Freight forwarders go high-tech

Today, the world’s leading freight forwarders are investing in technology that not only increases efficiency but also enhances their operations.

It’s a really challenging time for freight forwarders all over the planet. They’re having to contend with Covid-19, skyrocketing freight rates, a shortage of containers, limited capacity, the grounding of aircraft (which normally transport cargo), congestion at ports … and numerous other calamitous events (such as the blockage of the Suez Canal). Faced with this, they are turning to technology like never before – because their efficiency needs to be at an all-time high.

“Over the past year, major disruptions from the global pandemic, severe weather, capacity shortages, the Suez Canal blockage and more have reinforced the vital importance of supply chains, but also shone a public spotlight on their fragility in some cases. While the industry has been undergoing a digital transformation for some time, the current environment is accelerating the need for supply chain leaders to invest in technology solutions like visibility, artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics to drive better resilience, agility and performance,” confirms Chris Cutshaw, director of commercial and product strategy at CH Robinson, one of the world’s largest logistics platforms.

One example of this trend is SmartAir!, a new tracking tool for the real-time tracking of air freight shipments. Together with the Bonn-based start-up BlueBox Systems, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has developed a web-based platform that provides customers with comprehensive information about their air freight shipments at a glance, regardless of airline, route or type of shipment.

With this innovation, Hellmann is closing a gap in the live tracking of transports and is taking a pioneering role in the logistics industry in times of more closely synchronised flows of goods in global supply chains.

Based on GPS coordinates, SmartAir! provides information on all stopovers and loading times for live tracking of shipments. In addition, the system offers numerous analysis options for the performance of individual airlines, routes and airports, addressing questions such as: Which departure airport has the fewest delays? Which airlines deliver most reliably? This information enables quick and easy evaluation of providers and routes, thus creating the prerequisites for optimising supply chain management.

Hellmann is completing its product range for shipment tracking and can now offer a customised tracking solution for every mode of transport: Smart Ocean for sea freight, SmartAir! for air freight, and the universally applicable Smart Visibility trackers. These records, in addition to tracking data, provide extensive information on humidity, temperature, the incidence of light, vibration, and door opening, thus enabling detailed transport control of shipments.

“SmartAir! is a real game-changer in the tracking of air freight shipments, which has not been available on the market in this way before. In times of digitalisation and ever-smaller time windows for decisions, quickly available real-time data within global supply chains is becoming increasingly important. This is also of particular relevance in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines,” says Henning Pottharst, product manager smart visibility, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

Another example of the trend towards hi-tech is Navisphere Vision, delivered by TMC, a division of C.H. Robinson, which helps freight forwarders see their global supply chain in one place. By pulling in data and status updates from third-party vendors and suppliers – plus weather, traffic and geopolitical-monitoring sources – the platform provides real-time visibility and insights to inventory at rest or in motion.

Through data science, AI and machine learning, Navisphere Vision helps forwarders track, monitor and react to supply chain disruptions before they occur – across any mode or region around the world. And, with Navisphere Vision’s Internet of Things (IoT) device connectivity, real-time visibility goes beyond location. Users can monitor and immediately mitigate issues when shipments are impacted by shock, tilt, humidity, light, temperature or pressure.

Does sound smart, doesn’t it? One thing is certain: the world of freight forwarding is evolving faster than ever before!