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Cargobase

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The most common questions about Cargobase.

The Cargobase platform supports all standard freight modes such as air, road, rail, parcel, and ocean, and the imaginable sub-categories. There is also an option to add custom freight modes, to meet the shipper's specific naming conventions. 

What freight modes does Cargobase support?

Yes! The Cargobase platform is fully modular: you can select individual modules or go for the full TMS (Transport Management System).

I only need the spot-buy and tender module, is that possible?

No, we are not a marketplace. In Cargobase, you work with your private pool of preferred or pre-qualified LSPs. You can invite your LSPs to Cargobase, after which we will train and onboard them. We currently have over 800 LSPs on the platform including the Top 25 worldwide freight forwarders.

Is cargobase a marketplace for freight?

Yes, that is in fact our model: you work with your private pool of LSPs. Once you have selected and invited your LSPs, we will train and onboard them onto Cargobase.

Can I bring my own logistics service providers to Cargobase?

Enjoy full visibility and control with our pricing model. Contrary to market practice, we don't charge hefty annual license fees, implementation costs, or consultancy fees. Contact us to learn more. 

How does your pricing work?

No, on the contrary! We work with over 1,200 LSPs including all of the Top 25 freight forwarders in the world. Our NPS score among LSPs stands at 58, which is far above the industry average.

LSPs like us because:

1. We generate more. Win potential business through more quote requests in a standardized and organized manner
2. We bring automation. No more spreadsheets, emails, faxes, or phone calls for your bids or communication with the shipper: on average, our users (shippers and LSPs) eliminate over 80% of their manual admin work by using Cargobase
3. Better shipper data. Get greater business intelligence: feedback on your quote requests, performance feedback from shippers, and rich data insights into your shipping performance 

I am an LSP. Are you a threat to my business?

We are actually industry-agnostic. Cargobase currently serves industries including automotive, semiconductor, electronics, garments, agriculture, energy, and many more. Any shipper that has logistics requirements and would like to automate their logistics processes (from procurement to execution to invoicing processing) can do so via Cargobase.

Which industries do you serve?

Cargobase is implemented in SMEs (from <US$1m per year in freight) up to enterprise customers spending billions of dollars per year in freight. The platform is highly scalable and versatile and is not limited by the number of transactions or volumes.

Is Cargobase built for small companies or global enterprises?

Our Customer Support team is available 24/7/365 across all time zones by online chat, phone, and email.

What kind of customer support do you provide?

Yes, Cargobase can be used anywhere. The cloud-based platform can be accessed in any web browser or through our mobile application. With implementations in over 70 countries, the platform is available in all major languages and supports all currencies.

Is the Cargobase platform available globally?

General

Onboarding at Cargobase is simple and efficient. We pride ourselves on our user-friendly, no-nonsense approach that delivers an immediate return on investment (ROI). There are generally four steps: 

1. Understand shippers' needs and processes
When a customer signs up with Cargobase, the first step is to understand the customer's internal processes and how they plan to use our platform.

2. Create accounts for users
Setting up user accounts is quite straightforward. We create individual accounts based on users' locations, roles, and other factors. This process typically takes only a few minutes.

3. Logistics solution provider (LSP) setup
- Each provider has a capability profile within Cargobase.
- Customers determine how they want to use providers based on freight modes, regions, and other factors.
- Customers link Cargobase with their Account Manager for their preferred provider.
- The Cargobase Customer Success team onboards and trains the provider.

4. Shipper training
Shipper training begins only after everything is set up, allowing customers to use the platform immediately.


How does the onboarding process work?

The parties involved vary from organization to organization, depending on how the customer wants to use Cargobase.

From Cargobase
- Sales Manager and Customer Success Manager are typically involved.
- The Product Team may be included if integration or technical development is required.

From Shipper
- Supply Chain, Logistics, and Procurement Team are usually involved.
- Additional teams may participate in integration, data, and compliance processes, if necessary.
- The finance team is requested to set up Cargobase as a vendor for billing and payment purposes.


Who is involved?

The onboarding process takes two to six weeks. 
Account creation and setup are relatively quick; what usually takes time is provider onboarding and training. This is one of our unique selling points, as traditional software can take months or even years to implement.


How long does it take?

An onboarding sheet collects all the necessary information for Cargobase. This document is referenced throughout the entire process. The document is recorded and stored, with any subsequent changes also recorded and stored.

What information is required?

Cargobase fully conducts shipper training. 
Other scenarios can be arranged. For instance, some shippers request that Cargobase trains a Champion within their organization, who then trains their team. 


How does shipper training work? 

Various documents and videos are available for customers as a reference. 
A typical training is conducted online (using Zoom or Teams) and takes between 20-40 minutes.


Is there online material available?

After training, users can access videos, documents, and FAQs online. Additionally, users can reach out to our 24/7 support via the platform or website for further assistance.

What other support and resource customers and providers can refer to?

Onboarding

Cargobase offers various levels of tracking to accommodate different shipping needs.

1. LSP/Freight Forwarder Level
This is the primary tracking method used by shippers and is based on either a tracking reference or a House Air Waybill (HAWB). Tracking is done directly or through third parties, such as DHL, Kuehne + Nagel, DB Schenker, UPS, FedEx, etc.

2. Ocean Freight
- Container Level: Tracking by container number. This can involve monitoring the container as it is loaded onto a ship, transported by truck or train, and unloaded at its destination.
- BOL (Bill of Lading) Level: Tracking by BOL number. A bill of lading is a document issued by a freight forwarder to a shipper, serving as a contract for the transportation of goods. It also serves as a receipt for the goods and lists the shipment details, including quantity, weight, and destination.

3. Air Freight
- Flight Level: Tracking by flight number itself, not by parcel or package.
- MAWB (Master Air Waybill) Level: Tracking by MAWB number. A MAWB is a document used to transport goods by air and serves as a contract between the shipper and the air carrier. It contains information about the shipment, including the point of origin, destination, and details about the goods being shipped, as well as instructions for handling and delivery.


What tracking is available?

Either the shipper or the Logistics Service Provider (LSP) inputs the tracking reference into Cargobase. The Cargobase platform then checks the available APIs and updates the tracking information on the platform automatically.

How does it work?

- Single-screen solution: Shippers can track shipments on a single platform instead of managing multiple LSPs through emails, calls, and spreadsheets.

- Predictive ETA: Currently available only for ocean freight. By utilizing artificial intelligence and various data points such as vessel location, port congestion, and weather events, we provide predictive ETAs for ocean freight shipments.


What are the benefits?

Free of charge for the following: 
- LSP/Freight Forwarder
- HAWB
- MAWB
- Container Tracking
- Flight Tracking

Fixed fee for predictive ETA per container.  


How much does it cost?

Shipment tracking & integrations

Cargobase support any integration through APIs to either receive or send information to an ERP system. The information can be at any point in the transaction through Cargobase, such as receiving booking information when a shipment is booked. We can also send status updates, confirmed/approved invoices, or shipment cost information to an ERP system.

What integration is supported?

Integration is typically a collaboration between the customer's IT department or ERP consultant and our product team. Our product team needs to understand the requirements clearly, such as:
- What technology is being used?
- Is it API-based?
- What is the file type?
- What labels need to be mapped?


A clear understanding of what customers want to accomplish through integration and how it will benefit the users is crucial. Once the understanding is clear, other factors such as maintenance and security are usually relatively easy to address.

What is needed to get started?

On average, integration takes 3 to 6 weeks once the scope of work (SOW) is confirmed. The duration depends on the complexity of the integration and the results of testing.

The cost is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We usually take into account the efforts required for the integration, which determines the final cost.

Integration with ERP

Cargobase offers a flexible approval process tailored to the needs of shippers. Typically, there are two types of approval processes for shipments based on freight cost, with the option to create as many levels of approval as required:

- Staged approval: Commonly referred to as multi-level approval as well. The process requires approval at different stages or levels within an organization.

- Direct approval: The request immediately goes to the level that requires approval.


How does the approval process work?

Customers can create various approval flows within their organization based on location or business unit levels

What approval flows are available?

Full visibility and control: The approval process in Cargobase ensures 100% compliance and full visibility of the activity log (who approved what). Centralized approval flows apply company-wide, while decentralized flows operate on a location-specific basis.

The mobile app: The mobile app offers convenient, on-the-go access to essential information such as requesters, booking requests, and options.
Approvals can be processed through both the web platform and the mobile app. Approvers receive notifications via email or the mobile app.


What are the key benefits?

Cargobase manages the approval process for customers, ensuring clear documentation and compliance. Admin user access can be granted to edit approvals if needed.

Who maintains the approval process?

Approvers can assign additional staff or delegate approval to another user.

What if someone is out of the office?

The user should be disabled, and the shipper should assign a new user to that specific approval flow. In cases where multiple approvers exist within the same approval level, the first person to approve the request confirms it.

What if someone has left the company?

Users can request multiple approvals simultaneously, and approvers can process multiple requests at the same time.

How to best handle multiple requests?

Quote approval process

When a shipper user (or supplier) enters shipment requirements such as origin, destination, dimensions, pallets, and content, Cargobase automatically checks the rate card on file. Users receive a quotation within seconds.

The automated rate card quotes eliminate the need for manual rate calculations, saving shippers from going through multiple emails and/or freight forwarder’s portals. 

Cargobase supports all freight modes, including:
- Air: regular and express
- Ocean
- Road
- Parcel

What freight modes are supported?

Our rate card module is highly flexible and can accommodate various formats, requiring information such as weight brackets, regional charges, and destination charges. 

What format of rate cards are supported?

Cargobase takes care of rate card maintenance by:
- Keeping a log of changes
- Uploading new rate cards (processed within 24-48 business hours)


How is the rate card maintained?

Automated rate card quotes

Cargobase is integrated with major parcel/small pack providers such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, and TNT. This integration allows shippers to use their pre-agreed account setup with providers to book shipments directly within Cargobase, instead of using the provider's portal.

Yes, labels are automatically generated and can be printed as required, either on a label or as a PDF. Labels can also be customized to meet the requirements within the provider's portal.

Can labels be printed in Cargobase?

Booking through Cargobase allows shippers to manage parcels and other freight modes within a single platform, eliminating the need to navigate multiple systems.

Why should I book through Cargobase instead of the LSP portal?

Users can compare freight modes and rates on a single screen, streamlining the decision-making process.

To activate this feature, the shipper needs to provide the account number and contact details associated with shipper’s account setup with the parcel provider.

What information is needed to activate this feature?

Integrations with parcel providers

Cargobase currently hosts over 1,200 LSPs on the platform. LSPs are onboarded to Cargobase through introductions by shippers, setting us apart from marketplaces and brokers. Cargobase is also 100% provider-agnostic and independent.

Which providers are on Cargobase?

To get your LSPs on Cargobase, simply introduce them to our customer success team. Our team will take responsibility for onboarding and training your LSPs.

How can I get my LSPs on Cargobase?

If you have a requirement to source new LSPs, Cargobase can make introductions from our extensive database of providers. We maintain a neutral stance and do not influence the shipper's decision-making process.

Can Cargobase help with provider recommendations?

Logistics Service Provider (LSP) 

Cargobase streamlines currency exchange by integrating with OpenExchangerates (https://openexchangerates.org), which automatically updates exchange rates every 3 hours in your preferred currency. 

How does Cargobase calculate exchange rates?

When your Logistics Service Provider (LSP) submits the final invoice, they can update the final amount and the applicable exchange rate based on your agreement with the LSP. This ensures accurate and up-to-date financial information for your logistics operations.

How does that work for invoice audit?

Currency exchange usage 

Frequently asked questions

You can also go to our public helpdesk that answers all your questions about the platform.



Want better control over your supply chain? Speak with our freight management experts today!