Dwell time
is an important metric for both the ports and the trade. For ports, it
helps measure operational efficiency. It aids exporters and importers to arrive
at the container dwell time charges levied by the port. In addition to this, it
also provides them with an estimated time lag for the next container movement –
loading on rail/road for import containers and loading on the vessel for export
containers. 



Given the
impact that dwell time charges have on the total logistics costs of a shipment
and the overall delivery timelines, how it is calculated is of importance to
exporters and importers. 



Hence, in
the last quarterly meeting of all the stakeholders of JNPT Port, CSLA and
MANSA presented this point for discussion. They put forth the suggestion to
take into consideration the actual time of loading/unloading of containers from the vessel and exact time of gate in and gate out respectively. 



Upon due
consideration, JNPT Port has announced revision in the computation method for dwell
time charges and reefer charges. Additionally, it has also decided to offer lashing
rebate to transshipment containers. This rebate was earlier only provided for
normal containers. The new computation method has been made applicable from 1st
April, 2018. 



The table
given below provides a comparison between the existing dwell time charges
computation method and the revised methodology.<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/e66459dbc74d07720ca9831d91772541/Cogoport_Article_-30th-April%20%282%29.jpg" alt="JNPT Dwell Time Revised Computation" class="center" width=""> <pclass="msonormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Source: JNPT
Port </pclass="msonormal">According
to data shared in an <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/container-dwell-times-indian-major-ports-increase_20180115.html">article</a>
in JOC.com, dwell time at major Indian
ports is a matter of concern. A comparison of dwell time data of some of the
major ports for the April-November period in 2016 and 2017 shows an increasing
trend. During this period, the average container dwell time increased to 2.91
days from 2.57 days at JNPT. It went up to 2.79 days from 2.57 days at Chennai
port and Tuticorin recorded 2.01 days as against 1.96 days. Kolkata Port’s
dwell time went up to 5.6 days from 5.5 days. Taking
into consideration the dwell time trend of the previous year, this move by JNPT Port
should, to some extent, help provide relief to the exporters and importers in
terms of reducing logistics costs.&nbsp;

JNPT Revises Dwell Time and Reefer Charges

Technology has revolutionized the way business is performed all around the world. With the introduction of better and more advanced technology, operating business has become much easier and efficient. Technology has affected not only one, but all types of business dealing in different products and services.The Freight industry is one which has seen a significant change in their business operations due to the integration of advance technologies in their systems. Supply chain productivity has risen notably due to these advances and has helped in minimizing cost and error in the industry.Technology has an impact on all operations of the logistics industry, from transportation either by air or ocean, to supply chain management and even shipment tracking.Let’s take a look at the 3 major technological advancements that are changing the freight industry for the better: <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/1e26e62537de38f6a575358754382542/download%20%283%29.jpeg" alt="download%20%283%29.jpeg" style="width: 981px; height: 654px;"> 1) Internet of Things (IoT):In the freight industry, having access to real time data is very important. The IoT technology is an efficient way of managing supply chain and logistics and making them more organized and error free.&nbsp;Companies have started adopting this technology in order to increase their productivity and optimize their operations. From creating ‘smart warehouses’ which are operated by robots who store, arrange and retrieve inventory with efficient ease, to using IoT sensors for detecting goods, companies have transferred all their logistic operations to be handled by IoT. All IoT compatible devices can communicate, coordinate and connect with each other to perform supply chain management tasks in a synchronized manner. <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/9ca57f3817a4c3e8ef5a68b0a9787a75/download%20%284%29.jpeg" alt="download%20%284%29.jpeg" style="width: 981px; height: 736px;"> 2) Artificial Intelligence (AI):AI/machine learning is a technology which is being widely adopted by supply chain companies to facilitate better management and growth. AI is the future of supply chain management market. Here’s how AI/machine learning helps the supply chain market:<ul><li>AI helps in better negotiations to get you the lowest price for hardware and software. It also helps you analyse the supply, quality and demands as well as the services, warranties and Mean Time Failure of a product.</li><li>With all the useful data at your disposal, AI helps you analyse it and provides real time advice on how the inventory management can be made more effective.</li><li>Order management can be done in a more accurate and efficient way with the help off AI tools.</li></ul> <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/c6a229ba5e529e2774e97ac22dd89cda/download%20%282%29.png" alt="download%20%282%29.png"> 3) Cloud Computing:Cloud computing is another technology which has improved the operations in freight industry by providing exceptional data handling solutions. Data is readily available on the internet and can be accessed from anywhere around the world.These are the ways in which cloud computing helps the supply chain market:<ul><li>It allows real-time evaluation of prices associated with each logistics and supply chain element.</li><li>You have access to real-time inventory and thus inventory management becomes simple.</li><li>Your data gets stored in matrices and divisions which helps you find out similar shipping and procurement patterns.</li><li>It allows real-time monitoring and helps in creating accurate models of merge in transit.</li><li>Your entire team can access data regardless of the time and place they are stationed at. This gives way to faster and efficient operation.</li></ul> <h2>Conclusion</h2>Managing supply chain and logistics has become less challenging with the introduction of these technological advancements. There are limitless possibilities for the development of freight industry when it is integrated with technology.

Freight Industry Tech: IoT, AI, Cloud Computing

It’s always nice when the media takes interest in your company. Especially for a fast-growing startup trying to simplify freight and optimize global shipping. We have already been featured on The Loadstar and The Economic Times, to name a few.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><h3>It's a Bird! It's a&nbsp;Plane! It's the Magazine on the Plane!</h3>If you fly British Airways this month, you will be able to read about Cogoport in the in-flight magazine. For those that don’t fly BA, here’s some of what they wrote about us in an article called “Cities of Innovation”, which Rotterdam is.“New digital solutions are also playing a major role by improving efficiency for the 30,000 sea-going vessels that call at the Port of Rotterdam each year. Indian startup Cogoport chose to open its European HQ in Rotterdam. The company has been called the “Uber of sea freight”, but Carmit Glik, CEO of Cogoport in Europe, prefers to think of it as the Booking.com of logistics. The service matches importers and exporters with freight carriers and is currently growing 20 percent a month, with about 4500 customers and 300 suppliers using it. “There is a significant focus on maritime and logistics innovation in Rotterdam,” says Glik. ”If you’re in that sector, you definitely want to be here.”<h3>We're Moving Freight. Port to Port and Beyond.</h3>The second article I’d like to share some quotes from is from an Israeli publication called Port2Port, who interviewed me at the end of last month.“Carmit Glik: "Cogoport was founded with the aim of providing added value to its customers by managing the whole supply chain - from our customer's factory to their end customer who purchased the goods abroad, while the entire handling and shipping process is managed by an innovative digital platform that reports real-time on all shipments and offers solutions and alternative options in real-time as well. We are essentially a digital "umbrella" that collects all the data from suppliers that offer shipping, forwarding and logistics services, and presents them to our customers in a convenient, efficient and transparent manner, including the costs of course, and the customer chooses a specific service through this platform. The digital aspect is very important, but as a company, we see the delivery of our customer's products to their end customers as the most important."<a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>Glik: "In the end, our goal is to simplify the access to the data and inform the customer of everything that really interests him, and in real-time. What matters to us is process improvement for both customers and carriers. At the end of the day, we will not do anything that doesn't provide added value to our users, which should be true for all the technologies that exist in the market today, whether it is Blockchain or artificial intelligence. It's all about the customer, and positive experience. And by the way, one of the biggest tests is always to see how things go when something goes wrong. For example, there was an accident and the container did not arrive in time to the port and did not board the ship - we know how to report it to the customer. This information is very important for the customer and he wants to get it right away. The ability to inform our customers instantly and give them alternative options is one of the advantages of our platform. Currently, we're working on an app that's available from any mobile phone that will further simplify the processes for our customers. Anyway, it's always possible to use the website or call us, and our employees can always intervene personally. It all depends on the severity of the situation, but our goal is to make the platform so simple and intuitive that the customer can do everything himself. "Glik: "There are suppliers that interface with our platform and there are suppliers that use it manually in their back-office operations. It depends on the company and its digital capabilities. Our goal is to be the link between suppliers that have ships, trucks, etc. to those that have goods to ship in the most efficient way. We work with everyone because we are a platform, a "marketplace" and as such we want to give the customer all the options that are available today. We will let our customers choose what options best suit their needs. Cogoport works in the background to make sure everything runs smoothly. It is the customer that chooses which carrier he wants to work with. And when the customer sends it to Western Europe, he can also choose whether the shipment will be delivered to its final destination by train, truck, or barge. Multi modal shipping is big here, and we offer the full range of services to manage that."<img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 2.png" alt="" width="300px">Glik: "Our platform is divided between suppliers and customers and there are sub-categories for shipping companies, shippers and exporters. That's how the system identifies them, and if I'm a carrier I can connect to a network that can provide me with new business opportunities. And if you are a smaller carrier that doesn't have the large customer base of an international shipping company and you offer good service at a good price you have access to new markets you didn't have access to before."<h3>Hello, Is it Me You're Looking For?</h3>While I don't have a singing voice anywhere near Lionel Richie's, I do know Ocean Freight and Tech. So if you want to talk ocean freight, logistics technology, digitization of freight, or have any questions on Cogoport, then it is me you're looking for.

Cogoport in the News: Increased International Media Attention

In early December 2018, RBO received a grant from Innovative (MIT) subsidy from Province South-Holland to make this a universal Certified Food Tech &amp; Logistics platform.Royal Blue &amp; Orange International Trading (RBO Trading) has been working on a Certified Food Tech &amp; Logistics platform, ’From Farm to Fork’ solution around the world with specific tests, giving every farmer a chance to participate in growing their economy. They are excited to support the food industry and make the supply chain more transparent.RBO Trading has collaborated with Milvum and Cogoport in efforts to combine their knowledge and expertise to make a bigger impact. Cogoport is a digital freight moving platform which enables businesses to increase their presence by making shipment of goods across the globe a much simpler task.&nbsp;Sukai Ceesay, CEO of Royal Blue and Orange International Trading B.V. (RBO), in a discussion with Cogoport, talked about her business’s recent involvement with us. She is happy to have worked with us and shares how Cogoport made it easier for her to expand her business reach globally. Know what she shares about the grant, Cogoport and how it helped her expand&nbsp;-Tell us about your business?A:&nbsp;Royal Blue &amp; Orange International Trading B.V. (RBO Trading) is a certified ethical, social and circular economy product and equipment sourcing solutions in the Quick Service (fast food) Industry. RBO Trading is a globally approved supplier and in the vendor list of Domino’s Pizza International and other multinational and local food companies. RBO Trading also manufactures proprietary products for companies using social, environmental and circular economy ingredients/solutions. How has Cogoport helped your business and what problems does Cogoport help solve?A: RBO Trading is hoping to have Cogoport participate on our platform as a logistics solution for our customers who need it. How well does Cogoport meet your business needs?A: I reached out to Cogoport for the simple fact that they are not geared towards the Fortune 500’s. Its logistics solution is practical for the small and medium enterprises who need practical and cost-effective logistics. I am a believer that when you help the small and medium businesses, you will indirectly help the big companies. Having digital transaction receipts and transparent quotes and billing make Cogoport a solution for our times. Looking forward to working with this team…What two features of Cogoport are most valuable to you?A: I would have to say, the transparency of billing and reliability of quotes.How likely are you to recommend Cogoport to your colleagues?A: Highly likely! Otherwise, I will not be doing business with you :))

Royal Blue & Orange Trading with Cogoport

Standards are both important and difficult to achieve when it comes to logistics. There are so many parties involved. The importance of standards becomes apparent when we look at some of the best-known standards in the industry. Take for example the shipping container. Shipping containers have been used since the end of the 19th century, but they weren’t standardized until 1968 when the TEU was established. The same goes for wooden pallets. And still, there are many variations.<h3>Standardization. IT’s essential.</h3>With the digitalization of freight, the importance of IT standards has become apparent as well. There are many different IT systems used in the procurement, production, and distribution of products. Many of these IT systems (should) communicate with each other, which means they need to be connected. As many of these systems have their own “standards” the integration of these systems is challenging, to say the least. Digitalization has enormous potential, but all systems should be easily interconnected.<h3>Digitalization, standardization and interoperability</h3>I was glad to learn that 5 of the largest ocean carriers have announced the launch of a digital standards association that intends to achieve "digitalisation, standardisation and interoperability" in the container shipping industry. IT executives from CMA CGM, Hapa-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC, and ONE want to create common information technology standards, which are to be openly available to the whole industry.<h3>No worries, we have the platform</h3>The new association is non-profit and aimed at decreasing red tape and increasing transparency. They have also clearly stated that they do not intend to develop or operate any kind of digital platform. As a digital platform that is designed to make the ocean shipping process more efficient and transparent, Cogoport is looking at these developments with interest. Red tape and lack of transparency are some of the key issues in moving freight that our founders want to solve.<h3>Get on board, please!</h3>It’s good to see carriers are starting to work together to solve some of the inefficiencies in our industry. We hope more stakeholders will join this initiative, as standardization and interoperability will increase the potential of the digital landscape that keeps growing, moving closer to the efficient, transparent and free movement of freight across the globe.Let’s face it, it has been long overdue. And I think they should expand their joint effort beyond IT.<h3>Money on the Table</h3>Carriers should not only be working together on IT standards, but they should also work together on managing empty containers. Today carriers each have their own proprietary container pool. Some interchange takes place, but there is a lot of money left on the table.Empty containers have to be repositioned and there is nothing much we can do about that. The number of containers that need to be repositioned can be influenced though. What is needed is a shared pool of containers. Currently, shipping companies are moving empty containers from a yard in location A to their customer in location B, while a competitor is shipping an empty container from a yard near location B to their customer near location A. And this is not an exception.<h3>Location, Location, Location... and Visibility</h3>Visibility is key, though. Shipping companies need to make sure they know where containers are. Location data should be correct and up to date for empties. Sharing them can then prevent unnecessary movement of these empties and customers can be sent a container from the closest yard that has one available.This will decrease the number of miles empties need to be shipped, while also increasing the number of times a container can be loaded and shipped in a year. Everybody wins.

IT Standards? How About Pooling Empty Containers!

Launch
of a New Consolidated Shipping Line - Ocean Network Express1st of April 2018 marked the entry
of another large container shipping line – Ocean Network Express (ONE), formed
by integrating the businesses of NYK, MOL, and “K” Line. 



The three companies have jointly invested USD 3
billion in the integrated business with 38 per
cent of the share held by NYK, and the remaining 62 per cent split equally between MOL and “K” Line. 



According to a press release, through the
joint venture, the Japanese shipping lines will be able to provide better services,
offer competitive rates, and optimize the utilization of their shared fleet of
230 ships having a carrying capacity of 1,440,000 TEUs. It will offer services
to 100 countries, covering more than 200 major ports via 85 services.



An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/asia/maersk-tankers-splashes-out-300m-nine-mrs-shi?highlight=Ik9jZWFuIE5ldHdvcmsgRXhwcmVzcyI">article</a> in Seatrade
Maritime News mentioned “low oil prices, sluggish cargo demand, oversupply
of trade capacity, and container freight rates at historic lows” as the reason
given for consolidation by MOL, NYK, and “K” Line. According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://splash247.com/ocean-network-express-jeremy-nixon-ready-april-one/">report</a> in The
Loadstar,&nbsp;the newly formed company will be able to save costs amounting to USD 440 million in the first year of operations and almost double the savings
going forth. 



While we will only know at the end of the
fiscal year how much of the estimated cost saving target has been achieved and
whether the investment of USD 3 billion translates into improved bottom line, for
now the merger seems to be working for the Japanese shipping giants. After the
consolidation, ONE has emerged as the 6th largest container shipping
line in the world. This puts it in line with the current reigning companies in container shipping - Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, and Hapag-Lloyd. 



Other major mergers and acquisitions (2014 –
2017)



The shipping industry has seen many strategic
mergers and acquisitions throughout its history. This trend has re-emerged
after a hiatus of almost 7 – 8 years. In fact, since 2014, the industry has
been witnessing a flurry of business consolidations in the form of joint
ventures, alliances, mergers and acquisitions led by some of the top global
container shipping lines.&nbsp;Some of the major mergers and acquisitions during this period that have created new synergies in the industry are:

2014&nbsp;<ul><li>Merger of Hapag Lloyd and CSAV's container business </li></ul>

2015&nbsp;<ul><li>Hamburg Süd's acquisition of CCNI’s container business </li><li>PIL's acquisition of Marina
Express Lines </li></ul>



2016<ul><li>Merger of Cosco Group and China Shipping. The merged entity has been rebranded as&nbsp; Cosco Shipping Holdings Co. </li><li>CMA CGM SA's acquisition of Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. </li><li>MOL, NYK and ‘K’ Line
announce business integration. Ocean Network Express (ONE), the new entity formed from the merger starts its operations from 1st April, 2018. </li><li>Maersk Lines' acquisition of Hamburg
Süd. Hamburg Süd continues to operate as a separate brand after the acquisition.&nbsp; </li></ul>







2017&nbsp;<ul><li>Hapag Lloyd's acquisition of UASC </li><li>Cosco Shipping's offer to buy OOCL. OOCL to continue to operate as a separate brand after the acquisition.&nbsp; </li></ul>

Source:
joc.comAccording to industry analysts, this is an effort by shipping lines to protect market share, enter new markets, optimize space utilization, and control operating costs. <pclass="msonormal">New Ocean
Alliances – Another effort at business consolidation</pclass="msonormal">In 2017, the industry also witnessed a
restructuring of the Ocean Alliances. Partnerships that emerged after this reorganisation have further consolidated the industry,
putting a major chunk of the market share in the hands of a few select
container lines. Currently, according to the rankings on Alphaliner, more than 80 per
cent of the container shipping market is controlled by the top ten shipping
lines. Among them, 68 per cent of the
container business is controlled by shipping lines holding the first 6
positions namely – Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, and ONE. <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/6d0d10d31e8665df819de4dd0e84867a/Cogoport_M%26A%20Article_R1-02.png" alt="Container Shipping Line's Market Share" class="center" width=""> <pclass="msonormal" style="text-align:justify">Source:
Alphaliner.com</pclass="msonormal">Impact
of M&amp;A on the Industry While world markets and other industries seem
to be expanding globally with new players entering the markets, the shipping
sector seems to be doing just the opposite. Looking at how the industry is consolidating,
it raises concerns regarding survivability of smaller or independent
operators in the business. Would they eventually be driven out of business – by
way of acquisition by a market leader or by becoming uncompetitive like Hanjin
Shipping in 2016? This trend also raises a question on the market
structure of the industry post all possible alliances have been formed. Will
the business integration lead to trade route monopolies or at best an oligopoly
market, thus limiting options available to shippers?Shipping lines are citing reducing operational
costs and utilising overcapacity as the main benefits of
combining their businesses.&nbsp;But, will these mergers and acquisitions really help them
improve their operating margins, deliver the profits that the container&nbsp;shipping&nbsp;industry has been
striving to achieve after the global recession in 2008? &nbsp;A case in point is Hapag Llyods' acquisition of CSAV and UASC. The company’s merger with CSAV in 2014 and its
acquisition of UASC in 2017 has started to show results. An <a href="https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/article9680626.ece">analysis</a> by
SeaIntel Maritime Analysis, shows that the German Carrier has lost out on
efficiency by 11% with regards to volume of containers handled and number of
land-based employees in 2017. Analysts cite the two mergers for the drop in
efficiency. While Hapag Lloyd is expecting a gain of USD 800 million as a result of the two mergers, according to the
article in Shippingwatch it will come
at a cost of cutting down manpower in the acquired companies. Similarly, CSAV, Hapag Lloyds' major
shareholder has also reported
a loss of USD 201.4 million after the holding company’s acquisition of UASC. Results such as these raise doubt on the utility of mergers and acquisitions.&nbsp;






While this is just one example, soon results of other companies who have taken the M&amp;A route to increase profitability and improve service offering will be available.&nbsp;Till then, the trade will have to wait and watch to see if the consolidation will have the desired impact on container shipping industry and help it weather the low and high tides of international trade

Merger & Acquisition: Cure for Container Shipping

India has
managed to break into the top 100 countries in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. In the
latest rankings published by the World Bank, India was ranked 100. This is a
major progress from the previous year’s rank of 130. 



While this
is an important achievement for the country, India is still lagging behind in
certain important parameters like Trading across Borders, where it is ranked
146 among 190 countries. 



What is Trading across Borders ranking



The
Trading across Borders parameter is important as it measures the efficiency
with which certain compliances associated with the import-export procedure are
carried out. 



For rating performance on Trading across Borders, the World Bank looks at the time and
the cost attached with the logistical process involved in export-import trade of a
country.&nbsp;To arrive at a ranking, World Bank studies the time and the cost
(excluding tariff) attached with 3 sets of procedures namely - documentary
compliance, border compliance, and domestic transport involved in the entire
export-import procedure. 



The digitialisation drive by Ministry
of Shipping



To
improve upon this facet of international trade, the Ministry of Shipping has
made&nbsp;it mandatory to exchange/transfer trade documents - e-invoice, e-payment, and e-Delivery Order - in digital form via the
Port Community System (PCS). Earlier this facility was available only for DPD
container clearance at JNPT Port, but now with the latest notification (link
given below), the PCS facility has been extended to all stakeholders like
terminals, CFSs, ICDs, and other Major Ports where the Port Community System is
available.&nbsp;The Port
Community System (PCS) is the integrated web-based message exchange platform for the entire maritime community
operated by Indian Ports Association (IPA).



The PCS is
directly linked to ICEGate, a portal operated by the Customs to digitalise trade processes
such as filing of import and export documentation, payment, and document status
tracking. This will help in easy transfer of information from one system to
another. (Source: Ministry
of Shipping Notification)



Is it enough?



While digitizing
these processes will definitely help in improving the turnaround time of the
listed processes, at the same time, it is also important to note that these are
not the only issues at Indian Ports that affect the turnaround time of the
shipments. 



According
to the <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Ss11a6xyvpnhWRTXcaoRnM/Better-port-ecosystem-to-help-boost-Indias-ease-of-doing-bu.html">report</a>,
Port Logistics: Issues and Challenges in
India, authorized by the Niti Aayog, published by Dun &amp;
Bradstreet (DNB) in February 2018, port
congestion, shipping line issues and charges, regulatory clearances, customs
clearances, documentation and paperwork are the major issues that result in
detention and demurrage charges incurred by importers. In other words, these
issues are responsible for causing a delay in processing shipments. 



Among the
points listed in the DNB report, port congestion is the main pain point. If our
ports can work on improving infrastructure issues, it would be easier to implement
and execute the new initiatives. 



Instead of
looking at these parameters separately, it would probably be better if the policy
framers looked at the entire trade activity holistically – which includes documentation,
shipping lines, port operations, traders, policies and laws of trade, and
service providers like CFS, stevedores, rail and road transporters, and terminal
operators. 



A
holistic approach would ensure that in an attempt to fix one problem, we would
not give rise to or disrupt another sector of the trade. The loss
of business and employment suffered by CFS operators providing service when
the DPD model was extended to all importers at JNPT is a case in point. 







To
know more about Direct Port Delivery, click <a href="https://www.cogoport.com/en-IN/blogs/direct-port-delivery">here</a>.Sources:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/businessready">Ease of Doing Business Ranking,
World Bank</a>

<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/businessready">Trading
across Borders, World Bank</a>

Ministry of Shipping
Notification

Digitalizing Shipping: Boosting India's Business

e-Way Bill Update: CGST Amendment Rules 2018

One of the questions we get a lot at Cogoport is what the difference is between Cogoport and regular or digital freight forwarders. You can book a container shipment at a freight forwarder as well, right?Well technically, yes, you can. But there are a LOT of differences. I’m happy to take you through some of them.<h2>All Suppliers vs. Preferred Suppliers</h2>Freight forwarders may have contracts with certain carriers, which can result in the fact that they will favor these carriers. They have a direct commercial interest in which carrier you choose.If you use the Cogoport platform you can book shipments with all carriers on the platform. Cogoport has no contracts that would cause us to promote a certain carrier. We present you with all the options and the choice is yours. We empower customers to make their own free choice.<h2>Specified Rates vs. All-in Rates</h2>Freight forwarders often give you all-in rates. You get a price for your shipment without really knowing what you are paying for.If you use the Cogoport platform you get a full and transparent breakdown of all the cost involved in your shipment. All charges to you are clear and specified. Our promise to you is: no surprises. There are never any additional charges for any reason after the shipment is booked. What you see is what you get.<h2>Full price comparison vs. Ocean freight price comparison</h2>Freight forwarders often let shippers choose between different ocean freight rates. The total landed cost of each shipment, however, can be very different.If you use the Cogoport platform you not only get the ocean freight rate but also complete insight into all other related costs, whether they are at the port of origin or the port of destination. That way you can base your decision on the total landed cost. Not only port-to-port but door-to-door if you want.<h2>Pro-active vs. Reactive Notifications</h2>Booking a shipment at a freight forwarder usually involves many phone calls and emails. The same goes for tracking your shipment.If you use the Cogoport platform you get full visibility for all your shipments. For each shipment, there is a clear overview of all the milestones and it’s easy to find a detailed track and trace information if you need it. You will also get an instant notification if there is an issue with one of your shipments. You can have peace of mind and use your time to focus on other matters. As long as you don’t hear from us everything is fine.<h2>The 4 main differences between digital freight marketplace Cogoport and a freight forwarder</h2><ol><li>An unbiased overview of all available carriers</li><li>Specified rates. What you see is what you get.</li><li>Choosing a carrier based on total landed cost.</li><li>Peace of mind. Pro-active notifications if a shipment needs your attention</li></ol>

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