our previous blog: Why Freight Forwarders Need Shipping Visibility To Survive Today
Read our previous blog: How Freight Forwarders Can Leverage Technology To Scale Their Business
The industry is past the point of relying solely on a TMS or other similar logistics technology platforms that would market themselves as one-size-fits-all solutions. Different modes have different needs. Highly specialized ocean shipping functions like identifying dynamic freight rates and applying complex customs markups come with their own set of unique requirements and looking nothing like truckload or air functions.
Freight forwarders and shippers can now choose from the wide range of web services and APIs today’s logistics technology provides to create a custom, cost-effective solution that not only addresses their needs on an individualized level but also enables seamless data sharing between systems. To learn more about how you can connect your existing technology to our algorithm-powered AI platform to automate your workflow and optimize overall productivity, visit GAMA.
