Promotional feature: BIFA Freight Service Awards


Sponsored by www.bifa.org European trailer operations - a stand-out service


In its Freight Service Awards 2019, the British International Freight Association recognised Davies Turner as the ‘best in industry’ for the European Services category in recognition of its development of a neutral online quotations and booking platform designed specifically for the European overland trailer services market.


According to Gary Hentschel, head of marketing and product development at Davies Turner: “The market for overland trailer services in Europe is tough. It’s very mature, and margins are tight. Unless you do something different, you don’t stand out – that’s why we decided to develop our e-freight portal.” Instant quote systems


are available in the air and ocean sectors, but a version tailored specifically for freight forwarder clients in the European trailer arena is unique in what Hentschel describes as “the very competitive and standardised sector of the overland freight forwarding business”. The portal, launched just


over a year ago, delivers instant online access to pricing, 24 hours a day, for consignments up to 3 tonnes in weight or 9 cu m in volume. It allows independent


freight forwarders to obtain rates for any of Davies Turner’s European overland export and import trailer services – which benefit


from a strong network of partners across the Continent – instantly. Time-consuming telephone


calls, emails or online quote request forms are thus eliminated. “We started offering the


portal to freight forwarders, because they need to get back to their customers quickly with prices,” Hentschel explained.


Customers


“Then, we extended it to direct customers who ask us frequently for prices as well. By adding them to the portal, we freed up our staff to move freight.” He emphasised: “We


always observe neutrality. Our CRM [customer relationship management] system ensures that we don’t approach other forwarders’ customers, so they know they can trust us.”


The architecture of


the platform allows branding with


the user’s


name, logo, strap line and colour scheme, enabling independent freight forwarder customers to


Pictured leſt to right: Michael Yarwood from category sponsor, TT Club; host, Ade Adepitan MBE; and Edward Stephenson from Davies Turner.


Three other companies made the final shortlist


access what looks like their own bespoke online e-freight quotation and bookings portal to produce instant quotes for their clients. The number of companies


using Davies Turner’s online e-freight quotation and bookings portal is now


at least 200 and in 2019, those users requested around 30,000 quotes via the platform. Furthermore, in response


to customer requests, Davies Turner is planning to enhance the portal’s dashboard to provide business intelligence tools


over the next few months. “The portal is always


evolving,” Hentschel said. Adapting


After the Brexit transition period, documentation requirements for shipments moving between the UK and


the European Union will change. It is already possible to upload documents to Davies Turner’s e-freight portal, though, so Hentschel is confident the system will cope. “The biggest challenge is making sure customers who have only ever shipped within Europe know what they need to do,” he pointed out. Davies Turner is making


preparations for the end of the Transition Period, following the UK’s departure from the EU. For some years, the company has had a Brexit planning team, and has also expanded its Customs clearance department. It also responded to a


noticeable uptick in freight volumes in the run-up to Brexit Day. “People were stockpiling,


wanting to get their goods in before any potential change, so warehouses were filling up and we increased our capacity accordingly during 2019. We continue to do so in 2020 – our 150th anniversary year – with automation playing an important part,” Hentschel said.


The BIFA Freight Service Awards competition has been running for 31 years and is open to all full trading and probationary members of the UK trade association for freight forwarding companies. The Awards comprise eight main categories, plus Young Freight Forwarder (YFF) and Apprentice of the Year (AOTY) categories. The event has long been sponsored by eminent companies, and is recognised as one of the most prestigious in the industry. https://awards.bifa.org/awards


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