Dive Brief:
- DHL Global Forwarding is now offering an online air freight quote and booking platform called Freightquote, which offers door-to-door, airport-to-airport or a combination of either, The Loadstar reported Thursday.
- Available in 40 countries, Freightquote manages major tradelanes and point pairs. Immediate quotes for general cargo up to 2,000kg are provided, along with two transit speeds.
- The move is seen as further resistance to third party booking sites that are not aligned with particular logistics companies.
Dive Insight:
Because Freightquote connects to DHLInteractive, the company's online customer shipping and tracking portal, DHL's new service will streamline customers' experience, which makes DHL a more attractive 3PL.
As shippers and carriers rely less on freight forwarders and brokers, this new service gives DHL a leg up, even though it is one of the biggest 3PLs in the world. Thus, DHL probably hasn't lost a significant amount of business to third party booking sites, but the move will likely boost profits.
A service like Freightquote can be pretty significant for a 3PL because it simplifies the logistics process enough to keep customers from straying to third parties, while providing the assurance of a globally trusted brand. As technology and automation continue to simplify and streamline the supply chain process, more 3PLs will likely try to be all-encompassing in their services.
