Check out A Guide Before Deciding On Freight Forwarding Software. The right freight forwarding software can be found by following these top steps. Learn more about picking the right freight software.
Transforming your business into a more robust one requires careful planning. You may want to improve a particular area of the operation or introduce a new dimension to the whole business. Either way, choosing what areas or functions you wish to transform will set your foundation for your next steps.
The choice for the suitable freight forwarding software for your business should not be solely dependent on the budget only. Consider the pain areas, growth opportunities as well as short, medium, and long term goals of your company before implementing software.
Typically, you will go through three phases before deciding on the freight software that is right for you. Let's walk through.
Early on, you would want to know the background of the software vendor, if they have catered to the logistics and freight industry before. You can explore how your business problems can be resolved. Following are the points you can use to get more clarity from the vendor.
How long before I can book my first shipment using the new system?
You want to have minimum disruption to your customers during the transition. Discuss the time required for your staff to make the transaction using the new system. Ideally, it shouldn't take you more than a week to get started. Logi-Sys from Softlink, allows you to make your first shipment booking within 3-4 days.
How the training is planned for my system users?
Your system users will be the ones that will be working on the system for the majority of the time. Thus, the training and implementation plan must be thorough and systematic. Freight software should provide reference video tutorials and user documentation within the application for quick reference in case needed.
What are my options for hosting?
Cloud solutions have been the choice for businesses that are lean on budget and plan to expand in phases. For more control of their infrastructure, freight applications should also come with licenses to host on-premise.
You would like to understand more about the benefits you can get in actual operations. Check for built-in reports that consolidate data from various branches. If you are using individual software for accounting, billings, and the like, consider opting for all functions to be available on a single integrated system in your new software for freight.
What are some of the reports generated by the system?
Data can be a powerful tool to provide all the necessary insights to make better decisions. Your solution must be able to bring to focus business aspects that are doing well and that require attention too. Reports that give you a good idea of the business include:
Can I access the freight software from mobile devices?
Field staff and management are the ones that may be on the move the most. Your solution and its services must be accessible via a Smartphone or an Internet-enabled browser. Logi-Sys ships iOS and Android applications as part of its enterprise offering.
Coming to this phase, you are likely to ask for result-based features of the solution. These could also be growth opportunities you are targeting in your near-future goals.
Will there be a reduction of jobs' turnaround time?
An increase in efficiency and productivity could be the foremost of your expectations. Freight management software helps convert repetitive and manual tasks into automated processes. Solutions like Logi-Sys can reduce job turnaround time by up to 40% by automating the operational process.
Will the application be compatible with my current applications like accounting?
ERP Solutions for freight management are developed to integrate several functions like booking, billing and invoicing, inventory, CRM, etc. The idea is to have everything related to your business in one system. On the same note, EDI allows seamless data exchange between standard systems and freight software. Creating workflows in freight applications streamlines and automates the flowing of information from one function to another.
What would be the process to keep the software up-to-date with the latest compliance regulations?
Getting your customers' custom clearances wrong can lead to fines, penalties, and consequently loss of revenue and customer dissatisfaction. Web-based software's advantage is that it does not require separately installing updates and patches. A value-for-money freight application must be compatible with the latest customs rates, regulations, and compliance.
Summary
First, keep the organization's goals in mind when upgrading or choosing software for your freight forwarding business. Second, to get maximum return on investment, consider the benefits of the freight software. This checklist comes in handy to prepare the questions and queries for a software vendor.
Over 1000 freight forwarders are managing their end-to-end operations with Logi-Sys. To see how Logi-Sys can fit your business needs, schedule a demo today.
