Industry Calls

Industry Calls

David Ross - Ascent Global

What are the main pain points you face when using Cargowise?

Customer Service access/action is low. They believe so strongly in their system that they point our issues back to help guides or videos.
Controlling data access. All of the data is stored through CW in the Cloud. It’s our data, but CW has gate keeping (and billing triggers) in place to use our own data.

Which features add the most value? (Features Ascent wouldn't be able to function without)

We use most of the Forwarding functions. The buckets we are billed for: User Access, Forwarding (shipment, booking, order mgmt), Customs Clearance, Tracking, Cloud Storage & Invoicing.

Is there a feature / add-on that would add a lot of value, if created?

Better end-to-end multi-modal solution: ocean-dray-warehouse-truckload all in one file. We piece it together today.
Market issue: create a very easy to read quote output that produces a very good multi-lane quote output. Industry (in general) still uses Excel and “Save to PDF” for large multi-lane RFPs.

How important is the customs feature (e-docs, etc)?

All of the customs-related features are critical for Ascent. CW is light in Drawback area. It functions in submitting to US Customs, but we have built a database outside of system to run the logic and then feed to CW fields so we can then submit to US Customs.

How many people use Cargowise every day?

We’re currently at 177 users. Includes almost all of our Forwarding team, plus many from accounting teams. Most sales teams have no need for access.

What are the main tasks that you complete on the platform? Could any of these be automated?

We use most CW Forwarding functions. Plus, we’ve built better user-facing dashboards with updating functions to help our users be more efficient. We’ve also using 3 party automation/AI (Expedock) to gain efficiency.

Joe Saggio - Steam Logistics

Uses cargowise
Modules that can accomodate, supports a wide range of modes air ocean etc
Connecting with APIs and EBIs in various systems, network effect, both partners on the same system

Don’t have to manually create the data
Timing issue, time difference

Can your system ingest automation updates from ports rails terminals

vessel departed, vessel arrived
Cargowise has their own automation, no manual data entry

Big importers need TMS that can accommodate the customs piece

All integrated customs documents, e-doc drag and drop into the file
Customs team has access to all of that and they can verify that

Pain points

Better visibility into the customs side

something put on hold, something is in an exam
No good insight into exactly what’s happenign
tied into the ACED portal
has to be done by phone or email
Customs is integrated with TMS’, would take some work with CBP to feed the updates

Can be very overwhelming, can tailor it well and add custom fields, won’t work with you

Make it more dynamic and flexible, get boxed in

Customer service is
Could never imagine leaving cargowise, but do plugins or boltons
Much easier to change if you’re domestic vs international
Freight movement has good visibility
partnering with project 44
Manual file in cargowise when it’s not on the platform, EDI file or

remove this
not a consideration

Integrate modstone, origin freight movement, when it departs arrives

gap when it arrives, pick up
gate out lose tracking

truckers dray providers until the customer’s door
hole
empty container
Drayage containers never use tracking

Sources