Trending: Effective freight management key to success in 2013

After a difficult 2012 which impacted ocean and air exports, companies are expressing a cautious optimism for 2013. Emerging markets are expected to take center stage nudging out the dominance of Europe and US in international trade. For the logistics industry, riding the high waves in 2013, will be all about customer focus and cost consolidation. More than ever before an effective freight management solution will be the key differentiation in customer service levels. Technology will play an increasingly important role in supporting a healthy industry. Be it driving down costs, improving service quality, or increasing revenue, technology innovation will be imperative.

Manufacturing companies, who have also felt the impact of the slowdown, are also keen to cut down supply chain and transport costs which form a significant part of their expense. They are demanding value plus real time integration, collaboration, visibility and tracking solutions from logistics service providers (LSPs) to enable further process automation and efficiency. Companies in every sector are looking for LSPs who can offer comprehensive solutions that encompass everything from order to delivery. Effective transport management solutions that provide greater transparency within the supply chain and help customers optimize their logistics and distribution operations will be in great demand.

Achieving accuracy and speed in a complex world is a challenge for a service-driven industry like freight forwarding and logistics. The increasing complexity of customers’ global supply chains demands cutting edge technology to simplify internal operations and processes. The industry will continue to invest in technologies with a demonstrable return on investment through improved processes and reduced costs. Transitioning from manual processes to automated processes improves performance on all fronts. Shippers can adjust their supply chain inventories to accommodate cargo that is not moving as planned based on the visibility data provided.

A must have for all LSPs will be standardized processes, integration and collaboration of the chosen IT platform Freight Forwarding Software with other industry networks like INTTRA, Customs, etc and constant innovation. Another trend is includes cloud computing which allows information systems to more easily tap into legacy computer networks – linking pieces of information so that the user can get a more complete over view of delivery and costs.

As the logistics chain continues to develop and mature, there is an increased level of collaboration between customers, LSPs and suppliers. The ultimate goal of collaboration is to increase visibility throughout the value chain.

Complexities in supply chain networks have necessitated the need for improved freight management ERP. The right balance of investments in organization, processes and technology will take an organization forward faster. To remain successful companies will need organization-wide commitment to supply chain excellence and a re-evaluation of their current processes and performance.