Ocean Carriers

The ocean carrier market is an asset-heavy industry that requires huge financial investments to cover the cost of operations, from ocean liners to containers and fuel.  It is also a highly competitive market largely driven by supply and demand in Asia, Europe and North America.  Whether small or large, liner shipping companies are always looking for ways to take costs out of their business while keeping their customers satisfied.

Descartes’ Ocean Carriers solution provides liner shipping companies with tools to manage rates on a global scale; seamlessly plan and execute freight with contract dray haul carriers; and connect with trading partners to ensure the reliable exchange of information.

Descartes helps ocean carriers:         

• Centralize global rates and contracts.
• More accurately and efficiently rate their Bills of Lading.
• More effectively respond to internal and external rate requests, small and large.
• Collect and leverage global rate data for integration projects such as yield management and auto-rating Bills of Lading.
• Improve operational efficiencies.
• Meet customs and compliance requirements and regulations.

To compete more effectively, ocean carriers can improve customer service by managing the workflow involving the interaction between pricing or trade management and their global sales force or customers. Descartes’ Rate Management solutions and services facilitate the immediate capture of rate data throughout the rate creation process and allow carriers to store contract or spot rates immediately in a database once an agreement is reached with a customer. Managing the rate creation process from request through Bill of Lading rating to auditing can eliminate redundant processes that may exist today and help ocean carriers better meet increasing market demand for internal efficiency.

In addition to Rate Management, the Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN) includes Messaging, Local Haulage/Interline and Customs Filing & Compliance — Cross-Border Services to help ocean carriers better manage shipments as they move across the supply chain.

Descartes' ocean carrier customers include:

• Yang Ming
• Hanjin Shipping