Twelve Most Important Technology support an Air Freight Forwarder needs

Air Freight Forwarders require managing all aspects of their air cargo operations with ease and speed. As their customers also experience the benefit of their streamlined operations, effective technology solutions enable them to grow their business further. Air Freight Forwarders also need to track each consignment right till the recovery of incentive payments and maximize profitability. Here is a list of 12 key components that an Air Freight Forwarding Software must provide its users with -

1. Effective monitoring and management of revenue flows: The entire purpose of the Air Freight business depends upon the consignment monitoring and financial management. Automated systems for the same not only ensure accuracy but also smoothens revenue management for every consignment.

2. Ensuring customer delight by efficiently handling consignments: Customer satisfaction is one thing which cannot be compromised at any cost. If the customer gets regular updates about the consignments, it reduces the worry and builds confidence on the forwarder’s systems and services.

3. Compliance with all IATA requirements: If integrated with the existing norms and compliances of IATA requirements, it would be a major advantage as it would reduce the risk of the forwarder’s software getting outdated.

4. Taking care of both Export and Import air cargo shipments: Separate systems for both types of operations can result into clumsy reports and confusion. As export and import are two sides of air freight business, it is advisable to have common software competent enough to handle both types of operations, one for ease of using the software and two for creating intelligent reports.

5. Managing consignment consolidation: There is much more than just physical tracking of shipment and financial calculations. The Air Freight Management Software must be equipped with smart solutions which can provide key business information on the user’s fingertips. Hence, this one point has to be in the user’s checklist while choosing the right freight forwarding software.

6. Along with these five critical points, look for the software which can generate House Airway Bills, Master Airway Bills and maintains Airway Bill stocks.

7. Some little help in your day to day operations like maintaining your diary notes like generating CAN, DO, receipts, etc. would make the forwarder’s life easier.

8. Dedicated pages tracking buying and selling freight rates will keep you alert and make your negotiations easier if incorporated in the forwarder’s software.

9. Maintaining incentive registers and payment registers would also provide the user quick references on margins. This also could be one of the features in the forwarder’s software, which if available can give you an edge over competitors.

10. The forwarder’s software should also track every consignment until it reaches its final destination based on pre-defined milestones.

11. It must generate reports like Airway Bill Register, Work Volume Register, Agent / Sub-Agent Report, Daily Airway Bill Report, CSR, etc.

12. All operations must be tightly linked with finance so as to prevent any revenue leakage and helping the user to manage revenue flow of the forwarding organization.

An Air Freight Forwarding Software which is upto date as per industry standards, integrated with other processes & automates important documents is of utmost importance to be competitive in this industry. Such a software is like a team of employees which work 24*7 for their company, are time efficient & eliminate revenue leakages. Such a value addition is what every air freight forwarder needs.