One of the most difficult parts of a BCO’s job (Beneficial Cargo Owner) is managing freight costs and operations. A BCO is someone or a company that owns the cargo which is being transported. A BCO is tasked with a number of responsibilities pertaining to his cargo and is required to track of the freight charges for the cargo transported, manage freight carriers, and ensure that the cargo is transported with minimal costs. Adding to the stress, BCOs have to ensure that there is a high level of transparency and a positive business flow while managing costs, negotiating better chargeable freight rates, and minimizing disruptions. Unfortunately, the more and more businesses are relying on older and more traditional ways of completing BCO tasks which pushes for a smoother operations process.
Gama offers an intelligent integrated solution that enables BCOs to gain control of their logistics. With the enhancement of freight management efficiency comes the ease of its automation, improvement of vendor negotiation, as well as the upgrade of real-time data provision.
What are the Freight Negotiation Challenges for BCOs?
Before talking about how Gama may help, it's important to know exactly what problems BCOs have when they negotiate freight. During discussions for freight, it is normal to talk to a lot of different carriers about things like delivery times, service terms, and transportation charges. But bargaining can be hard for a number of reasons, such as the ones listed below:
i-Lack of Clear Pricing: Carriers don't always offer the same rates, and BCOs don't always have the tools they need to compare prices across several carriers in real time.
ii-Problems with Tracking and Documentation: It can be hard to keep track of shipments, invoices, and shipping paperwork when you have to switch between several platforms.
iii-Manual Invoice and Bill Management: Checking invoices and managing bills by hand might take longer and lead to mistakes.
iv-Limited Data for Making Decisions: BCOs can't spot trends in freight pricing or carrier performance without full analytics, which makes it tougher to negotiate well.
Issues pertaining to freight management frequently lead to costly delays, inefficiencies, and agitated stakeholders. These problems can be minimized or avoided entirely with the proper tools. Gama provides BCOs with transparency, intuitive controls, and automation that is truly beneficial. Gama streamlines freight management enabling businesses to operate more and worry less.
How does Gama improve freight negotiations for BCOs?
GamaSuite is more than just a logistics platform, it’s a complete solution designed to bring together different operations into one simple system. It helps BCOs simplify their processes and gain an edge over the competition. Here’s how Gama gives BCOs the power to take back control of their freight negotiations:
1-Transparent Pricing Through Aggregated Negotiations
The Aggregated Negotiation Tool is the basis of Gama's platform, which gives BCOs visibility of a range of logistics vendors and carriers with various proposal options. This transparency gives the vendors insight into where they stand in the tender process, and support them to be more competitive with their offering. BCOs are then able to quickly compare rates and service levels between carriers, to help ensure they make the best purchasing decision financially.
It also removes the amount of back-and-forth when dealing with carriers, allowing an agile and straightforward way to achieve the best freight rates. Gama reduces the manual inquiry process and supports BCOs by prompting carriers to offer better conditions by competing against one another.
2-Real-Time Tracking and Simplified Document Management
Logistics management entails tracking shipments, document management, and managing all aspects of the shipments' transportation routes. Previously the process often required BCOs to use different platforms or tools and could be complicated, making it difficult to manage the entire supply chain.
Everything is consolidated with Gama. Both ocean and air shipment tracking is available in real-time on a single dashboard on the platform. This means BCOs can assess delays or issues as they are being reported and even track cargo at each step in the transit process.
Furthermore, Gama makes document management easier; Gama monitors your cargo documents sent through services like UPS or DHL. The platform keeps all documents associated with a shipment in one spot and confirms BCOs have complete visibility and access to important documents without constantly asking for documents.
3-Automated Bill Management to Save Time and Reduce Errors
Freight negotiations need successful invoice management. But since invoices are often processed by hand, conisder that invoices take time to process, mistakes can happen, and payments can be delayed. Gama's Bill Management feature automates the entire invoice process and cross-references invoices provided by vendors against pre-approved costs and notes whether that invoice was submitted directly or as an API.
By taking the human factor away in the process, it helps to reduce errors and turn visa payments around faster, which allows BCOs to manage their cashflow and better relations with their carriers. Gama makes the tedious invoice verification process better and allows logistics teams to shift their focus to more strategic programs.!
4-Data-Driven Decision Making with Analytics
The supply chain performance of BCOs can be readily observed by Gama's advanced data analytics tools. Data on freight pricing trends, carrier performance, and exception management is collected by the platform, which allows BCOs to make informed judgements about which carriers provide the most value and reliability.
With these insights, BCOs can identify inefficiencies and implement proactive strategies to prevent potential disruptions. BCOs can predict their future transportation requirements and negotiate more effectively with data at their fingertips, thereby optimising rates and reducing unexpected expenses.
5-Emission Tracking for Sustainable Freight Management
Gama's CO2 Emission Tracking capability demonstrates the increasing value businesses are placing on sustainability. By tracking the carbon emissions on freight shipments in real time, the platform enables BCOs to pursue their sustainability goals. Gama also provides reliable emission data from verified technologies, which allows BCOs to understand their environmental impact and take the necessary measures to mitigate it.
The platform also looks at all existing shipment data and creates reports to facilitate communicating BCOs' commitment to sustainability to consumers and stakeholders.
6-Enhanced Control and Transparency
One of the most powerful aspects of Gama is the complete visibility it offers. BCOs can track every part of their supply chain, from shipment status to billing accuracy, through a single, unified platform. Key features that enhance control include:
i-Live Shipment Visibility: Track the movement of cargo in real time, consolidating all shipping data into one dashboard.
ii-Digital Document Vault: Securely store and access all shipping documents electronically, reducing the risk of document loss or mismanagement.
iii-Verified Billing & Container Milestone Updates: Ensure billing accuracy and track shipment progress with real-time container milestone updates.
These features provide BCOs with unparalleled oversight, allowing them to address potential issues before they become costly problems.
The Key Benefits of Using Gama for Freight Negotiations
By integrating these advanced features into their logistics operations, BCOs experience a range of tangible benefits:
1-Significant Cost Savings
Gama’s aggregated bidding process and data-driven insights help BCOs secure the most competitive freight rates. By comparing offers and negotiating more effectively, BCOs can reduce their transportation costs and maximize their savings over time.
2-Time Efficiency and Reduced Administrative Burden
Gama's primary advantage is automation. BCOs can save hours of administrative work by automating activities such as invoice processing, shipment tracking, and document management. This time savings enables logistics teams to concentrate on more strategic duties, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
3-Improved Supplier Relationships
Gama's open bidding and real time monitoring of performance allows BCOs to create deeper relationships with their carriers. Through transparent, data-driven negotiations, both parties can build trust and collaboration that will lead to a better long-term agreement.
4-Greater Control Over Freight Operations
Gama allows BCOs full control of their freight negotiations and operations. The platform supports BCOs every step of the way from real-time tracking of shipment flows and accessing accurate billing and reporting, to ultimately having BCOs regain oversight of their cost control and supply chain management / operations.
5-Sustainable Freight Practices
By using Gama’s emissions tracking capabilities, BCO’s can better understand how to reduce their own environmental footprint, allowing them to reach their sustainability goals, while still operating a “lean” logistics operation.
Conclusion:
BCOs need to do more than negotiate freight rates operating in an increasingly competitive landscape – they need to take control of their logistics. Gama's logistics solutions provide everything BCOs need to take control. Gama empowers BCOs to improve their operations and save costs through group negotiations, real-time shipment tracking, automated invoicing and in-depth data analysis.
Gama is ideal for BCOs looking to optimise their freight management, whether it is through improved supply chain price transparency & sustainability, or enhanced supplier engagement. It’s time to stop thinking in the old way and adopt a newer, smarter freight and logistics management approach. Find Gama and get started today, to take control of your freight management!
