It's crucial for businesses to break away from traditional warehouse and transport management approaches and adapt to the evolving market. Fortunately, the introduction of logistics software has facilitated this transition, empowering companies to meet market demands effectively.
Why Is Logistics Software Important?
Logistics software plays a critical role in planning, storing, and delivering goods. It encompasses activities such as receiving raw materials, managing inventory, and shipping products to market suppliers and customers. By leveraging logistics software, businesses can achieve production efficiency by optimizing transportation and storage processes throughout the supply chain.
Moreover, logistics software enables businesses to meet customer requirements by providing real-time delivery status updates and facilitating easy inventory management of raw materials and supplies. It streamlines workflow operations, ensuring seamless and efficient warehouse and travel management for suppliers, retailers, and customers alike.
Here are the top five logistics software solutions of 2023:
1 EasyCargo
Overview
EasyCargo is a load planning software developed by Bee Interactive s.r.o., a company that used to develop advergames, but in 2014, Bee Interactive s.r. o. recognized the potential of the technology for load plan visualization. Furthermore, the focus was shifted to developing logistics software with a primary solution for load planning.
EasyCargo allows businesses to create and visualize their cargo storage production in 3D designs, resulting in better utilization of cargo space and time and cost efficiency in outsourcing travel management services.
The software has gained popularity and is used by more than 2,000 companies worldwide, including some branches of industry leaders like Kuehne+Nagel, Expeditors, and Bollore Logistics.
EasyCargo is an online program accessible through a web browser, offering 3D visuals and printed outputs. It provides a step-by-step video guide to assist users in loading their containers by planning the shipment beforehand. EasyCargo also supports manual refinements or modifications of items through its built-in 3D editor.
EasyCargo allows manual data input or direct import of Excel spreadsheets. Additionally, it supports integration with ERP, TMS, WMS, and other software applications for seamless data transfer. The software enables optimal storage management through efficient planning of cargo space utilization.
Users can input data for calculation, print reports, or save them in PDF format for warehouse management. Furthermore, EasyCargo facilitates collaboration by allowing access to the load plan through a public link, enabling everyone to view the shipment from their device.
Features
Easy to Use
EasyCargo is designed to be user-friendly, keeping the load planning process on one screen. Users can easily navigate the software, add cargo items to the layout with a simple click, modify specifications, and view the final 3D load plan preview.
3D Visualization
EasyCargo software provides 3D visualization (where Bee In.'s history in 3D advergames comes into play) of the load plan, allowing users to make adjustments to optimize space. The built-in load plan editor enables the manual movement of cargo items to achieve the desired fit. Non-tech-savvy users can use the drag-and-drop functionality without any trouble as well.
Integrations
EasyCargo supports various integrations to simplify load planning. Users can import Microsoft Excel templates into the software, inputting details such as the number of pieces, dimensions, total weight, and other factors. Integration with SAP ERP centralizes data management, streamlining the loading process. In other words, EasyCargo supports API integration for implementing those long lists of cargo items that would be too time-consuming if it were to be done manually, which is one of the many things that can be done with API integration.
EasyCargo includes a database for easy access to frequently used items and vehicle options for cargo carriers. The list includes the most used shipping containers and trucks and also trucks with semitrailers or tractors with 2 and 3 axles. If desired, custom-sized cargo spaces can easily be added. The software is available in 14 languages, reaching a large audience. EasyCargo also caters to both tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy users. In case of any issues, EasyCargo offers a fast and dedicated customer support team.
Container Loading Calculator
EasyCargo's 3D visualization functionality and container loading calculator make it a recommended choice for businesses. It helps improve cargo loading and cargo shipping for a wide range of industries.
Overall, EasyCargo is a comprehensive load planning software that combines user-friendly features, 3D visualization, integrations, and a container loading calculator to enhance cargo storage and travel management for businesses worldwide.
2 GoComet
Overview
GoComet combines the power of data science with advanced machine learning to offer cost-efficient and smart logistics solutions. The company leverages the power of AI in its logistics software to deliver efficient and transparent freight procurement processes, gain insights from auto-generated reports, and save time from manual review and documentation.
With its team of logistics experts, GoComet has improved the overall efficiency of its clients worldwide, as evidenced by its G2 badge for the highest customer satisfaction in the spring of 2023.
Features
GoComet aims to transform supply chain visibility with its freight management software. It is the company's end-to-end logistics management solution to improve freight operations, such as securing rates, automating invoice reconciliation, and real-time tracking of cargo.
Automate Negotiations
The platform contains an automated compounded negotiation system that ensures vendors give business owners the best possible rates on their offers. Business owners can compare rates and vendor performance based on the analytics provided by the platform.
Automated Freight Invoice Reconciliation
This feature ensures error-free invoice processing. The platform automatically highlights the discrepancies between incoming freight invoices and the agreed-upon rates. This allows business owners to achieve faster payment cycles, eliminating potential human fallacies from lapses in manual follow-ups.
Real-time Visibility of Shipment
The platform contains a tracking module that provides real-time visibility of the shipment from its point of origin to its destination. GoComet monitors every movement and sends automated alerts during delays.
GoComet also offers free tools designed for monitoring carriers and shipments, even estimating shipment delays directly on its site. With its AI technology, GoComet is the recommended logistics software for complete transparency of freight rate procurements and real-time visibility of the shipment process.
3 Cargobase
Overview
Founded in 2013, Cargobase envisions an improved collaboration between shippers and logistics service providers through accessible, user-friendly transportation management software. The company's transportation management system is now used in over 70 countries, delivering automated efficiency and visibility to global supply chains.
Features
Spot-buy procurement enables users to save up to 27% of costs. This feature simplifies spontaneous or emergency shipments that are often costly due to on-the-spot purchases. The logistics software contains a quoting algorithm that routes the user's request to the right contacts, reducing turnaround time and enabling faster communication with business partners.
Real-time visibility enables continuous tracking of shipments across all freight modes, regardless if it's by ship, truck, or airplane. Users get a complete view of the movement and get ETA calculations directly from the transport management system.
Freight management ensures shipments are delivered on time for the right price. Users may connect Cargobase to their existing rate repository, and its rate cards automatically create quotes for immediate application.
An invoice audit provides an automatic comparison of invoices with the contracted amount. The logistics software of Cargobase highlights the errors, overcharges, and other inconsistencies within the documentation while also enabling automatic payment approval to the external payment provider.
Reporting analytics provides automatic alerts on shipment-related activities and offers valuable real-time insights into the performance of the transport management of the business.
Cargobase is the recommended logistics software for simplified and automated freight management. It is credible in its solutions and reliable in its functions, having received certifications from ISO and GDPR and recognition on a global scale.
4 IncoDocs
Overview
IncoDocs is an all-in-one export documentation software marketed for businesses to help them transition into becoming automated, transparent, and purely digital supply chains. It simplifies documentation for SMBs and enables teams to work virtually and collaboratively without reliance on tangible documents. By going paperless, IncoDocs centralizes the logistics of businesses in one platform.
Features
IncoDocs eliminates re-entry with its Master File feature. The software also allows the auto-filling of data directly from ERP, TMS, and other systems, making it easier to update outdated files. It contains over 30 UNLK-aligned templates, suitable for global trade.
The software can also centralize all business documents in one system. It doubles as a workspace for logistics teams to collaborate and create compliant packing lists and other shipping documents for freight operations.
Moreover, IncoDocs also streamlines sales, enabling users to quickly send professional quotes and invoices with a "pay now" option for fast compensation. It also alerts users when buyers have viewed the sent invoices. The documents created on IncoDocs are also customizable, allowing users to personalize the letterheads and attach an e-signature to the electronic document.
IncoDocs enables greater visibility into documentation processes, whether that's for freight, sales, or invoices. It's easy to use yet contains fewer features targeted at transport management, which is essential to the freight process. Fortunately, it allows integration with other logistics systems.
5 Turvo
Overview
Turvo is a transport management system platform that connects people and organizations working in supply chains, from freight brokers to shippers and third-party logistics providers. Turvo incorporates all systems, allowing users to deliver operations and execute analyses in one platform while eliminating manual processes with its automated solutions.
Thousands of logistics operators trust Turvo. It has proven performance for a tangible ROI, increasing its client's revenue by 3x, shipments by 5x, and fleet utilization by 10x.
Features
Analytics provides a comprehensive view of the business with performance measurements. It offers insights into where actions must be taken and guides users toward improvements. Users gain detailed comparisons of their carriers from their shipment volume, margin, and carrier pay/mile.
Driver app provides real-time status updates of shipments. It contains a track-and-trace functionality and displays the prioritization of shipments for drivers.
Visibility lets users see the supply chain's inbound and outbound operations from its transportation network and communications. Turvo displays the status of every inventory, order, and shipment.
Appointment scheduling optimizes transport management efficiency. Turvo displays schedules with full context about the shipment status, order, customer, and carrier data. Users can also share the schedule access with their partners to reduce stress in managing carriers and traffic on-site or on the dock.
Inventory management offers complete visibility for supplies. It unites all inventory management data and supports integrations with other supply chain management systems. Users can apply filters to review the inventory and get automated alerts from expiring lots.
Turvo is the recommended logistics software for cloud-based collaboration and automated solutions. With real-time updates, this transport management system offers transparency in supply chain operations and access to every aspect of the shipment of goods.
Conclusion
Logistics can be tedious when manually monitoring the storage and transportation of goods from the warehouse to the market destination. With the shift to digitization, logistics evolved as a modern problem that requires a digital solution. To be equipped with automation and real-time visibility, businesses can rely on these top 5 best logistics software for improved performance and delivery of operations.
