Digital Management of Carriers with Master Data Management 4.0

The management and control of a transport network, known as Carrier Management, is one of the main tasks of a freight forwarder. Digital logistics platforms combine various functions for effective carrier management and enable users to optimize their order processing. Innovative group functions digitalize secure collaboration with new carriers and established business partners.

By Jens Rücker

(Berlin) Whether in local or long-distance transport: Freight forwarders usually rely on long-term contracts and fixed partners for scheduling. Regular collaboration creates a long-term trust relationship. Effective carrier management is the foundation for seamless order assignment and can be quickly digitalized through mobile or web-based solutions. In combination with carrier databases, freight forwarders can then explore and manage new and existing transport resources alike. This creates comprehensive IT support that sustainably optimizes processes and provides security even in collaboration with unknown carriers.

Data Security and Reliable Partners

When choosing a suitable solution to digitalize their carrier management, options for maintaining contacts and overall data security should be a top priority. The ability to maintain exclusive contacts in a private area significantly facilitates collaboration with established contractual partners. Only when they can securely curate contacts privately do users benefit from all the innovative advantages of digital master data management. They centrally maintain the most important facts, manage them conveniently, and utilize a reminder function that automatically monitors expiration dates of insurance certificates and transport licenses. This way, they have the most important facts at a glance:

• Addresses
• Fleet data
• Driver qualifications
• Rates and conditions

The automatic documentation and quick availability of this information is also crucial for collaboration with unknown carriers. With the right technical support, dispatchers can easily ensure high-quality collaboration with high reliability.

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Digital Processes Accelerate Collaboration

Even in daily operations, a digital contact hub proves its worth: Registered users can see directly in private groups which of their partners is online. This gives them certainty about each other’s availability and allows them to immediately enter negotiations about freight, routes, vehicles, and schedules via online messenger. All messages can be automatically documented and archived. Additionally, offers and freight rates should be automatically saved and incorporated into contracts. Ideally, solutions offer the additional option to deploy fixed transport contractors based on rules, eliminating the need for further negotiations. Overall, the freight forwarder benefits from a significant time saving through the use of advanced IT compared not only to analog processes but also to less innovative software solutions and platforms.

Automatic Order Processing

Once the agreed transport orders are running, the chosen platform should proactively provide the client with position and progress data in real-time to create additional transparency in processing. This makes tracking orders up to the delivery receipt possible. Once this has been archived securely, digital systems can also prepare billing, generate invoices based on contract data, and send them automatically.

All in all, by choosing the right solution, the entire carrier management can be digitalized from start to finish, order processing can be automated, and compliance as well as quality management can be secured. When searching for the right system, it is essential to inform yourself about all functions and services. Only then will you receive the best possible support.

About Trans.eu

The software manufacturer Trans.eu Group develops software solutions for logistics. For over 15 years, the company has connected over 40,000 users from Europe to Eurasia, making Logistics 4.0 solutions accessible to both freight forwarders and carriers. Trans.eu supports users in transitioning to digital processes, optimizing them, and acting sustainably in the long term.

Photos: © Trans.eu

Jens Rücker is Team Leader Customer Support at Trans.eu for the DACH region. As a master in warehouse management and logistics, logistics processes around carrier management and capacity sourcing are part of his expertise. He has been working in the software industry for many years and supports logistics and transport service providers in digitizing their processes.
www.trans.eu