Thursday, July 31, 2014

Which Shipping Software Solution Is Right for You?


It is well-documented: shipping software significantly improves the process of moving goods between ports and terminals. It automates admin-heavy tasks such as invoicing, demurrage, and detention billing, and speeds up work by eliminating the need for multi-entry of the same information on export forms.

In container shipping, software applications like container management software increases profit by maximizing the use of container space. Other software modules can be purchased off-the-shelf and integrated into existing IT platforms to automate certain areas of the logistics process, increase productivity, and reduce expenses.

But, how do you know which software solution is right for you?

With so many shipping software companies offering a variety of solutions, either in the form of a product or service, finding the one that best fits your unique business requirements should not be a problem. Here are a couple of tips you might want to consider.

There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” solution. This is true simply because not all business models and requirements are the same. The good thing about packaged shipping software is that they are available in separate modules, each one designed to automate specific areas of the shipping process for which they are created. For example, if you want to ensure fuel efficiency and reduce bunker expenses, you can purchase a bunker management software package.

Make an outline of your software requirements. Consider choosing a liner shipping software solution like going to a grocery store. If you don’t make a grocery list, you will likely end up spending hours on the grocery lanes trying to figure out what to eat for dinner, and eventually picking the wrong items. Do not waste your money on software that you do not need at all.

Finding the right enterprise shipping software starts with knowing what you need. Conduct an organization-wide inventory and gather inputs from each department to build a list of your requirements before you go software shopping.  Doing so will not only save you time and energy, but will also give you more control of the buying process instead of just taking speculative suggestions from software vendors.

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