Thursday, July 18, 2013

How to Find the Right Shipping Software Provider

There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” solution in maritime shipping. But for any shipping company to operate efficiently, it must incorporate various parts of the shipping process including logistics, accounting, compliance, documentation, tracking, and reporting. A key enabler to making this happen is having a functional multi-carrier shipping software solution.

Packaged software for container vessels and liner agencies is widely available in software markets so you definitely have many options to choose from. However, not all solutions are right for you. You need to find the right shipping agency software which not only meets your business requirements but one that is easy to deploy offers real, long-term competitive advantage.
In choosing the right shipping software, there are many factors that you need to consider: vessel size, kind of cargo you ship, where you ship to (domestic or international), and many others. Additionally, equally important is finding the right shipping software company who will implement the software into your existing shipping platform. Here are a few important points to consider in finding the right vendor.

Industry and product knowledge. Choose a provider who has a profound understanding of and actual experience in the maritime supply chain industry.

Availability of local skills and resources. Make sure that all skills and resources necessary for seamless implementation of the shipping solutions software are available locally. 3. Method of implementation. See to it that the software provider uses tested and proven implementation methodology based on industry best practices.

Maintenance and Support. Choose marine software solutions provider which offers 24/7 global support in multiple languages. Make sure also that that it has clear, measurable Service Level Agreement and a capability to support future expansion.

Integrated shipping software is designed to improve shipping efficiency by reducing costs and increasing revenue. However, as important as finding which solution is best for you is choosing the right provider to implement that solution to ensure maximum functionality.

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