Bookings and Reservations

Descartes’ centralized booking portals provide visibility into rates, contracts, and shipment details from global locations to enable more informed decision-making and contract development. Carriers can distribute product, routing, capacity and rate information to forwarders 24/7 in real time, while forwarders can access carrier information and make electronic bookings via a simple web browser (no software installation required). Integration of cost tables with contracts also allows for deeper analysis to improve asset utilization and overall margins. Additionally, our host-to-host service enables forwarders to execute bookings from within their own in-house system.

Key Benefits and Capabilities

Efficiency Gains

• Reduction of time-consuming calls and faxes
• Products, flight & truck details, routings, capacity availability and rates are made accessible without having to call multiple carriers
• Less time spent on administration with more time available for selling and value added services
• Time spent making and checking bookings significantly reduced and can instead be used for special needs shipments or other value added tasks
• Fast confirmation of booking
• 24/7 availability for electronic booking allows increased flexibility and service to customers
• Processes can be aligned across gateways/branches by standardizing the booking process around the Descartes GF-X Exchange booking service
• Single point access to carriers

Revenue Opportunities

• Existing and new offerings marketed easily and in more targeted fashion
• New business gained from forwarders who prefer to book with carriers with online presence
• Potential to recover business lost through difficulty in reaching sales staff or dealing with carrier call center
• 24/7 access to customers and increase in business outside station hours
• Better planning decisions possible with higher quality, earlier booking information
• Disputes reduced as a result of a shared record of transaction
• Seamless integration with back end system
• Service improved for shipper customers as carrier offerings can be checked quickly and responses to booking requests received efficiently regardless of office opening hours
• Access to promotional rates, some only available via Descartes GF-X Exchange
• Reduced costs for carriers and forwarders

Components

• Descartes GF-X Exchange
• Descartes Private Label Exchange
• Descartes CargoBooker