freight forwarding Archives

Elanders UK makes senior appointment

Posted on 3 February, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

North Tyneside-based Elanders UK has appointed Martin Ellison to the position of head of business development.

Having previously worked as head of sales and marketing at Cirrus Research, in his new role Martin will head up the UK business development team with a strong focus on growing the businesses supply chain footprint within the fashion & lifestyle and consumer goods sectors.

Elanders UK is part of Elanders Group, a global partner for integrated supply chain solutions with over 90 operations across four continents. It provides flexible and agile solutions for complex supply chains, providing customers with value-added services such as print and packaging resources which are integrated into its core business model.

Ellison said: “This is an exciting time to join Elanders UK and I am looking forward to working alongside the senior management and marketing teams to help grow the business within existing markets and through the sectors we have identified as offering real opportunities for growth.

“We have very ambitious growth plans for the UK, which would see us grow substantiality from our current position. To achieve our goal, we will be appointing additional, skilled people, during the next 24 months.

“As an integrated supply chain specialist, we add real value to customers. We have the ability to manage the supply chain process from initial customer contact through to fulfilment. We offer such a diverse range of services it allows us to be flexible in terms of the solutions we offer our customers and the way we operate the business.”

Kevin Rogers, managing director for Elanders in the UK, said: “It’s exciting times at Elanders, as we have very ambitious growth plans and we will take a real focus on our supply chain capabilities. It’s great to have Martin on board with his many years of experience in business development to guide our already strong performing sales and marketing teams.”

BIFA award winners crowned

Posted on 24 January, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The winners of the BIFA Freight Service awards 2021 have been announced by Matt Dawson, this year’s host of the British International Freight Association’s 2021 Freight Service Awards.

Dawson said that all the winners demonstrated a clear understanding of overcoming last minute challenges to achieve success, which reminded him of his own final mile, or last minute, delivery to Jonny Wilkinson in 2003, who then scored a drop goal that enabled England to win the Rugby World Cup.

There were many outstanding entries for the 2021 Awards, which were presented at the Brewery in London, despite a year beset by multiple operational difficulties and uncertainties caused by the pandemic and EU Exit.

A raffle held in aid of international development charity, Transaid, raised £3,600, whose CEO Caroline Barber (pictured) also made a presentation of Transaid’s work.

In the Air Cargo Services category, which was sponsored by IAG Cargo, Kerry Logistics triumphed over fellow finalists Maltacourt, Pentagon, and Uniserve Group.

Winner of the Ocean Services Award, sponsored by Port Express, was Allseas Global Logistics, which overcame strong challenges from fellow finalists NNR Global Logistics, and Vikstar.

Ace Forwarding took first place in the Project Forwarding category, sponsored by Peter Lole Insurance Brokers, ahead of fellow finalists AsstrA UK Ltd, LV Logistics, and Ucargo LLP.

In the Specialist Services category, newly sponsored by Newage, the winner was Your Special Delivery Service Ltd, whilst the other finalists included B&H Worldwide Ltd, Cargo Overseas Ltd, and Kerry Logistics.

Brunel European was revealed as the winner of the Supply Chain Management category, sponsored by BoxTop Technologies, seeing off strong competition from fellow finalists Hemisphere Freight Services Ltd, Noatum Logistics Ltd, and Uniserve.

Scooping first place in the Cool & Special Cargoes category, sponsored by American Airlines Cargo was JCS Livestock which overcame excellent entries from fellow finalists, Evolution Forwarding Ltd, and United Worldwide Logistics.

Hemisphere Freight Services literally went the extra mile to win the Extra Mile Award, sponsored by Descartes, ahead of the entries from fellow finalists Evolution Forwarding Ltd, Pentagon, and Unsworth UK.

Victorious against fellow finalists Aramex (UK) Ltd, Espace Europe Ltd, and Reliable Shipping Ltd, Unsworth UK triumphed in the Staff Development category, which was sponsored by Albacore Systems.

In the returning European Logistics category, which was sponsored by TT Club, the winner was Killick Martin & Company, with the other finalists being Espace European, Simarco Worldwide Logistics, and Unsworth UK.

Winner of the Apprentice of the Year category, which was sponsored by Seetec Outsource Training was Herbie Cobby (Geodis Freight Forwarding), who beat the other finalists, which were Matt Vick (John Good Logistics), Joshua Boswell (Geodis Freight Forwarding), Bobby Lowe (NVO Consolidation), and Thomas Low (OIA Global).

Meanwhile, Laura Hobby from FS Mackenzie impressed the judges with her passion for the industry to win the Young Freight Forwarder category, which is sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo. Fellow finalists were Ronan Kitchin (Aramex UK); Milos Bogovac (ZenCargo), Corey Chambers (Ital Logistics) and Jamie Halliday (Tudor International Freight).

Finally, BIFA Director General, Robert Keen presented a Special Recognition Award for services to the international freight industry, as well as charitable activities, to Gordon Day, who, after retiring from the industry following a very successful career, is now a stalwart of the London Freight Club and well known to many BIFA members.

Keen, commented: “After a truly extraordinary and very challenging two years, it was great to meet in person to celebrate excellence across the freight forwarding industry, with awards that are now in their 33rd year, and justifiably regarded as the most prestigious in the sector.

“Once again, BIFA was delighted with the range of entries received from BIFA Members that managed to take the time to document their achievements while continuing to manage their businesses through incredibly trying times, which is a testament to their tenacity.

“I congratulate all the companies and individuals that won each category, as well as those that were shortlisted as finalists.

“I would also would like to recognise the support and contribution of the sponsors to the running of the competition this year. Representatives from the category sponsors gave their time to carry out judging and the selection of winners for each award.”

GEODIS announces new leadership in Germany

Posted on 21 January, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Antje Lochmann has been appointed the Managing Director of both GEODIS’ Freight Forwarding and Contract Logistics activities in Germany. With this appointment, two of the supply chain operator’s lines of business in the country will benefit from her leadership.

Antje Lochmann (43) has many years of experience in the logistics industry and within the GEODIS organization. She joined GEODIS in 2011 and has held various positions in sales, marketing, key accounts and strategic sales planning. She is also one of the youngest senior managers to be promoted within GEODIS’ leadership programme.

Since Antje Lochmann took over the role as the Managing Director of Germany’s Freight Forwarding activities in 2018, she and her team have led the business to continued growth and profitability. Now, she will also manage the Contract Logistics’ line of business in Germany. She will be responsible for 22 locations and around 1,350 employees. Antje Lochmann is a member of the management board of GEODIS’ North, East and Central Europe region and she is based in Hamburg.

“Our Freight Forwarding and Contract Logistics business units will be gathered under the same leadership in Germany in order to create new synergies and to successfully develop the company in accordance with our regional growth strategy,” said Thomas Kraus, GEODIS’ President & CEO North, East and Central Europe. “I am very delighted that with Antje Lochmann we have an excellent and experienced leader for one of our key markets in the region.”

Six supply chain predictions for 2022

Posted on 20 January, 20227 August, 2025 by David Priestman

2021 saw many major challenges for logistics and supply chain professionals. With capacity constraints, ecommerce growth and driver shortages creating dilemmas for many as well as the increased focus from the industry on environment and machine learning, it was a year that was definitely not without its tests.

While reflecting on some of the ways the industry sought to overcome these challenges, Chris Jones*, Executive Vice President, Industry & Services at Descartes Systems Group, takes a look at what to look out for in 2022.

Global supply chains will be busy, congested, and chaotic

The challenges facing global supply chains show no signs of slowing down, with UK businesses left to navigate the complexities of Brexit and the subsequent delays to their operations, alongside the extra administrative burdens. Whilst some of the uncertainties surrounding the transition are beginning to ease, many firms remain concerned about how delays could impact their operations post-Brexit.

The key to navigating customs clearance is undoubtedly preparation. Planning is crucial not only for compliance – but also for growth and resilience – and businesses that are yet to lay the groundwork risk accidental non-compliance and further congestion at ports. With full UK customs changes now in effect as of 1st January 2022, businesses should prioritise the implementation of supply chain software solutions to take back control and handle customs declarations in-house or ensure they work with a customs partner who can provide full transparency at every step of the process.

Online buying will continue to fuel growth in home deliveries, presenting challenges that demand new strategies

The pandemic saw an increase in ecommerce that is set to continue in 2022 as the changes in consumer buying behaviour become more structural. This clearly presents both an opportunity and challenge for retailers and last mile logistics companies. The increase in volume will increase the challenge on an already tight last mile delivery capacity. Speed and reliability of deliveries will either come with a premium price, or remain as uneven as it has been over the last two years. For example, Amazon’s Whole Foods business is now incrementally charging for delivery to offset increased delivery costs.

We anticipate that more companies will re-evaluate their “free” delivery strategies and look for alternative delivery strategies such as combining deliveries for individual customers or locations, in order to minimise delivery costs and maximise the available delivery capacity.

The Great Resignation will accelerate the existing driver exodus, increasing the focus on retention

Whether long haul or last mile, the driver shortage is endemic and will continue to materially impact retail, distribution, and logistics companies. While finding new drivers to replace or add capacity will remain important, it’s also much harder to find drivers now than it has been in the past.

Instead, in 2022, companies will focus more on driver retention and productivity. Lowering turnover – which has traditionally been high – puts less pressure on the number of drivers that need to be hired and keeps the more experienced ones improving delivery performance. Keeping drivers driving and reducing stress will be the top retention priorities. Companies will need to do a better job at reducing wait times and improving driver quality of life through routes that are more realistic to execute, that don’t result in extended wait or on the road time and facilitate more predictable hours.

Driver shortage will force an emphasis on better planning

The increase in home delivery and driver shortage combined exacerbated supply chain vulnerabilities that, until now, retailers were just about managing to cope with – and have paid the price in terms of consumer expectations.

In the absence of effective planning, logistics companies and retailers will compromise a satisfactory delivery experience. While continuing to seek to recruit and train drivers, improving the overall productivity of existing drivers by optimising delivery routes should be the first port of call. By using advanced route optimisation software, all delivery options can be evaluated instantaneously, ultimately maximising capacity and increasing efficiency.

Sustainability will become an opportunity, not a challenge for supply chains

The focus on sustainability will increase in 2022 and it won’t just be from consumers. Many investment funds are taking an increasingly stronger stance on companies’ sustainability strategies and actual performance. This powerful combination will push companies to move faster to reduce their impact on the environment. It also presents an excellent opportunity for supply chain and logistics professionals to raise the visibility and value of supply chain strategies and operations.

Productivity enhancement is at the heart of any good supply chain performance improvement program and almost always results in greater efficiency, reduced paper and other waste that directly translates into reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Equally, many consumers are looking for delivery choices that help the environment, which presents retailers with the opportunity to look at innovative ways to combine or steer deliveries to reduce the mileage associated with home delivery.

This will not only benefit the environment and delight the consumer but will also result in lower delivery costs for retailers.

Machine learning will go mainstream in supply chain technology

This year, we expect machine learning (ML) to continue to be quickly adopted by supply chain technology providers because of the rich supply chain data that exists to teach ML algorithms. The result will be more accurate plans, estimated-time-of-arrival (ETA) and improved recommendations that make supply chain and logistics operations more productive and reliable.

Rather than displace existing supply chain technology, ML will augment it through embedded uses, such as optimising stop times, delivery locations, drive times and ETAs, or as part of greater data analytics solutions that are used to provide deeper insights into supply chain performance.

While 2022 will undoubtedly be a challenging year for logistics and supply chain professionals, the “C-suite” will recognise that their supply chains need to be world-class to help drive revenue and profitability. This will provide plenty of opportunities to show the value of advanced logistics and supply chain strategies, tactics and technology – and transformation will not only be the key to success but, for some, the key to survival.

* Chris Jones – Executive Vice President, Industry & Services at Descartes Systems Group – has over 30 years of experience in the supply chain market, including the last 10 years as a part of the Descartes leadership team. Prior to Descartes, he has held a variety of senior management positions in other organisations including: Senior Vice President at The Aberdeen Group’s Value Chain Research division, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development for SynQuest and Vice President and Research Director for Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions at The Gartner Group and Associate Director Operations & Technology for Kraft Foods.

Flexport makes significant European appointment

Posted on 14 January, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Flexport, the digital freight forwarder and customs broker, has appointed Douglas Brown – currently VP Flexport Asia – as the company’s new leader for Europe. Douglas replaces Jan van Casteren, who is stepping down to spend time with his family after starting Flexport Europe in 2015.

As Flexport’s first hire in Europe, Jan led the company’s rapid growth from one to a team of almost 350.

“We’re incredibly thankful to Jan for his contributions. Flexport Europe wouldn’t be here without him,” commented Will Urban, Chief Revenue Officer at Flexport. “We’re fortunate to have someone of Doug’s calibre and experience follow in his footsteps. After almost two decades in the industry and three years leading Flexport in Asia, Doug has a proven track record not just in freight forwarding, but in operating at the intersection of technology and logistics.”

Fluent in Mandarin, Douglas joined Flexport in 2019 as General Manager of Greater China. He brings to his new role strong industry expertise, having worked in senior management roles within freight forwarders including Panalpina, Maersk and CEVA Logistics.

After relocating to Flexport’s Europe HQ in Amsterdam in March, Douglas will focus on diversifying Flexport’s mode and trade lane mix and expanding into new European markets. “I’m delighted to move back to Europe to join a great team and support our clients there,” Douglas added. “We’re growing quickly, targeting 250 new hires this year to show Europe how technology can accelerate innovation in our industry.”

“I am very confident about the future of Flexport Europe,” comments Jan van Casteren. “The team here is stronger than ever. We have shown that our organization has the resilience and creativity to thrive in turbulent times during the pandemic. Doug’s exceptional operational skills and industry knowledge makes him the perfect person to advance what we’ve built so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing where he takes the business in the future.”

project44 attracts $420m investment

Posted on 12 January, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

project44, a leading supply chain visibility platform, has received an investment totalling US$420m. A syndicate led by Thoma Bravo, TPG and Goldman Sachs Asset Management with participation from Emergence Capital, Insight Partners, Chicago Ventures, Generation Investment Management, Sapphire and Sozo Ventures acquired equity interests resulting in a pre-money valuation of $2.2bn, and Sixth Street committed to make available additional funding, in support of the company’s strategic acquisition program and product development activities.

When combined with its $202m equity raise in May of 2021, project44 has set a funding record for Logistics Tech enterprise SaaS companies. These investments position project44 to accelerate its mission to help leading brands optimise the movement of products across supply chains, delivering better resiliency, sustainability and value for their customers.

“Today, project44 is helping companies solve supply chain challenges ranging from inflationary pressure and lockdowns to unpredictable weather and bottlenecks at ports,” said Jett McCandless (pictured), Founder & CEO of project44. “Our growth over the past year speaks to these macroeconomic tailwinds and the competitive edge we can provide to our customers. With ongoing support from our investors, we can offer even more value to our customers and solidify our position as the global network that powers the future of the supply chain.”

Throughout 2021, project44 cemented its position as the #1 company in supply chain visibility with global port-to-door coverage across all modes of transportation. The company now generates more than $100m in annual recurring revenue (ARR), the largest Generation 2 logistics tech in the world.

The most influential analysts within the logistics industry also rank project44 ahead of its competitors. Placing first in FreightTech 25, Gartner Voice of the Customer and G2 have all awarded project44 their highest honours. In addition, Chicago Inno named project44 among the best 100 places to work in the city.

“Supply chain visibility has become increasingly important as shortages, delays and bottlenecks ramp up. project44’s potential to solve even the most complex of these issues is unparalleled,” said Robert (Tre) Sayle, Partner at Thoma Bravo. “By continuously evolving to meet customer needs, project44 has developed a revolutionary platform that adds significant value to the entire global supply chain.”

“project44 has been scaling at an impressive pace, executing decisively on its vision of a global end-to-end supply chain visibility platform,” said Malte Janzarik, Partner at TPG based in Europe. “Supply chain visibility has become a critical technology to solving large-scale problems in the world today, and project44 has emerged as the global market leader. The breadth of data project44 offers and ease of access for shippers, logistics providers and carriers are unmatched. We believe that project44’s next-gen platform and highly valuable network will continue to drive tremendous growth.”

TPG is investing in project44 out of TPG Tech Adjacencies (TTAD), an investment vehicle focused on flexible capital solutions for the technology industry.

Meeting critical need

As the supply chain connective tissue, project44 offers the largest carrier network of any supply chain visibility provider with more than 142,732 multimodal carrier integrations and 2.7 million trucks. Shippers and logistics providers depend on project44 to help them navigate today’s increasingly complex supply chains, improving their sustainability, building transportation resiliency and meeting the evolving demands of their customers. project44 supports more than 1,000 organisations across industries including leading brands such as Amazon, Baker Hughes, Coop, CNHI, Danone, Dollar General, FedEx, General Mills, Goodyear, Kuehne & Nagel, Lenovo, McKesson, Mondelez, Nestle, The Home Depot and Unilever.

project44’s momentum speaks to its differentiation and immense lead in the supply chain visibility space. Following an exceptional Q3 2021, project44 has landed $12.7m of newly-booked ARR in Q4. The company has closed 117 logos over that timeframe, contributing to YoY bookings increase of 170% and YoY logo growth of 216%.

In addition to new business wins, net retention for 2021 is at 133%, while annualised gross retention was 96%. project44’s ARR has reached over $100m with a subscription gross margin of 70%, which is up 3% year-over-year. To build on this success, project44 will be nearly doubling its investment in product and engineering in 2022 to deliver improved real-time visibility across more modes of transportation in more regions.

project44 continues to expand its international footprint, offering supply chain visibility in 166 countries. More than 1,000 team members work with project44 at its 17 global offices. Over the coming year the company plans to hire hundreds of new talented team members in China, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Japan.

project44 also hired its first director of diversity, equity, inclusion & culture executive, Ivana Savic-Grubisich. The company is committed to hiring team members who reflect the rich diversity of the communities in which it operates.

In 2021, project44 added five new executives to the team to manage its growing footprint. Charlie Ungashick joined as Chief Marketing Officer in February and Diane Gordon joined as SVP, Global Customer Success in March. In November, Elliot Rodgers joined as Chief People Officer, Jennifer Coyne was appointed General Counsel and Andy Grygiel returned as Chief Brand Officer. These experienced executives bring unique insight to accelerate project44’s growth.

Throughout 2021, project44 increased its value to shippers and logistics providers through acquisitions of leading companies in the market offering complementary solutions. The September acquisition of Convey has enabled project44 to extend real-time visibility and exception management to last-mile, including parcel, courier, white-glove doorstep delivery, and visibility into item returns.

Ocean Insights, acquired in March, brought much-demanded visibility into cargo at sea. ClearMetal, acquired in May, established project44 as the leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning with automation that reduces costs throughout the supply chain.

Customer quotes

“project44 has enabled us to meet our commitment to customers in a year of unpredictability,” said Pat Kenefick, Vice President, Global Distribution and Logistics at AbbVie. “With awareness of where our goods are located, we can adapt to interruptions and make proactive decisions to ensure that our distributors are stocked with inventory. Supply chain visibility is a game changer for our ability to drive growth and enhance patient experiences in a challenging economic environment.”

“Haribo is committed to delivering our beloved products on time and at the high level of quality our brand is known for,” said Stefan Sorce, Head of global logistics and managing director in the Haribo Logistics Company, at Haribo. “This is a core piece of what has allowed us to become a successful business. We benefit from being a global company with a decentralised manufacturing structure. A perfectly coordinated global supply chain is essential for us and that is why we continuously invest in it. We chose to work with project44, the leader in real-time transportation visibility. These insights will help us increase the resiliency of our supply chain and enable faster and smarter decisions that will get Haribo’s products into the hands of our customers.”

“The ongoing events of the last two years have placed unprecedented strain on the supply chains of consumer products manufacturers, and this has only served to highlight the critical need to mitigate risk and increase supply chain resilience,” said Alessandro Bonanno, Head of Global Logistics and Customer Service at Beiersdorf AG. “Partnering with project44 will provide Beiersdorf with improved visibility into our transportation flows and shipments, which will help us cope better with any future supply chain disruptions and fulfil consumer demand.”

“Our team brought on project44 because of its global visibility into import and export arrival and departures,” said Hiroshi Etani, Managing Executive Officer, at Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., Japan’s largest delivery company, “The broad network of multimodal transportation tracking brings more predictability to our business and helps us better communicate with our customers.”

Delivering to a security-sensitive site

Posted on 7 December, 2021 by Keith McKinley

A global outsourcing giant required a secure logistics model that adhered to the specific requirements of the Olympic Games and the G8 Conferences – two of the most security-sensitive events in the world. Given the critical nature of these events, maintaining operational delivery models was near impossible.

Working collaboratively with the client, security agencies and delivery partners, NSC Global’s highly skilled, certified field engineers and logistics managers created innovative technical solutions, to provide a full suite of impenetrable onsite resources, including security-cleared equipment deliveries and pre-cleared engineers based on site – ensuring zero downtime.

The results:

NSC Global enabled millions of viewers around the world to receive live feeds, broadcasts and rolling news, uninterrupted
Ensured security for the events was never at risk within NSC Global’s sphere of influence
Achieved zero downtime for these critical events

GEFCO tests biodiesel fuel in car transporters

Posted on 2 December, 20217 August, 2025 by David Priestman

In November 2021, GEFCO France and Gardien Transports started testing synthetic biodiesel made from waste oil and fat as an alternative fuel for two car transporters distributing new vehicles in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. This one-year project supports GEFCO France’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from its finished vehicles logistics (FVL) operations.

For these tests, GEFCO France and Gardien Transports have selected Altens PUR-XTL synthetic biodiesel. This alternative fuel is produced exclusively from waste materials, and can be used in regular diesel vehicles without any technical modifications. Compared to standard diesel, PUR-XTL promises to cut CO2 emissions by 85-90% and fine/ultrafine particles by up to 65% on short journeys with 500km of autonomy.

After committing to the EVcom voluntary carbon reduction program in 2019 and Objectif CO2 standards in early 2021, GEFCO France is now testing alternative fuels (natural gas and biogas) and rolling out a programme for its proprietary finished vehicles logistics business focused on four priorities:

Flow optimisation. Transport schedules, plans and loads are regularly revised and optimised to reduce the flow of trucks and avoid empty return journeys whenever possible.

Vehicles. GEFCO France is aiming to upgrade 100% of its FVL fleet to Euro 6 vehicle emissions standards by the end of 2021. Through these upgrades, the fleet’s fuel consumption at 100km already dropped by 10% between 2015 and 2020. GEFCO France is also asking its partners to make similar upgrades.

Drivers. Since 2015, GEFCO France drivers have followed an eco-driving training programme, renewable every two years. At the end of 2020, 80% had completed this training.

Fuel. To monitor equipment performance and optimise maintenance, GEFCO France tractors are equipped with integrated telematic systems to adapt fuel consumption to loads and road conditions.

This partnership further demonstrates its commitment to a more sustainable logistics sector in France.

“Like GEFCO France, Gardien Transports has signed the Objectif CO2 charter to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Frédéric Briand, COO Finished Vehicle Logistics at GEFCO France. “Our partner is committed to moving the transportation and logistics business forward. Gardien Transports’ values reflect our own, providing all the more reason to support its efforts.”

Conqueror Freight Network celebrates 10th anniversary

Posted on 1 December, 202131 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Conqueror Freight Network, the largest exclusive freight forwarders network in the world, has this year completed 10 years in the industry. It has celebrated this special occasion during the Conqueror’s 2nd Virtual Meeting, held on 29th and 30th November. As a token of appreciation, a touching video with the best highlights during the past decade was screened before the Speech delivered by Antonio Torres, Conqueror’s President and Founder.

During the event, which saw network members representing more than 50 countries worldwide coming together, the delegates conveyed their appreciation for the video and expressed their pride to be a part of the Conqueror family.

“I have been a member of Conqueror since 2011 and have seen it grow. The video played at the Event was very heart-warming, since it made me remember all the good moments we have had at the Meetings, the friends we have met there and all the work and efforts we made along these years”, says one of the Conqueror members in India.

Conqueror was launched back in 2011 as an exclusive network for freight forwarders. Since then, it has been helping independent freight forwarders from around the world to effectively compete against the largest multinationals of this sector. The network started its operations with 47 cities in 33 countries and now it has more than 260 members across 137 countries, becoming the largest exclusive international freight forwarders network.

Torres said: “We have come a long way since the foundation of our network. All these years, we have grown together, expanded our business, established long-term relationships, being present in 10 editions of Virtual and Annual Meetings. Since the very first moment, there has been a fantastic personal and professional relationship among all Conqueror members, that is why I would like to thank all of them for their trust throughout these years, and even more in these difficult moments.”

During all these years, Conqueror’s Annual Meetings have helped freight forwarders to get together for enhanced networking and better prospects of project exchanges. “Conqueror’s 1st Annual Meeting at Phuket in 2012 gave the members the first insight into the immense potential of this network. This is why there couldn’t have been a better time to celebrate our 10th Anniversary with our members than the Second Virtual Meeting,” continued Torres.

Conqueror’s custom-made meeting platform allowed each delegate to schedule a maximum of 28 videoconferences with their international logistics partners, scheduling a total of 1680 videoconferences. Additionally, this year, the participants got the option of accessing a chat room with up to five random partners and engaging in friendly chitchats.

The delegates also attended the FreightViewer workshops where Andrea Martin, Conqueror’s FreightViewer coordinator showcased the several utilities of Conqueror’s member-exclusive TMS.

“One of the Conqueror’s biggest achievements in the last ten years is the creation of our own digital freight quote generation platform. We are the first international network with global coverage to launch instant quoting ability for our members, through FreightViewer,” continued Torres. “Our team always strives for more and better services, in order to provide members with the most innovative and unique benefits – apart from FreightViewer, every year we increase the wide range of logistics and marketing services we offer our members.”

Cross-border data competency “can ease supply chain pressures”

Posted on 4 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Postal operators, carriers and their customers can give themselves a competitive edge during Peak by ensuring that their cross-border shipment data is of the highest-possible quality.

With the logistics and eCommerce industries facing huge supply chain pressures, including increased freight costs, a shortage of HGV drivers and warehouse operatives and delays at ports, businesses are seeking to maximise operational efficiencies wherever possible.

Martin Palmer, Chief Content and Compliance Officer at Hurricane Commerce, said: “The demands facing the global supply chain are some of the worst I can recall in over 30 years working in the sector and at the busiest time of the year with events including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, China’s Singles Day and the Christmas holiday season looming large.

“The issues around staffing shortages, increased shipping and transportation costs and delays are serious enough on their own, but add into the mix the continuing pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing global regulations and the challenge becomes all the greater.”

Regulations impacting cross-border eCommerce that have come into effect this year include the US STOP Act, the EU’s abolition of the VAT exemption on low-value goods entering and the introduction of the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS).

At the core of these and other regulatory changes is the requirement for complete and accurate shipment data including product descriptions, HS6 codes and import and export codes.

Palmer added: “The one thing in the control of postal operators, carriers, retailers and marketplaces is the quality of their data.

“In the current climate, being able to demonstrate data competency can prove a genuine competitive advantage and ensure your goods clear customs as smoothly and speedily as possible.

“Achieving scale in the modern world of cross-border eCommerce requires robust processes and practices and one in which AI-driven, real-time data solutions are integral.

“Complete and accurate data needs to start upstream and drive the end-to-end supply chain.

“Getting the data right means removing cost – the cost of delays, the cost of storage, the cost of returns, the cost of fines and penalties relating to compliance breaches and the cost of lost customers.”

Hurricane provides its customers with data solutions including Zephyr, its bulk clearance data enhancement API, and Aura, its API covering the three critical cross-border areas of duty and tax calculation, prohibited and restricted goods screening and denied parties screening.

Customers include Emirates Post, Royal Mail, An Post, SEKO Logistics, Australia Post and 4PX.