IT\\\


UK-based PSL Group, like many forwarders, was faced with the need to enhance customer service but reduced


in margins, the to face of remain


competitive. The company had been using MultiFreight’s freight management soſtware solutions for many years, and could see that the most effective way to become more efficient, more productive and able to take on more business


would be to invest further in both staff and systems to develop a new rapid response offering. PSL’s IT director, Michael


Douglas, explained that a key part of the rapid response system were the Online Booking and enhanced Web tracking features, which the group developed in partnership with MultiFreight. “While neither of these services is a new idea,” he points out, “the


INTTRA gets the Info-X factor


INTTRA, the provider of a neutral electronic transaction platform and soſtware to the ocean shipping industry, has confirmed an extension of its longstanding collaboration with logistics soſtware solutions provider Info-X Soſtware Technology. The


latter has


integrated its new Cloud-based transportation management system with INTTRA’s booking engine, enabling communication between numerous parties


across INTTRA’s network. Rishi Parti, chief executive of


Info-X, which supplies soſtware and back-office service to freight forwarders and NVOCCs, declares: “INTTRA is the neutral network at the centre of the ocean shipping industry and a valued partner for our platform. With


INTTRA driving our


solution, we’ll work to lower the communication barriers between shippers and NVOCCs seeking real-time visibility and


online booking needed to be quick and easy for the customer, but have enough detail for us to get the freight booking under way. We wanted to avoid launching a massive online booking form with so many options that the


customer would become


frustrated.” MultiFreight tailored the


tracking initiatives, adapting them to some of PSL Group’s


automation.” United Cargo Management (UCM), a US-based


Issue 3 2018 - Freight Business Journal


PSL finds less is more with MultiFreight


specialised services, such as book distribution, alongside standard freight movements. Douglas said: “We needed an attention to detail that can only come from working with a supplier who is willing to make things happen without suggesting an expensive bespoke solution”. Investing in its international


freight soſtware system has brought advantages not just


helping customers address the


complexities NVOCC,


piloted the new system to accept electronic bookings and shipping instructions from its customers. Its chief technology officer, Carlton Blair, believes: “With this technology-driven platform, Info-X and INTTRA have proactively addressed the problems related to cargo bookings faced by many shippers and NVOCCs.” He expects that integrating the


technology will give speedier cargo bookings and enable real- time cargo tracking and tracing for customers that was previously unavailable. “Info-X is known for


of global


transportation with tools that are flexible, efficient, and easily adaptable to existing business processes,” informs Sherrie Orzechowski, vice president of strategic alliances at INTTRA, adding that the closer tie-up with Info-X will help to drive efficiency for clients and enable “cost savings across the industry to the benefit of our mutual customers.”


Additional functionalities Orzechowski tells FBJ more about the collaboration with INFO-X and how it fits into INTTRA’s business focus. “Info-X has added new functionality to their TMS [transportation management


for PSL’s customers, but for the forwarder too, as he describes: “Our accounts package integrates transparently with Multifreight, and we have introduced some innovations such as a very clever trading summary program that allow us to close our year end routines in a couple of hours.” He concludes: “Having a


logistics soſtware supplier who is willing to create soſtware for the real freight world is vital – it means we have applications that are flexible and comprehensive, without being complex and unwieldy. “MultiFreight provided


active project management from day one, removing


the


system] to enable the sending and receiving of bookings with NVOCCs. They are expanding their existing relationship with INTTRA to leverage our e-commerce network to enable this.


“Info-X is one of over 150


technology partners today who leverage INTTRA to enable automation within their TMS and when developing this new feature chose to extend their new service through our network. INTTRA provides customers with a faster way of submitting booking and shipping instructions, along with real-time visibility, driving efficiency and optimization in ocean shipping processes. “The new collaboration is


CHAMP looks to a digital world


Bart Jan Haasbeek, business development manager eCargo for CHAMP Cargosystems, highlighted the merits of the IT air cargo solutions supplier’s Logitude product at the Intermodal South America show in Sao Paulo on 13-15 March. The tool is designed primarily


for freight forwarders looking to send all their air waybill (AWB) documentation in electronic format - although it can, in fact, do much more than just handle e-AWBs, Haasbeek says. It can be used as a complete freight management system by cargo agents. It is truly multimodal in


nature, and in fact is CHAMP’s only multimodal product. Logitude is not new – it has been in the CHAMP portfolio for more than three years - but product enhancements are being made all the time. Logitude


example, Argentine flag-carrier Aerolineas Argentinas is a customer of the airline variant of the product, while Mexico plays host to a healthy number of CHAMP cargo agent customers.


users accessing the system via their mobile phone, tablets, lap- tops or desktop computers can now share e-AWB data with not only airlines but other freight forwarders as required, an enhancement introduced last year. It is truly global in its


application, Haasbeek says, but the South American market is perhaps particularly relevant for CHAMP and Logitude. For


Global change For CHAMP, global connectivity is key; eAWB-based connectivity is becoming more common, and CHAMP is playing a role in that, Haasbeek notes. Logitude forms part of that nexus, as does Traxon cargoHUB to which it connects (the Traxon cargoHUB platform, another CHAMP product, facilitates worldwide electronic data interchange and links large parts of the worldwide air freight community – airlines, ground handling agents and freight forwarders). Like many in the air cargo


industry, Haasbeek has been disappointed with the sector’s


take-up of e-AWBs, a process that has been driven in large part – not, perhaps, with complete success – by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). “The industry did not meet its eAWB take-up targets [set by IATA] last year,” Haasbeek


recalls. But he remains confident that change is coming. Indeed, he believes we are


in the middle of a globalised change in behaviour as regards all forms of digitisation, eAWB use amongst them. Change in personal habits is driving the


25


need for us to worry about any potential oversights or pitfalls. The MultiFreight service team provided a much smoother implementation than we ever expected. “It is easy to be lured by


impressive-looking soſtware, but the real success of IT is making sure that the users gain the real benefits of the soſtware. In this respect MultiFreight have proved to be first class.” PSL is now testing the latest


version of MultiFreight’s freight forwarding soſtware system, and plans to migrate to a Cloud- hosted solution which will reduce the need to manage expensive hardware.


specifically targeted to NVOCCs where they may receive electronic bookings, shipping instructions, and provide tracking information


electronically


to their customers through a single integration with INTTRA,” Orzechowski says. She further confirms that, having completed the pilot with UCM, the next stage of the roll-out is to expand to additional NVOCCs. INTTRA and Info-X have partners


been since 2010.


This particular collaboration enables Info-X to leverage their partnership with INTTRA to sell TMS to NVOCCs, but, Orzechowski insists, “Info-X and INTTRA are always looking for new ways to drive innovation.”


move in the workplace to greater electronic communications, he considers, all of which he believes will very soon be reflected in greater eAWB take up amongst the smaller and medium-sized forwarders (the larger ones have pretty much already transferred over to eAWB use, frequently building their own systems to support that transition).


Forward thinking, Forward moving


I am often asked about the important decisions made by our organization. Without hesitation, choosing


Forward Computers as our software provider is proving to be a pivotal one to the on-going success and the progression of Graylaw’s future.


Nick Green, General Manager, Graylaw Freight Group


forwardcomputers.co.uk


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