Digital Freight Forwarder Cargoboard Turns Two and Continues to Grow

The digital freight forwarder Cargoboard is experiencing continuous growth despite the challenges of the pandemic. After just two years, the Paderborn start-up has over 18,000 registered customers and 135,000 completed shipments.

(Paderborn) An extremely fragmented market, lengthy inquiry processes, and limited accessibility of freight forwarders pose significant challenges in logistics. Particularly, the slow progress towards digitization significantly complicates the largely analog forwarding processes. The digital Paderborn freight forwarder Cargoboard addresses the lack of interface between price inquiry and commissioning, as well as the incomplete shipment tracking, with its innovative business model. And it has been remarkably successful despite the Corona crisis. In just two years, Cargoboard has handled over 135,000 transports, coordinated from the heart of Paderborn.

The start-up Cargoboard offers a platform for commercial one-time shippers to international large companies to determine freight costs and commission parcel shipments. The customer-oriented approach of the digital freight forwarder enables efficient transports and aims to digitize the parcel shipping process. In an opaque market environment of digital platform services, Cargoboard significantly reduces the search and information costs for digitally savvy customers through its online booking tool.

Established in the Logistics Industry

On April 1, 2019, exactly two years ago, the four founders Artur Nachtigal, Lukas Petrasch, Richard Kleeschulte, and David Port, together with the freight forwarding network CargoLine, founded the corporate start-up Cargoboard.

One of the two managing directors of Cargoboard, Artur Nachtigal, reports: “Before the founding, we had high expectations for the potential of Cargoboard. However, the feedback from our customers and the rapid growth have clearly exceeded our expectations.” In just two years, the company has established itself as a fixed part of the German start-up scene and as a digital platform with over 18,000 customers and more than 135,000 parcel shipments across Europe. Over 2,000 verified customer reviews illustrate the response from customers and position Cargoboard as one of the best German freight forwarding companies.

The Customer in Focus

In its further development, Cargoboard places the greatest focus on its customers, which is evident in the freight cost calculator, the transparent shipment tracking, and the diverse implementation of customer requests.

“All suggestions and requests are implemented on the platform and in customer service to make these improvements accessible to all other users. Therefore, customers actively influence the further development of Cargoboard,” says co-founder Richard Kleeschulte. The company meets the different requirement profiles of its customer groups by specifically implementing individual requests.
“For example, the booking process is suitable for inexperienced one-time shippers, but also offers a variety of configuration options for frequent shippers. Online shop operators can also integrate a plugin into their shop that automatically generates a shipping order with Cargoboard after an order is placed. Large companies have the option to use the Cargoboard API, which allows for complete integration of the shipping processes within the company,” explains Richard Kleeschulte.

Dedicated Team

The remarkable growth of one of the most successful start-ups from the “new Silicon Valley” OWL is attributed by Artur Nachtigal to the hands-on mentality of the team and the conviction of the customers who recommend Cargoboard in large numbers. Every team member helps daily to optimize the handling of the numerous shipments and to further digitize the shipping processes of the customers. Artur Nachtigal: “Each of our 21 employees brings their ideas to the start-up and implements them independently.”

The team is continuously expanding to generate additional expertise and further ideas for development. Starting in August, Cargoboard will officially be recognized as a training company and will welcome its first trainee.

Cargoboard is far from finished with its ambitious development. As Artur Nachtigal explains, projects in the areas of internationalization, technical advancement, and growing importance as a local employer are planned for the coming years.

Photo: © Cargoboard