Running a successful business is no different from fishing. The expectation is to have a net full of fish when hauled back in. Over time, you begin to understand the techniques and practices that will fetch maximum gains.
As freight forwarders, we too wish to achieve success and growth in our business. While no silver bullet exists, monitoring trends and applying industry best practices are valuable guides to consistent progress.
In every plan, setting priorities is foremost. The same goes for freight forwarding as well. As forwarders differ in aim and ambition, you too must define your targets and plan your efforts in that direction. Some forwarders may want to tap a popular route by offering lower rates on regular bookings from customers. Others may want to grow business through attractive facilities for customers, like auto-alerts and 24/7 access to the application.
Incorporate these freight forwarding practices as you begin the new year and you will realize your desired outcomes.
People + Technology
Optimal use of technology boosts the capabilities of your workforce and is both cost-effective and productive to forwarders. Technology fills the gaps left by miscommunication and the inefficiencies of personnel and also opens avenues for enhancing the quality of service to your customers.
Customer-First Attitude
Forwarding today is more than just sharing the booking and delivery status of cargo. Customers want more transparency, lower costs, and up-to-date information from their forwarders. To meet this demand, you must be equipped with technology that provides you and your customers with real-time visibility. Prioritizing your customers’ needs will help win their trust and business.
Less Uncertainty, More Control
Without timely and accurate data, decisions could lack a good foundation. Your decisions as a business owner must be backed by conviction. Data insights and reports provide you the confidence not just to identify a challenging situation but also to beat it.
Keep Working from Anywhere
For under-prepared forwarders, handling a disruption like the Covid-19 pandemic has been a huge challenge. Cloud-based freight management software resolves the problem of accessing data from any location. Along with any time, any location access, cloud solutions also help todrastically bring down maintenance and data storage costs. Ensure that disruptions don’t hamper your progress with operations that can be run from just about any Internet-enabled browser.
One Net to Cast
Using multiple software in one organization can cause confusion among team members and raise complexity of operations. It is similar to casting varying sizes of nets to catch the same fish in the lake. Your focus and attention can be more concentrated with the use of a single virtual platform that unifies all functions. Software for freight uses EDI and API technology for data exchange between tax and custom portals, and even other applications. Even documentation approvals can be managed on the go, completely online. Reduce complexity by implementing a single solution capable of handling end-to-end freight needs.
Cast Your Net to Grab the Future
Improving service levels while keeping costs under control can be a tough feat to master. Discover your strengths and use these practices to fine-tune your offering to customers. Freight software has gained much momentum in recent times, justifying its growing adoption and significance. Evaluate your options, and implement the one that will win a bigger haul of benefits for a rewarding 2022.
