Digitisation: What are the needs of medium-sized haulage companies?
28. June 2022We digitise the SME sector
We are developing an independent and digital networking platform for medium-sized freight forwarders. In the future, freight will be organised on this platform with just a few clicks and without time-consuming searches by phone or email. For example, forwarders can process their orders automatically in a network via our interface and thus further increase their profitability. More than 20 forwarders and 12 TMS providers are among our pilot participants. We want to launch the first basic version at the end of July 2022. One of our first operational goals is the integration and exchange of order and GPS data from regularly cooperating forwarders.
Companies save time and money
"With our networking platform, we offer medium-sized freight forwarders a simple and efficient way to drive forward their digitalisation and thus become even more competitive," says our Chief Sales Officer and co-founder Larissa Eger. Although many companies are already well positioned digitally in their internal processes, they lose time and money in tasks such as manual order placement and invoicing. In a first step, we are therefore developing an interface that links the TMSs of 20 pilot partners. This will allow participating companies to exchange their order data with each other. "We are aware of the responsibility that forwarders entrust us with their sensitive data," says Eger. To ensure the highest data protection regulations, the servers are located in Germany.
Further partner service providers will be integrated
There are also plans for a clear dashboard to display all the information. In the next expansion stages, further partner service providers such as factoring systems and ETA providers are to be integrated. "We will successively implement further functions and connect third-party providers that offer real benefits for our forwarders," says Eger. Shippers will be connected via a white-label solution. Interest groups will be formed with companies to identify future needs.
Industry needs are the focus
Felix Brandt and Larissa Eger founded NeoCargo AG in December 2021 as a spin-off of the KIT university. So far, 30 companies have already participated in our start-up. The shares for the individual pilot participants are limited, however, in order to remain independent in the future. "We want to be and remain an independent solution from the industry for the industry. Your needs are the focus," says Eger.