FREIGHT
The problem
Most forwarders quote from a spreadsheet of carrier rates that is out of date the week it is circulated. The quote goes out at a margin that looked right in the file and is wrong by the time the booking is made.
The recoverable margin is not in negotiating harder. It is in quoting from live rate validity and knowing, per lane and per customer, what the last ten shipments actually earned.
Core workflow
Inquiry to booking.
01
Inquiry
Trade lane, commodity, volume and required service.
02
Rate lookup
Contract, spot and agent rates with validity dates.
03
Build the quote
Charge lines by leg, with Incoterm and currency.
04
Margin check
Selling against cost, compared to lane history.
05
Approval & issue
Discount authority enforced, quote issued.
06
Conversion
Accepted quote becomes the shipment file.
What it covers
Rates
Carrier and agent rate cardsContract and spot ratesValidity and expiry alertsSurcharges and local chargesRate comparison by lane
Quotations
Multi-route and multi-mode optionsIncoterms and currencyCharge breakdown by legValidity and revision historyApproval by margin threshold
Pipeline
Customer and lead registerQuote conversion rateWin / loss reasonCustomer contract termsLane and customer margin history
Connects with
Operational outcomes
+11 pts
Quote conversion rate
+1.9 pts
Margin on quoted business
−2.5 hrs
Time to issue a quotation
0
Quotes issued on expired rates
Ranges observed on Al Jawad engagements. Targets agreed in assessment.