What Is Ocean Freight Software? (+ The Top 7 Providers)

Below are the top seven ocean freight software providers on the market:

1. Shipthis 
2. Silver Bullet Technologies 
3. SAP 
4. Riege Software 
5. Softlink Global 
6. Four Kites 
7. Logipulse

1. Shipthis

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Shipthis offers a powerful freight forwarding ERP software (Enterprise Resource Planning) for multi-modal international shipments including ocean freight, air freight, and rail freight. 

Benefits:

• Streamline your entire freight management process with comprehensive freight forwarding software.
• Meet your financial goals by producing accurate results using ocean freight accounting software.
• Improve customer satisfaction with top-notch customer relationship management, where you can track and view customer data in one place. 
• Generate detailed and accurate quotes with an effective quotes management system on the ERP software.
• Simplify all global trade compliance of your shipping company. 

Pricing:

Shipthis’ pricing starts at $89/month per user. 

Discover all of Shipthis’offerings.

2. Silver Bullet Technologies

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Silver Bullet Technologies offer configurable and customizable ocean software to suit diverse business needs. 

Benefits:

• Automate tracking and managing ocean cargo with a simplified web customer portal. 
• Avail complete visibility, which allows your users to track and trace their shipment journey.
• Create and modify any reports or shipping labels needed for operations.
• Configure automated system messages, emails, alerts, and notifications. 

Pricing:

Silver Bullet’s pricing is available upon request.

3. SAP

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With SAP’s supply chain management software, you can access a risk-resilient and sustainable global supply chain that’s connected, contextualized, and collaborative.

Benefits:

• Increase your revenue by managing ocean products and allocating the most profitable ocean cargo to your voyage.
• Minimize disruptions with ocean freight software that lets you accommodate changing requirements quickly.  
• Automate and simplify your shipping process with a single ocean freight platform. 

• Control operational bunker demand and oversee every port call cargo operation with this supply chain management software.

Pricing:

SAP’s pricing is available upon request.

4. Riege Software

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Riege’s freight management software accelerates your freight operation and simplifies ocean freight import and export. 

Benefits:

• Automate your communication with ocean carrier messaging, from booking containers to editing the Bill of Lading.
• Access all shipment sailing schedules and stay in the loop with automated updates.
• Track and book shipments with a  complimentary web application. 
• Generate quotations for any mode of transport. 

Pricing:

Riege’s logistics software pricing is available upon request. 

5. Softlink Global 

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Softlink Global offers a sophisticated software solution that allows you to manage your entire shipping business effectively.

Benefits:

• Automate complex forwarding tasks, manage compliance, and reduce data entry time with its user-friendly dashboard.  
• Increase shipping efficiency and profitability of ocean freight operations by using a comprehensive freight management system.
• Eliminate bottlenecks and delays to reduce job turnaround time by up to 40%.
• Generate all necessary sea freight documents for your shipping company from booking to billing.

Pricing:

Softlink Global’s pricing is available upon request.

6. Four Kites

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Four Kite offers actionable intelligence in an efficient supply chain and shipping software. It also provides access to an expansive network of ocean carriers and freight forwarders.

Benefits:

• Access shipment tracking at every point of your shipping journey with satellite precision and real-time visibility. 
• Make actionable decisions based on high-quality ocean data.
• Get advanced alerts to mitigate demurrage and detention fees for your global supply chain ocean freight processes.

• Manage delays and at-risk inventories to lower transportation costs.

Pricing:

Four Kite’s pricing is available upon request.

7. Logipulse

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Logipulse offers a reliable and competent ocean freight forwarding solution that streamlines all freight operations.

Benefits:

• Switch between languages with just one click and convert your data to your desired language.
• Use its online freight rate management for multi-currency transactions, payment settlements, and invoice generation.
• Configure event notifications and alerts with an easy-to-use alert engine.
• Streamline all shipping processes by managing and improving land, ocean, and air freight transportation operations.

Pricing:

Logipulse offers different pricing plans for its shipping software. However, the price is only available upon request.

Next, let's look at what features are essential when choosing ocean freight software.

1. Robust Planning Features

Your freight solution should streamline and automate operations. Check if it can handle tasks like:

• Consolidation and Back To Back Shipments
• Domestic Shipment
• Vessel Sailing Schedule
• Container Load Plan

These are a few features that could help you complete operations quickly and error-free. 
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2. Cost Monitoring

An intelligent freight forwarding system will automate invoice reconciliation and streamline the entire process of auditing for cost monitoring.

A good software solution highlights inconsistencies between your invoice and the original quote. This can be made possible by automating the invoice-matching process. 

Find out how Shipthis’ accounting solution helps you stay on top of your finances.
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3. Comprehensive Billing Options

Explore all billing options available before selecting ocean freight software. Your software should allow you to bill weekly, monthly, or yearly.

It’s important that you offer your users maximum flexibility when it comes to choosing the best billing option for them.
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4. Custom Integrations

For goods to enter or leave a specific country, you need authorization from the customs department. A customs clearance document states that all customs formalities have been met and duties paid for. 

It helps to use freight software that automates technical and legal filings and any necessary border procedures. For example, Shipthis offers simplified regulatory submissions.
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5. Data Sharing With Customers

An exemplary ocean freight forwarding software system ensures transparency with your customers.

Check for logistics software that provides users with a real-time shipping tracking dashboard. This way, you and your customers can stay updated about the movement of goods.
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6. Automated Sea Freight Documentation

Check for ocean freight software providers who automate and fast-track certain documents, like: 

• Bill of Lading (BoL): It is one of three vital documents used when trading internationally via ocean freight. It includes all shipment details, like: 

• Consignment type
• Weightage
• Cost
• Quantity
• Delivery address
  

Additionally, it shows the signature of the shipper, receiver, and carrier. There are different types of Bills of Lading like a master BoL, straight BoL, clean BoL, claused BoL, and container BoL. You should choose a software that lets you generate the documents you need.

• House Bill of Lading (HBL): An Ocean Transport Intermediary (OTI), such as a freight forwarder, will create this document as it acknowledges the receipt of goods that need to be shipped.
  
  The HBL includes similar details to the BoL. However, this document also includes the specifics about the items shipped and the value of the shipping contract.

• Back-to-back Bill of Lading: This document is essential when an NVOCC operator is involved, or freight forwarders want to issue their own bill of lading.
  
  When this happens, the House Bill of Lading issued by the NVOCC/Freight Forwarder will be the same as the Master Bill of Lading issued by the shipping line. The only difference is the details of the shipper, consignee, and notify party.

• Shipment Form: This document is used in the shipping process to help you manage and track the delivery, handling, and payment of goods. Various stages of logistics operations require different shipping forms. 
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Want to simplify the documentation process?

Generate all your shipping documents with ease using the smart document management feature from Shipthis. 
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7. Cloud-Based Interface

A cloud-based freight-forwarding software system lets your users and employees access information from anywhere.

It also allows you to provide excellent customer service to your clients. You can enjoy reduced costs, fewer security breaches, improved management, easy scheduling, and more.
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8. Shipment Visibility

A customer portal that enables real-time visibility allows your users to receive real-time updates about their good’s shipment, including cargo ship movements and delays. 

Your users can share live cargo tracking links to their shippers and consignees with all relevant information without sending countless emails. 

Want to take advantage of shipment visibility? Find out what Shipthis has to offer. 
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9. Customer Engagement Portal

A great CRM platform will allow you to achieve higher standards of customer satisfaction by helping you improve your customer service. 

That’s why you need a freight management system that offers customer-focused features. 

Discover Shipthis’s easy-to-use CRM platform that improves your teams and customers experience.

Now that you have the information to decide on the right ocean freight software for your logistics operations company, let's review ocean freight trends to follow.

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Below are two important factors that’ll come into play in the ocean freight industry. 

1. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not the enemy. It gives companies more insight into their freight management priorities. 

What’s more? 

Certain AI features in freight software programs can spot hidden data trends and potentially predict shipping challenges. These insights allow companies to prepare alternative arrangements. 

AI is a growing software trend, and more freight platforms will likely embrace the technology.
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2. Cost Management Decisions

The cost of fuel has drastically fluctuated over the past decade. 

Fuel price variability per region can also impact deliveries, especially for ocean and air cargo, as they require complex fuel management strategies. Freight software can provide advanced insights and recommendations to help companies make better cost-management decisions. 

Ocean Freight Forwarding is a complex business. However, choosing efficient freight software is one way to simplify it. 

You can use the information above to choose the best ocean freight software provider for you.

But if you truly want software that’ll boost your revenue and customer experience, you’ll love Shipthis. 

With Shipthis, you can gain a competitive edge in the freight forwarding industry. 

So, why not get started by booking a free demo?