Best Freight Forwarding Software for Small Business: Top Picks and Features

Freight forwarding software has become an important aspect of the shipping business. When you have the right freight forwarding solution at your disposal, you can track your deliveries and you can make sure that your shipments happen on time.

That is why by investing in the right freight forwarding software, you will have fewer issues to worry about.

In this blog post, we will begin by giving you a definition of this type of software, and then share with you all that you need to know about the best freight forwarding software for your small business.

What is Freight Forwarding Software?

Freight forwarding software is a digital tool that helps businesses track every aspect of the shipping process. This technology helps freight forwarders manage shipments from start to finish, i.e. from the initial booking to the final delivery.

By centralizing information and reducing manual data entry, freight forwarding software also minimizes errors and enhances communication with customers.

With detailed tracking at the item level, businesses can provide accurate shipping estimates, improve customer satisfaction, and strengthen relationships throughout the supply chain.

What to Look for in Freight Forwarding Software

We are going to highlight the most important features that you must consider when looking for the best freight forwarding software.

1. Rate Procurement

The first essential feature that the freight forwarding software must have is rate procurement. It is clear that handling and comparing rates from multiple carriers is a complex task.

The right freight forwarding software must simplify this process by consolidating rate data into a standardized format. It should also integrate with other systems to centralize carrier information and rates in one place.

2. User-Friendly Interface

Another feature that you must prioritize in freight forwarding software is user-friendliness. The best software should simplify the complex shipping process by providing an easy-to-navigate interface.

This is very important because it allows users to efficiently complete tasks without getting overwhelmed by technical details.

3. Analytics and Reporting

Analytics and reporting features are other necessary features that you should highlight in your search for the best freight forwarding software.

Top-tier software in this regard must provide you with detailed reports and customizable dashboards that offer insights into major performance indicators.

It is indeed by analyzing financial performance, efficiency, and operational data that you can make informed decisions to optimize your freight operations.

4. Customer Service

The importance of customer service cannot be overlooked. The ideal software provider should be adaptable and tailor the system to your company’s specific needs rather than forcing you to adjust to a generic solution.

What’s more, the vendor must offer robust technical support to address any challenges that may arise. A responsive support team helps you avoid disruption to your operations and allows you to maintain satisfactory customer service.

5. Integration

The freight forwarding software that you select should enable you to streamline operations by handling tasks such as managing shipment data, generating delivery orders, tracking containers, and coordinating with partners like customs and port authorities.

In addition, the software must facilitate easy document transfer and compatibility with various file formats.

Top 5 Freight Forwarding Software Solutions for Small Businesses

In this section, we will examine the best 5 freight forwarding software solutions that you can find in the market. For each one, we provide you with enough information to help you decide whether it will be beneficial for your business. Note that the solutions below are ranked based on their ratings on G2.

1. GoComet
2. GoFreight
3. Nextbillion.ai
4. Logitude World
5. CargoWise

1. GoComet

GoComet is a cloud-based solution that helps companies compare shipping costs from different freight forwarders. It creates a shared space where shippers and freight forwarders can conduct business openly and efficiently.

What Features GoComet Offers

GoComet’s primary features include:

• GoProcure: GoComet automates the process of comparing and obtaining freight quotes from different suppliers.
• GoPlan: With this feature, you can manage all aspects of shipment planning.
• GoTrack: This feature provides you with real-time shipment tracking.
• GoShipment: GoComet facilitates collaboration and task management among all parties involved in the shipment.
• GoInvoice: This feature simplifies the process of reconciling freight invoices.

GoComet Pros

GoComet offers many benefits, including:

• GoComet offers a consolidated view of shipments.
• GoComet improves efficiency and reduces errors by centralizing communication.
• It provides analytics tools to support informed decision-making and performance evaluation.

GoComet Cons

While GoComet provides many useful functionalities, there is still room for improvement in certain areas.

• GoComet is relatively limited when it comes to processing invoice information from various document types.
• GoComet supports only PDF format for Bills of Lading.
• GoComet lacks flexibility in template and notification customization

GoComet Pricing

You need to reach out to Gofreight for pricing details.

GoComet Ratings

GoCoemt has a rating of 4.8 (from 184 reviews at the time of writing this blog post) on G2.

2. GoFreight

GoFreight is an online tool designed to help shipping companies manage cargo transportation by sea, air, or land. It automates tasks, provides up-to-date information about shipments, and makes it easier to create and send quotes.

What Features GoFreight offers

GoFreight provides a comprehensive set of features that include:

• Carrier Integration: GoFreight connects with carrier systems for real-time shipment tracking using EDI standards.
• Multi-Carrier Management: GoFreight also allows users to access and manage shipments from multiple carriers within a single platform.
• Customer Portal: GoFreight has a customer portal that provides customers with detailed vehicle information.
• Integrated Accounting: Unlike many other freight forwarding solutions, GoFreight offers built-in accounting functionalities.

GoFreight Pros

GoFreight provides several important benefits, such as:

• GoFreight offers customizable options and a user-friendly interface.
• It provides a clear overview of daily operations through its dashboard.
• GoFreight is supported by responsive customer service.

GoFreight Cons

GoFreight comes with a few limitations, including:

• The software’s warehouse management capabilities and e-commerce integration are limited.
• There are issues following software updates.

GoFreight Pricing

Pricing is not publicly available which means that you need to directly contact GoFreight.

GoFreight Ratings

GoFreight is currently rated 4.8 (out of 88 reviews) on G2.

3. Nextbillion.ai

Nextbillion.ai makes use of artificial intelligence (AI) and mapping technology to provide innovative freight forwarding software solutions.

Nextbillion.ai enables companies to find the most efficient routes while adhering to regulations, effectively track their shipments, and manage their fleet operations.

What Features Nextbillion Offers

Let’s see what features you will get when you use Nextbillion.ai.

• Accurate Distance and Time Estimates: This feature gives you precise estimated travel times (ETAs) and distances using distance matrices and directions APIs.
• Optimized Routes: With this, you can optimize delivery routes with the route optimization API.
• Snap-to-Road Functionality: Thanks to this feature, you can make sure that routes adhere to actual road networks.
• Dynamic Location Management: Nextbillion allows you to define dynamic and contractual location boundaries with the geofencing API.
• Customizable Maps: Nextbillion gives you the option to design custom maps for your customers using the map tiles API.

Nextbillion Pros

Using Nextbillion comes with several important benefits, including:

• Nextbillion.ai offers fast and accurate route optimization.
• It provides advanced support for planning routes specifically for trucks.
• Users can define custom objective functions to tailor the route optimization process to their specific needs.
• Nextbillion.ai offers complementary APIs and map tools for enhanced functionality.

Nextbillion Cons

There are a number of downsides that you must take into account. These are:

• Nextbillion does not offer direct geocoding capabilities.
• Route planning is currently restricted to car and truck driving modes.

Nextbillion Pricing

Nextbillion.ai offers three pricing options. Note that you need to contact them to get exact pricing details.

• Basic Route Planning: This plan caters to businesses with simple delivery needs, typically involving single vehicles within a city.
• Advanced Route Planning: This plan is ideal for complex logistics operations with multiple vehicles. It provides advanced routing features and technical support.
• Bespoke Route Planning: This plan is suited for large-scale, high-complexity logistics that involve cross-border journeys and customized route requirements.

Nextbillion Ratings

Nextbillion has received a rating of 4.7 (out of 57 reviews) on the G2 platform.

4. Logitude World

Logitude World is a freight forwarding software that aims to help small and medium-sized shipping businesses manage their operations.

It caters to freight forwarders, consolidators, and import/export managers by offering a complete solution for tracking and managing shipments.

What Features Logitude World Offers

Logitude World offers a wide range of tools for freight forwarders that include:

• Financial Management: Including invoicing and collections
• Shipping Quotes: For air and sea freight
• Customer Management: With CRM tools
• Customization: Allowing personalized settings
• Shipment Management: Including tracking and tracing

Logitude World Pros

There are many good things about Logitude World, including:

• Logitude offers robust customer relationship management capabilities.
• Logitude provides responsive support to its users.
• Longitude also allows for the customization of document designs and templates.

Logitude World Cons

Logitude World has a few shortcomings, such as:

• The Logitude’s user interface is quite outdated by today’s standards.
• Certain features are missing that other competitors provide.

Logitude World Pricing

Logitude World offers three pricing plans:

• Economy Plan: Costs $45 per user per month when billed monthly, or $39 per user per month when billed annually.
• Business Plan: Costs $70 per user per month when billed monthly, or $65 per user per month when billed annually.
• First Class Plan: Costs $90 per user per month when billed monthly, or $79 per user per month when billed annually.

Logitude World Ratings

Logitude World has a rating of 4.5 (out of 14 reviews) by users on the G2 website.

5. CargoWise

CargoWise is a comprehensive software platform for logistics companies. It helps manage various aspects of the shipping process, including customs, international trade, warehousing, and freight forwarding.

CargoWise also enables businesses to handle complex operations across different countries and languages, all from a single system.

What Features CargoWise Offers

These are some of the main features that CargoWise provides:

• Freight Management: CargoWise automates processes such as capacity planning, pricing, booking ships, and final delivery tracking.
• Shipping Scheduling: You can access real-time flight and vessel information for efficient booking.
• Container Management: CargoWise also helps you streamline container and depot operations through a unified platform.
• Port Connectivity: With CargoWise, you will be able to connect directly with carriers, agents, and ports for faster and cheaper transactions.
• Freight Tracking: CargoWise monitors cargo movements in real time to improve supply chain visibility.

CargoWise Pros

CargoWise provides you with quite a few upsides, such as:

• CargoWise provides comprehensive tools for managing complex international shipping processes.
• CargoWise allows for easy comparison of shipping rates across different routes.
• CargoWise helps you manage your operations across multiple locations.
• CargoWise gives you data verification features to ensure data accuracy.

CargoWise Cons

CargoWise comes with certain disadvantages that you must be aware of. These are:

• CargoWise, based on user feedback, has poor customer service.
• CargoWise has a learning curve for new users.

CargoWise Pricing

To get CargoWise pricing details, you need to get in touch with them.

CargoWise Ratings

Users on the G2 website have rated CargoWise 4.3 (out of 30 reviews).

Final Words

We hope that by now you have a better idea of what kind of freight forwarding solution you should select for your business.

As we already made it clear, the right freight forwarding software can provide the tools and support that you need to reach your customers customers across the world. However, not all providers cater to small businesses.

The most important point to keep in mind is to choose a partner that understands the specific challenges smaller companies encounter and offers solutions to streamline operations and reduce costs.