A portal, is it really necessary, or can we no longer do without?

Digitalisation has changed almost every aspect of the logistics world. We track our parcels, follow our cargo in real time, and expect updates at every stage. But this raises the question: is a customer portal just a luxury, or has it a become an absolute necessity?

What exactly is a portal?

A portal is a secure online environment that allows you to access and manage your logistics information in one place. Think of it as your personal control centre of shipments, documentation, and communication.

Instead of emailing, calling, or waiting for updates, you can simply log in and view the current status of your shipments, upload or download documents, and even request quotes or make bookings. It's convenience and transparency rolled into one.

The advantages for customers

A well-designed portal offers a wide range of benefits that go far beyond convenience alone:

1. Real-time insight: You always know where your cargo is, reducing the need for back-and-forth communication.
2. Efficiency: With digital access to documents and data, processes become faster and errors are minimised. 
3. Availability: Information is accessible 24/7, wherever you are.
4. Sustainability: Fewer printed documents mean a smaller environmental footprint.
5. Transparency: You can follow every step in the logistics chain, giving you full visibility and control.

How Berkman Forwarding uses portals

At Berkman Forwarding, we believe technology should serve people, not the other way around. That is why we continuously develop and improve our online customer portal.

Our portal allows customers to track shipments, view customs documents, download invoiced, and communication directly with our operations team. It is designed to make your logistics processes easier, faster, and more transparent.

System integration to avoid double work and reduce errors

For companies shipping only a few containers per year, managing logistics manually may still be feasible. But once you reach 100, 500, or numbers like 1,000 and over in a year, duplicate data entry becomes both time-consuming and risky. To help customers avoid unnecessary work and the increased chance of mistakes, Berkman Forwarding offers the development and implementation of API integrations with the systems you already use.

Our own IT specialists work directly with your technical team to ensure the smoothest transition possible. Once connected, information becomes available almost instantly (ideally in real time) so your processes remain efficient and accurate.

However, personal contact remains just as important to us. A portal can never replace human expertise and attention. It simply complements it. Our people are always ready to answer your questions, advise you, or solve any issues that may arise.

So, luxury or necessity?

In today's logistics landscape, a customer portal is no longer a luxury. It has become an essential part of efficient and transparent logistics. But at Berkman, we believe the real value lies in the combination of both worlds: digital convenience and personal service.

Our goal is to ensure that every shipment, every customer, and every click contributes to a smooth, reliable logistics experience.

Would you like to know more about our customer portal or how it can simplify your logistics processes? Please get in touch with us, we are happy to help!

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