The biggest hassles for any shipper are the frequent follow-ups besides hidden shipping charges and cumbersome documentation processes are the pain points for companies worldwide while managing their oceanic freights.
Manufacturing companies suffer because of lacking in identifying optimal information in the sea of never-ending data and huge information available via various resources. Also, there is no Single Window Solution available with them. They find it almost impossible to organise their and their customers’ priorities of sharing crucial information in real-time.
This was the scenario before entering Sanjay Bhatia, the CEO & Founder, identified all of the crucial pain points in the freight management system and came up with a universally unified Single Digital Logistics Window Solution of Freightwalla and changed the game forever.
Sanjay drew a graph of the traditional way of doing this business where a user has to deal with the shipper, forwarder, transportation service, custom agent, shipping lines and so on. This process is so clumsy, messy, and time-consuming that it tests the user’s patience to the last degree. Not anymore.
Changing the Global Traditional Logistics Mindset
Sanjay shares, “International logistics is a 300-year-old industry that follows the traditional way of doing business and is very slow to adopt the technology.”
The reasons are many, but the primary cause is human’s traditional psychology of resisting change up to the last point. Thus, Sanjay’s tremendous challenge initially was to change this prevailing mindset and bring about the digitization of the industry as per 21st century standards. The process was slow at first but gained momentum as focus on supply chain health has reached a new high thanks to the pandemic.
Sanjay reveals, “Digitization has helped us compile data and use actionable insights to help our customers manage their shipments effectively.” The continuous flow of information and effective shipment workflow management has enabled proactive problem-solving delays and cost escalations.
We’re Freightwalla: Your Digital Forwarding Partner
Today, Freightwalla offers a unified and intuitive online platform for businesses to plan, budget, book, and manage customer shipments. The services include an instant planning and costing tool, real-time tracking capabilities with predictive analytics, online documentation, and simplified reporting with a plethora of customized value-added services such as transportation, customs clearance, and additional services like cargo insurance, to name a few.
All the above features are backed by state-of-the-art data analytics and ML algorithms offering intelligent and actionable insights, delay prediction, and customized reports for data-driven decision making.
Its latest offering, Cargo Tracker, is an intelligent tracker that enables end-to-end real-time visibility of containers booked on multiple shipping lines, regardless of the forwarder used, on a single platform. It employs predictive analytics and ML algorithms to predict Estimated Time of Arrival (ETAs) and delays at ports. Automated alerts on each milestone empower businesses to make informed decisions and combat shipment delays proactively.
The Visionary Leadership of Sanjay
Sanjay reveals, “At Freightwalla, I am responsible for strategic, financial and operational leadership.” His background with PwC strategy consulting, Solera Partners- a venture capital firm and Everstone Capital – one of India’s biggest home-grown private equity firms, has enabled him to build a concrete foundation to apprehend the nitty-gritty of the industry in terms of strategy and finance. Further, he has consulted multiple Fortune 500 companies and MNC Logistics companies and established and led an NGO.
Sanjay holds degrees in Economics, Politics, and Philosophy from Warwick. Besides, he also holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Finance from Singapore Management University. He has completed his International Baccalaureate from Dhirubhai Ambani International School.
The Freightwalla Platform: Digital in Form, Disruptive in Functionality
“Plan, finalize, execute, and analyse your shipping operations using our unified, easy-to-use digital platform,” says Sanjay.
Freightwalla’s planning and costing are convenient. You can get all the information you need from dozens of carriers to plan your shipments, from quotes and sailing schedules to historical pricing reports, and strike a balance between shipping cost and transit time based on your needs using the Feightwalla.com platform.
Seamless Communication and Collaboration are now a click away. “Complete booking and documentation online collaboratively with your team without the hassle of exchanging dozens of emails, calls, and messages by leveraging our digital platform and readily available customer support,” says Sanjay. Customers can review and manage their bookings collaboratively, view alerts and all required actions on a single dashboard, and receive instant support through a live chat with Freightwalla experts. “This way, the customer saves countless hours of emails and phone calls wasted on follow-ups,” quips Sanjay.
Digitized Workflow Automation is the key. It eliminates the stress of fetching information from multiple sources and coordinating with various intermediaries by letting Freightwalla’s digital platform do all the heavy lifting.
Sanjay states, “Customer can coordinate in a timely and stress-free way with our automated backend.” They can complete the entire documentation process, including BL review online and reconcile accounts with zero errors through online invoicing. This saves 30% of customers’ time spent on documentation.
Real-Time Tracking and Tracing Means Business. Track the status of your booking, documentation, and the entire shipping process from source to destination in real-time without having to make constant enquiries. Customers can monitor shipments through multimodal tracking, share alerts and notifications with consigners, and identify shipments at risk of delay.
Your Smart Reporting and Analytics. You can organize, view, and manage your invoices on the Freightwalla platform for error- and hassle-free accounting and analysis. You can view all reports and invoices on a single platform, analyse historical pricing reports, and auto-generate daily status and monthly sending reports. You get to reconcile your accounts with zero mismatches and errors.
Privacy and Security is your right. Freightwalla provides end-to-end SSL encryption, complete control of the data and information, secure AWS-powered cloud-data storage, and hourly data backups.
The Only Digital Partner for All Your Shipping Needs
Freightwalla’s many services include,
Ocean Freight Forwarding: Use the digital platform, dedicated support team, and international network of shipping partners to book freight online without the hassle of endless enquiries, follow-ups, negotiations, and unexpected delays. Plan shipments optimally based on instant rates and schedules from dozens of carriers. Track your cargo from source to destination even while transhipping. Save the man-hours spent on gathering quotes and finalizing critical documents.
Transportation: Book on-ground transportation for your cargo to and from all significant inland and ports across India for FTL and LTL volumes and special types of transport like reefers and Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC). Avoid the stress of dealing with multiple partners for trucking and shipping. Track your shipment on the ground in real-time and get regular status updates. Plan your supply chain processes effectively based on accurate delivery information. Give your customers accurate updates on delivery timelines and enhance their customer satisfaction.
Customs Clearance: To reduce risks, let our partner network handle your customs processes. Upload documents online and receive updates on your clearance status on a single platform. Avoid delays and penalties associated with non-compliant documentation. Get updates on your customs clearance status for easy tracking. Receive the complete list of required documents to avoid missing out on any. Avoid follow-ups with customs agents for updates.
Trade Finance: Enhance your cash flow with quick access to working capital through our trade-finance partners. Pre-Shipment Cargo Testing: Reduce the risks of importing from India by getting your cargo tested for quality and regulatory compliance at the source. Pre-Trip Inspection and Container Survey: Conduct a pre-trip inspection of transportation containers and trucks to ensure reliability to avoid delays due to breakdowns. Cargo Insurance: Avoid the hassle of finding cargo insurance vendors and get your cargo insured with our partners at competitive rates. Live Temperature Monitoring: Ship temperature-sensitive cargo under perfect conditions using reefer containers equipped with real-time temperature control mechanisms. Container Fumigation: Disinfect your container to protect your cargo from pests and viruses and comply with import laws.
Sanjay adds, “Our value-added services will take your supply chain to the next level.”
Sanjay’s Wisdom
Sanjay’s advice to the budding entrepreneurs who are willing to start their own venture/business in the logistics and supply chain industry is wise. He says you should not view challenges as hurdles; embrace them as learning opportunities. You’ll reach your goals faster, taking small steps rather than giant leaps. You’ll come across more obstacles than you thought possible. If you stop looking at hurdles and look more like learning opportunities, you’ll be a successful entrepreneur.
Today’s Logic is Technology
Being an experienced leader, when asked how the involvement of emerging technologies enhances the industry and what advancements can we expect in the future, Sanjay opines that the industry is witnessing disruptive technologies like AI and ML impacting various supply chain processes, including route optimization, real-time tracking of shipments, performance forecasting, warehouse management or live temperature monitoring of cargo.
He says, “We will also see the increasing use of IoT by companies to track the location and status of cargo being shipped.” This technology is precious when used to track the journey and condition of perishable cargo.
Blockchain technology simplifies digital storage and sharing of all necessary shipping documents decentralised and immutable, preventing data manipulation.
Freightwalla: Single Digital Global Logistics Window of the Future
Freightwalla offers solutions in three categories: International importers/exporters, Indian importers/exporters, and forwarders/service providers.
Sanjay shares, “We are continuously investing in sophisticated technologies like AI/ML, IoT, electronic Bill of Lading, and enhancing our integration with key partners to bring even better efficiencies to our services. Additional services for end-to-end freight management are also our key priorities right now.”
With Freightwalla, anybody can quickly, efficiently, and effortlessly trade to & from India. Sanjay adds, “Trade without boundaries by using our innovative digital platform and international partner network to plan and execute your freight activities such as shipping, trucking, customs clearance, warehousing, insurance, and invoicing. We are rapidly expanding our pan-India footprint,”
Sell More, Save More: Increase customer conversion by being transparent about quotes and delivery timelines. Avoid hidden shipping charges and set healthy profit margins by getting fixed and transparent freight rates upfront. Improve customer relationships by providing real-time visibility on shipments.
Import with Ease: Clear customs conveniently with the help of our partners and get updates on your clearance status. Locate your shipment at any time and plan your distribution and manufacturing processes based on accurate ETAs. Online rate discovery for imports.
Trading with India for international buyers gaining greater visibility and control over the freight management processes and overcoming the need for constant follow-ups, hidden local charges, and the risk of buying substandard goods. Sanjay adds, “For the international importers/exporters, we offer pre-shipment cargo inspection, online documentation, and real-time tracking with notifications.”
Trade with Convenience: Reduce the man-hours spent on emailing, printing, and scanning documents. Minimize turnaround times for your customers by sharing rates without worrying about time zone differences. Eliminate hidden local charges and get the full breakdown of shipping costs.
Buy with Confidence: Ensure the quality of goods before shipping through third-party cargo testing. Stay up-to-date on shipment status and pending actions without enquiring and following up manually. Avoid delivery delays caused by non-compliant or erroneous paperwork.
“Now that the pandemic and travel restrictions are behind us, we are fast emerging as a global player with our offering. We see significant opportunities for a tech-enabled logistics offering in other markets,” concludes Sanjay.
