Since 2003, freight forwarders around the globe have been utilizing the services of Rate Explorer', and now that World Cargo Alliance, Inc. (WCA) has decided to offer members the quote management solution. A wider range of forwarders -- and their subsequent customers -- will benefit from the software. In addition, WCA is now offering the tariff publishing services in the Chinese market given the vast growth of trade that is occurring between that market and the world.
WCA is the largest and strongest network of independent air and ocean forwarders in the world. Established in 1998 and based in Miami, WCA is part of the WCA Family of Logistic Networks, a group of four associations comprising over 1,000 independent international freight forwarders in almost 400 cities. In addition, WCA operates branch offices in Bangkok, Thailand, Shanghai, China and Bremen, Germany.
WCA's vision is to provide comprehensive support systems to independent freight forwarders and NVOCCs to help them compete against giant multinational logistics operators and integrators. WCA is dedicated to assisting members to provide the very highest quality freight transportation service in the industry. As such, the association licensed Rate Explorer' to help its small to medium-sized freight forwarder members compete with the larger operations of well-funded, multi-national logistics service providers. Rate Explorer' assists freight forwarders to automate ocean contract and quotation management.
"Managing carrier contracts and rates has always been a tedious and time consuming task for our customers," comments Michael Loup, vice president of Business Development for Houston, Texas-based Elite International Transportation. "As part of our strategy to improve and streamline all logistics processes, we set out to offer a world-class solution for managing this task for shippers. Over the past nine months, we underwent an exhaustive search for the best contract management system in the industry. Rate Explorer' is the hands-down winner."
Rate Explorer' provides WCA members like Elite International with the most accurate bottom-line rates by linking their contracts to the carrier's rules tariffs. The web-based software improves the accuracy and volume of quotes produced while simplifying the management of contracts, reducing paperwork, and improving back-office productivity for WCA members.
"WCA is committed to providing its members with the best technology available," says WCA Founder and President David L. Yokeum. "As an Internet-based rate and quotation system, Rate Explorer' will give members the ability to instantly quote to and from every point in the world, improving member profits and reducing labor costs."
WCA licensed Rate Explorer' through its neutral non-vessel operating common carrier operation, All World Shipping (AWS). Rate Explorer' will help its members create competitive quotes based on AWS contracts and develop successful agent relationships with their overseas counterparts. Since many of these forwarders are agents to partners around the world, Rate Explorer''s instantaneous response will eliminate the 24- to 48-hour time delay associated with requesting and confirming rates globally.
WCA will also sell the Rate Explorer' solution to member companies that manage their own negotiated carrier contracts. As part of the agreement WCA will assist member companies with the implementation of Rate Explorer' and will provide tariff publishing services using Rate Explorer''s NVOCC tariff publishing module.
"WCA's family of freight forwarder networks is providing a critical service to level the playing field," comments Jim Preuninger, CEO of Management Dynamics.
The East Rutherford, NJ company developed Rate Explorer' and remains a leading provider of on-demand solutions that improves the performance of global supply chains for importers, exporters, logistics service providers, and carriers.
"By providing WCA's members with the right tools, such as Rate Explorer', they ca
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