Everything you need to know about freight management software

The demand for reducing transit time, increasing supply chain visibility, and improving customer experience are some of the driving forces behind a growing freight management software market. Another major factor driving these increases is the trend of businesses toward digitalisation or using technology in freight management processes. So let’s take a closer look at freight management and freight management software.

What exactly is freight management?

Freight management oversees getting goods from point A to point B at the right time and price. The entire freight management lifecycle includes planning, tracking, and transporting shipments or freight from one location to another. It could be between two cities or between two countries. Freight managers can choose to transport goods by rail, road, sea, or air. Intermodal transportation refers to using more than one mode of transportation to ship freight.

What is the significance of freight management?

Almost all businesses, whether in manufacturing, retail, eCommerce, or logistics, require moving shipments or freights from one location to another. And freight management ensures that each shipment arrives on time and at the lowest possible cost. It also ensures that cargo is delivered in good condition and sufficient quantities.

The most crucial freight management challenges

Like other stages of the shipment management lifecycle, freight management can be difficult for businesses. Some of the most common difficulties are:

• Inadequate operational visibility.
• The inability to track freight in real-time.
• Demurrage, detention, and other charges.
• Inability to keep freight safe and secure.
• Communication breakdown between stakeholders and internal teams.
• A scarcity of resources and technology.

What precisely is freight management software?

Freight management, as previously stated, includes freight planning, tracking, and transportation. To carry out all these processes systematically, a company must have adequate resources like a well-trained workforce, a fleet of vehicles, and a platform for communication among stakeholders.

Freight management software automates all these processes, reducing the need for freight management resources. It digitises everything from freight procurement to freight tracking to freight transportation. As a result, a company can efficiently manage all freight-related operations and ensure on-time delivery of goods by simply hiring a dedicated manager.

The advantages of freight management software

Managing freight-related operations manually can consume a significant amount of time and money. Furthermore, it can lead to the other issues mentioned earlier. As a result, companies are incorporating freight management software or automated freight management systems into their ERP systems to:

• Reduce overall transportation time and freight costs.
• Increase the visibility of the supply chain and operational transparency.
• Provide an unrivalled customer experience.
• Reduce the order-to-ship time.
• Ensure the cargo’s safety and security.

How do you pick the best freight management software?

Keep the following points in mind when looking for the best freight management software for your company.

Simple integration and rapid deployment

Choose cloud-based freight management software for quick deployment. Deploying such software is quick and easy. All you have to do is provide the software provider with your specific business requirements, and the provider will customise and deploy the software in no time. Another consideration is the freight management software’s integration with your existing ERP system. Rather than disrupting current workflows, it should streamline freight operations.

Digitised RFQ system

The freight management software should include an automated request for quote (RFQ) management system to help you create precise requests for sourcing freight rates. Furthermore, sending the RFQ to various vendors for bidding should be simple.

Scalability

Every business has expansion and growth objectives. Therefore, choose freight management software that is easy to scale up. Scalability is also required to handle a high volume of orders during peak seasons. Choosing SaaS or cloud-based freight management software would be ideal for this purpose.

Dedicated freight forwarder portal

The freight management software should include a freight forwarder portal allowing them to receive RFQs, and freight-related inquiries and track their standing throughout the bidding process.

Analytics and insights

Ensure the freight management software you select includes the insights and analytics feature. It will assist you in detecting anomalies and redesigning your freight management strategies. Furthermore, it will make it simple to analyse the performance of your shipping carrier, forecast future demand, etc.

Around-the-clock customer service

When selecting cloud-based freight management software, it is a good idea to inquire about customer support. Ensure they have a dedicated support team available to answer your questions at any time of the day.

Tracking in real-time

The freight management software should allow for real-time tracking of freight. All stakeholders should be able to use the feature. It will assist you in bringing transparency to your processes and delight your customers by giving them control over their orders.

Contact Winfreight to find out more

In addition to the features listed above, the freight management software should have a raise inquiry, RFQ module, spot inquiry module, rate discovery module, and check vessel schedule.

Freight management software reduces paperwork and automates most freight-related operations. As a result, it helps increase operational efficiency and transparency. Furthermore, it assists businesses and freight forwarders in streamlining freight management while accelerating workflows and providing complete visibility and control.

Winfreight has a leading team of developers with a range of specialised software suites for freight and warehouse management. These offers included tailored freight management software solutions proven to greatly enhance operations across logistics companies and warehouses.

If you’re struggling to manage shipping effectively, consider working with a freight management company like Winfreight. Winfreight’s freight management software gives your business a turnkey solution to manage, streamline, and economise every part of your supply chain.

For more information about our freight management software, visit Winfreight today. Alternatively, get in touch with a representative from Winfreight today.