During the process of handling export sales, most companies realize the need for a competent freight forwarder to help facilitate the transaction. However, most exporters lack adequate cost variables and transit options for every shipment. In short, that’s because the vast majority of freight forwarders are unable to provide an instant freight quote for international less than container load or air freight service door to door. Overall, this slows the velocity of export sales any stymies growth.

Here is a typical example. Your export sales representative is addressing an inquiry from a potential overseas customer. Using an internal price list to compose a product quote, they are able to put together the basis of a proposal within a few minutes. However, it’s highly common for the customer to request all door to door export shipping costs at the same time.

Using conventional shipping methodology, the sales representative must then email their co-worker within the logistics department. This is followed by a logistics employee sending an email request to one or two of his or her favorite freight forwarders. Of course the traditional freight forwarders utilized by logistics employees often tend to be acquaintances from outside the workplace or freight sales representatives offering the most meals, gifts, or gratuities.

In any case, once the respective forwarder receives the request, multiple emails are sent to numerous providers. This includes an email request to a domestic ltl provider or standalone quote from a domestic ltl provider’s online system for the first mile pickup. The forwarder then sends an email to their less than container load or air export service provider for an international transit rate and option. Last, the forwarder then sends another email to their overseas agent or partner requesting door delivery and customs clearance costs.

Then the waiting begins. In most cases it takes at least 24 hours for the old fashioned freight forwarder to receive all required information and compile a manual email quote for the shipper. Not to mention, these email quotes usually entail one option for lcl ocean freight and one option for air freight only if specifically requested. Is this an efficient way to facilitate trade within today’s competitive and challenging environment? Of course not. Are business managers within the company aware of their broken logistics department and ineffective methods?

This is where ExFreight has changed the game and continues to disrupt the traditional freight forwarder market. ExFreight customers have the ability to quickly and easily log into our platform and obtain instant full container, less than container load, and air freight export quotes across multiple carriers. This includes dozens of air carriers and up to fifteen ocean shipping options. Not to mention, costs are broken down to include transit time, routing, carbon emissions, and carrier reliability. During the booking process, the shipper is also provided an insurance quote and coverage option. The entire process from quoting, booking, and dispatching the shipment takes less than five minutes.

When considering the implications of the scenarios described, what are the compelling reasons to work with a traditional freight forwarder? How does a slow response time coupled with limited shipping options help your company or your customers?

Moreover, in contrast, the ExFreight system provides real time visibility of your freight. Every shipment has a pre determined plan with every step tracked along the way. Our system is also connected to the ltl carriers, air freight carriers, and less than container ocean vessels. This means that shippers can also see the geographic location of their freight at any given time.

Quote reports, active shipment reports, carbon emission reports, and accounting reports can also be easily accessed from the ExFreight shipment dashboard.

Getting back to the core message of this blog, by using the ExFreight digital rating, booking, and tracking system, your company may realize better export sales results. The amount of insight gained and time saved for every shipment across all modes is both significant and measurable.

Let your business function and grow by tapping into the value of instant rating, quoting, and booking for you air export, lcl less than container load shipments, full container freight and ltl first and last mile.