A forwarder is not just a trader of freight capacity and rates but is offering a holistic service portfolio to simplify the work of the customer. This includes a sufficient — best case global — service network coverage, excellent loyal staff with a customer-oriented mindset and an agile system backbone. To be digital in forwarding comes on top of the above mentioned, not instead.
Established forwarders developed their system landscape and data quality so that customers do not feel a difference compared to a “digital forwarder,” with the advantage that the entire infrastructure is resilient, productive and cost efficient.
Being a digital forwarder in 2024 means enabling connectivity with customers and partners in multiple ways (i.e., easy to connect), clean data, predictive analytic tools, automation where human engagement does not add customer value, intelligent rate management and setting.