A large third-party logistics company (3PL) that specializes in international shipping experienced significant issues in efficiently tracking ocean freight movements. The company struggled to give clients precise, real-time shipment visibility because it used outdated techniques such as manual updates and disorganized communication.
To overcome these issues, the 3PL turned to Supply Hoop, an innovative freight visibility tool that works flawlessly alongside CargoWise.This success story explores how Supply Hoop transformed the business’s ocean freight tracking to promote customer satisfaction, productivity, and revenue growth.
The Challenge
Ocean freight management is difficult due to long transit times, multiple departures, and unpredictable delays caused by port congestion, weather conditions, and customs clearance challenges. The 3PL encountered a number of significant visibility issues:
Fragmented Shipment Tracking: Manually tracking shipments across different carriers, ports, and logistics partners resulted in data inconsistencies and delays.
Limited Exception Management: The company lacked real-time updates on key milestones such as Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), Estimated Time of Departure (ETD), Actual Time of Arrival (ATA), and Actual Time of Departure (ATD).
Delayed Customer Communication: Without automated alerts, customers often remained unaware of shipment delays, leading to frustration and operational disruptions.
High Operational Costs: The manual process of calling carriers, checking emails, and updating shipment statuses consumed valuable time and resources.
To stay competitive and meet customer expectations, the 3PL needed a scalable, automated visibility solution that could provide real-time insights across its ocean freight operations.
The Solution
To address these challenges, the 3PL implemented Supply Hoop, a cloud-based, mobile-enabled freight visibility solution that integrates seamlessly with CargoWise.
Real-Time Shipment Visibility and Tracking
Gain full visibility of your shipments and consolidations, ensuring seamless tracking and management from origin to destination.
✔ Live GPS tracking for accurate shipment locations
✔ Monitor ETA, ETD, ATA, and ATD with automated updates
✔ Customs and ISF updates for compliance management
✔ Automatic CargoWise or third-party data integration
✔ Real-time tracking interface for instant access to shipment details
Exception Management
Stay ahead of shipment disruptions with proactive alerts and management tools.
✔ Instant notifications for shipment delays and deviations
✔ Proactive tools to resolve holds and avoid additional fees
✔ Automated deviation management to track discrepancies in transit
✔ Integrated document management system to support compliance
Streamlined Bookings
Simplify the booking process with real-time updates and a collaborative approval workflow.
✔ Self-service booking requests for faster order initiation
✔ Approval workflows for efficient collaboration with partners
✔ Real-time booking status updates synced with CargoWise or any third-party system
✔ Customs compliance dashboard to ensure adherence to regulations
Purchase Order Tracking
Gain real-time insights into product movements and inventory planning from PO to delivery.
✔ Track SKUs from purchase order (PO) to proof of delivery (POD)
✔ Plan inventory effectively with milestone updates
✔ View ex-factory timelines and expected arrival dates
✔ Analytics dashboard interface for actionable insights
Warehouse Inventory Management
Optimize warehouse operations with real-time inventory visibility and seamless order management.
✔ Live inventory tracking with product details and stock status
✔ Monitor expiration dates, dimensions, and stock levels
✔ Place and track warehouse orders effortlessly
✔ Integrated inventory management system for smooth operations
Historical Information Access
Utilize data-driven insights to improve decision-making and operational efficiency.
✔ Analyze supplier and carrier performance over time
✔ Consolidated shipment data from multiple freight forwarders
✔ Use historical data for predictive analytics and planning
✔ AI chatbot interface for quick insights and support
General Industry Updates & Market News
Stay ahead of industry trends and market shifts with real-time insights.
✔ Access the latest logistics and freight news
✔ Receive regulatory and compliance updates
✔ Monitor market trends impacting supply chain operations
✔ Collaboration tools interface for real-time discussions with stakeholders
Document Visibility
Streamline documentation processes by managing all shipping-related files in one place.
✔ Access, track, and manage shipping documents effortlessly
✔ Approve invoices, HBLs, and compliance documents instantly
✔ Automated updates synced with CargoWise
✔ Seamless document sharing across teams for better collaboration
The Results
After implementing Supply Hoop, the 3PL experienced significant improvements across its ocean freight operations:
1. Enhanced Operational Efficiency
By automating shipment tracking and exception management, the company reduced manual tracking efforts by 55%, allowing logistics teams to focus on high-value tasks rather than chasing down shipment updates.
2. Improved Customer Satisfaction
Real-time tracking and automated notifications allowed customers to receive instant updates on shipment status, leading to 30% fewer customer inquiries and an increase in trust and transparency.
3. Faster and Proactive Issue Resolution
Supply Hoop’s real-time alerts enabled logistics teams to act on potential delays 20% faster than before, reducing the impact of port congestion, vessel schedule changes, and customs delays.
4. Increased Revenue Growth
The company enhanced productivity and cut operational expenses, allowing it to handle more shipments with the same staff, resulting in a 10% gain in revenue.
“Supply Hoop’s mobile app for end-to-end supply chain visibility has completely changed the way we manage our ocean freight operations. The real-time tracking, automated alerts, and seamless CargoWise integration have eliminated our manual tracking headaches. Our customers now receive instant shipment updates, and our team can proactively address delays before they escalate.” – Logistics Manager.
Conclusion
For 3PLs managing international shipments, visibility is the key to success. Supply Hoop has transformed the way this leading 3PL handles ocean freight, reducing inefficiencies, improving communication, and driving revenue growth.
By eliminating manual tracking, automating exception management, and providing real-time shipment updates, Supply Hoop has set a new industry standard for ocean freight visibility.
