Newsletters

Message from the President

Dear members,

I hope 2021 is turning out to be a better year than the last one for all of you! Now is time to come together as a strong network and keep working towards the common objective of increasing your businesses. To serve our agents in an all-inclusive manner, we are restructuring and expanding our team and investing on marketing and communication tool. I am positive that this will allow us to offer practical solutions to all your network requirements.

Inside this newsletter, you will find all the important news about the achievements of your network partners in the last three months. Like every other issue, there is also a section dedicated to the news that are making headlines in the freight forwarding sector. We have published an interesting sector news about how an IoT company has come up with a solution to one of the shipper’s worst nightmare viz. finding a lost container. There is also an informative article that talks about and explains all the latest buzzwords in the supply chain industry which you definitely need to glance through and stay updated! Apart from this you will also find two short posts about how to lower the technological gap with the multinationals and how FreightViewer can help to automate your work processes.

Lastly, I would like to remind our members once again to make the most of their membership by utilizing all the resources we make available such as our PR tools and our online tools. Also, remember that during these tough times it is all the more important to work in conjunction with your partners so as to foster the collaborative spirit of this network and get many new projects to work on.

Hope you enjoy reading!

Kind regards,

Antonio Torres
President and Founder - Conqueror Freight Network

Conqueror invests in marketing and communication strategies for further empowerment of the members

In only the first three months of 2021, Conqueror has welcomed 10 new members

Conqueror Freight Network advances in its marketing, communications and SEO strategy by investing in key tools and expanding its team. Their new marketing tactics will allow them to boost their members’ visibility, rank higher on the Google search results, attract new members and highlight its digital strategy. This will also increase their outreach by generating interest regarding their services and offerings.

Within the first three months of 2021 we have expanded our marketing and communication department, further revamped our website, enhanced our SEO techniques and most importantly welcomed 10 new members to our network! All these accomplishments reflect our constant effort towards promoting the brands of our members.

In this regard, Conqueror has added many new features to the website including a 24x7 live chat option. This will allow anyone visiting their website to post any query related to the network and receive an immediate answer.

The new marketing strategy also focuses on the implementation of new marketing tools with the aim to improve the services offered to members. A new members’ area design has been created to ease the way members access all tools offered by the network.

MEMBER NEWS

Conqueror Beijing moves to a new, spacious and well-decorated office space
Read more

Conqueror Athens is specializing in the transhipment and staffing of difficult and valuable cargoes at their warehouse
Read more

Conqueror Alexandria sends out a multimodal shipment requiring Relative Humidity units during the grapes season in Egypt
Read more

Conqueror Cairo sends out a shipment of five out of gauge tanks from Egypt to Morocco
Read more

Conqueror Sana’a moves a shipment of medical equipments via dry containers
Read more

Conqueror Alexandria has been acknowledged as one of the leading Freight Forwarder specialized in Relative Humidity volumes
Read more

Conqueror members band together for the air shipment of an Environtainer RKN t2
Read more

Global Fairways LLC changes into Emons Air & Sea, LLC
Read more

Conqueror Beijing becomes a top player in the China-Europe rail freight services
Read more

Conqueror Jeddah moves a cargo of 182,000 Kg from Dammam Seaport to Ras Al Quraya
Read more

Conqueror Manila and Cebu successfully transports an oversized and overweight break bulk cargo consisting of moulding machine for an infant incubator
Read more

CQR Durban/Johannesburg ranks as one of the top shipping agents in South Africa
Read more

Interview with

Conqueror Colombo

In this interview Manik Pereira, Chairman of Pership Synergy Pvt Ltd, CQR member in Colombo, Sri Lanka, talks about his company history, their area of operation, their strong points and the problems facing this industry.

"We are one of the top 10 freight and logistics companies in Sri Lanka. Additionally, we are first in investing in the latest technologies and ventures -we have a progressive outlook and are always willing to explore new opportunities and embrace change"

LOGISTICS NEWS

SUEZ CANAL BLOCKED BY A HUGE CONTAINER SHIP: A REPORT ON THE ENSUING CRISIS

A gigantic containership Ever Given has blocked sideways Egypt’s Suez Canal. This has obstructed the way for other vessels waiting to cross the Suez Canal. Consequently, it has given rise to one of the worst shipping jams in several years. In todays’ post, we present you with a brief report on the ongoing traffic jam Suez Canal and how it can impact the sea cargo shipping industry.

Explaining the blockage of the Suez Canal: Why it happened
The Ever Given is a 400 m long and 59 m wide cargo shipping container registered in Panama. Yesterday, it got stuck sideways in the canal while it was en route to the Netherlands from China. According to the statement of the Taiwan based transport company who was the ship operator, the ship was “suspected of being hit by a sudden strong wind, causing the hull to deviate… and accidentally hit the bottom and ran aground.” The huge ship has its bow wedged on one side of the canal while its stern is almost touching the other bank. Last Tuesday, there was a dust storm in the area which surely had a major role to play in this disaster.

Actions done to dislodge the ship
On Thursday, tugs were trying to pull the ship to an area where the water is deeper. A ship-tracking software has also shown that five tugs were trying to dislodge the vessel and more are being sent towards it. Reports suggest that the Ever Given is the largest ship to pass through the Suez Canal. Additionally, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) are presently attempting to refloat the vessel by making use of these tug units. Even they have brought in diggers to free the vessel from the banks of the canal. According to the experts dislodging the ship is a tricky operation that might take several days.

The importance of the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal is a 193 km long man-made canal that comprises three natural lakes. Tankers frequently use it for moving crude oil fromoil exporters in the Middle East to the US and Europe. Ocean vessels also operate in it for transporting goods from the North Sea to Asia. Roughly 50 ships cross the Canal on a regular basis. Moreoever, as per a statement by the Canal Authority, around 19,000 ships with a net tonnage of 1.17 billion tonnes crossed it in 2020.

What is the impact of this blockage on ocean trade?
Maritime Historian Sal Mercogliano has spoken to the BBC about this. In this conversation, they are of opinion that such incidents are rare. However, it might have ‘huge ramifications for global trade.’ In case the tugs are not sufficient to pull the ship free. In case this happens, they have to start unloading the cargo.

The blocking of traffic across the Canal might have a detrimental effect on international ocean cargo moving. Specially between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. According to Vortexa, an oil analytics firm, the blockage can affect 10 tanker ships with 13 million barrels of crude oil. They added that rerouting these vessels will lead to a 2 weeks delay in their journey from the Middle East to Europe. Prices of oil have already jumped by 2% because of the blockage. Moreover, they also suggested that crude inventories in the US are also likely to swell.

In the words of Warren Patterson, the Chief of Commodity Strategy for ING Group in Singapore, “It could be having a bit of an impact when you consider about 10% of total seaborne oil trade goes through the Suez Canal, but I imagine any disruption would be very temporary.”

More logistic news at a glance

IoT pioneer Loginno finds a solution that will help to find lost containers at sea

Loginno’s smart containers will henceforth come with a lowfrequency sonar beacon that will allow the carriers to track and trace the lost containers from a distance

French container giant CMA CGM launches freight train service in the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor in India

“This service being run in the dedicated freight corridor will significantly reduce the transit time. It will increase our cargo capacity and will enhance our intermodal offerings to our customers,” says Atit Mahajan the MD of CMA CGM in India

The demand for dry ice rises by over 1,100% as pharmaceutical companies start stocking up for effective global distribution of the vaccine

The first quarter of this year is going to witness an increase in demand for vaccine related items and equipment by 30% to 33%

Home Depot, the biggest home improvement retailer in the US, opens a 1.5 million sq ft fulfilment centre in Dallas with hydrogen powered forklifts

This new fulfilment centre comes with zero-emission, hydrogen powered cell charging stations that are being used to power their clamps and forklifts

The short supply of battery cells has taken a toll on Tesla’s production of electric Semi heavy duty trucks

Elon Musk the Tesla Chief has stated that their production of Tesla Semi will be considerably delayed because of this and it is not before the end of this year that their first Semi will be delivered

SPECIAL

ALL THE LOGISTICS BUZZWORDS FOR 2021!

The last year has indeed been a tough one for all of us but it was also the year in which professionals in the air freight and logistics services finally received the appreciation of the masses because of their tremendous contribution to keeping society functional.

In 2020 the international logistics industry went through a massive transformation which was already underway for the last couple of years. In today’s special, we are going to talk about some of the buzzwords of the logistics industry which are setting the trend for 2021.

1. TRANSPARENCY

Transparency in our industry refers to the company’s ability to see and monitor every aspect of its supply chain in a manner that is revealing and accurate. By transparency, we also mean the client’s transparency in communication via continuous updates and real-time info.

2. REAL-TIME STATUS UPDATES

This is an extension of the previous term by which we mean the ability of the carriers to have total visibility of the cargo. Air freight and logistics services companies are trying to implement solutions that encourage the exchange of data in real-time and expand visibility.

3. DIGITAL TWINS

Digital twins in the supply chain which came to the fore since the pandemic started is a virtual replica of the supply chain which comes with inventory positions, storage, and thousands of assets. “The digital twin with AI, machine learning and optimization techniques can be used to simulate and optimize the supply chain. The digital twin encapsulates suppliers, factories, contract manufacturers, distribution facilities, transportation lanes and customer locations. Using the digital twin, businesses can evaluate the complex interconnected trade-offs in capacity, service, inventory and total landed cost,” says Mr. Murthi, the Vice President of LLamasoft a US-based software development company.

4. BLOCKCHAIN AND IOT

The use of Blockchain and IoT for executing a variety of supply chain operations is becoming increasingly popular. The adoption of these technologies is providing the logistics companies with much-needed transparency. Therefore, companies will keep investing in Blockchain and IoT in 2021 for streamlining their jobs as well as for greater efficiency and management of data.

5. AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTS

The use of autonomous robots has forever changed the way in which warehouse operations were conducted. The use of various kinds of robots in the warehouse is augmenting the workforce and adding value to the entire process. In other words, they help to eliminate all non-value-adding activities.

6. E-COMMERCE

The pandemic has given a push to the online shopping trends. This has prompted e-commerce companies and retailers to focus on innovative last-mile delivery solutions. Retail stores are being converted into fulfilment centres, delivery vans are doubling up as pickup points while passenger vehicles are being turned into delivery vans. Putting it simply, all of these are being done for customer retention.

7. DOOR TO DOOR

With the rise in e-commerce trends, the time is now to make deliveries directly to the consignee’s door. Door-to-door logistics are carried out to minimize delays and lower the risk of mishandling of goods by international logistics service providers.

8. TMS

Freight forwarders are increasingly investing in Transport Management Systems for streamlining various aspects of their shipping processes. TMSs optimize the expenditure of the companies and enhance their processes. Unlike traditional logistical platforms, the TMS helps to connect freight forwarders with an entire ecosystem of carriers, forwarders, shippers, 3pLs, etc.

9. ACCESS AND VISIBILITY

All stakeholders in the projects needs to pay more attention to requests for accessing more data and analytics from the systems. Access and visibility of data empower your clients and boost your operational efficacy.

10. CYBERSECURITY

One downside of the explosion of information available online is probably the occasional vulnerability of tools and systems. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for accessing your valuable data. In 2020 we have seen two supply chain multinationals becoming victims of major cyber-attacks. For this reason, the logistics companies are also ramping up their cybersecurity to protect themselves from threats from hackers.

REPORT

HOW INDEPENDENT FREIGHT FORWARDERS CAN BRIDGE THE DIGITAL GAP WITH THE MULTINATIONALS

At a time when all the top players like DHL, CH Robinson, K&N, DB Schenker, UPS, FedEx etc have digitized a majority of their operations, the small and mid-sized freight forwarders also need to keep pace and make the best use of the available digital tools. The logistics industry which so far was thought of as one of the most outmoded industries has finally woken up to the digital transformation requirements of the Industry 4.0. In this way, the small and mid-sized logistics companies will be able to gradually move their business online for enhanced connectivity, customer satisfaction and instantaneity.

Over the last few years, several freight forwarding software have hit the market but at a rather high price. As a result, this has been an obstacle to entry for most small and independent freight agent making it impossible for them to compete with the multinationals on an equal footing. In today’s post, we will discuss a number of proactive steps that will allow small and mid-sized logistics companies to bridge the technological gap with multinationals.

SMALL LOGISTICS COMPANIES CAN LOWER COSTS WITH INNOVATIVE FREIGHT FORWARDING TECHNOLOGIES

Small companies have one major advantage over the big players which is the time and freedom to engage more intimately with their loyal clients. A close-knit organization can invest more time in client engagement to learn more about their requirements. Consequently, they can also invest in affordable upgrades that can be executed across a small chain. Making use of affordable tools will help them cope with the rising demand for automation and provide better service and offers than competitors.

REDUCE THE TIME REQUIRED TO BOOK A SHIPMENT

Sufficient knowledge of every part of the team puts the small freight forwarders in a better position to oversee all the aspects of the shipment. This can include quote generation, processing, loading, shipping, talking to carriers/suppliers/warehouses, etc. However, the use of software and improved analytics can make this process even more efficient and accurate. Small logistics companies are already better equipped to connect with their clients on a more personal level. Additionally, if they start making use of the online tools, they will be able to provide customized and value-added services which in turn will result in customer retention.

SMALL FREIGHT FORWARDERS NEED TO FOCUS ON INSTANT RESPONSE

Leading digital transformation strategies not only involves wider use of online tools for providing instant solutions. It also entails transparency in pricing. The use of quotation generation software enables you to do precisely that. They provide a breakup of the expenses and sends it to your customers almost immediately after they request a quote from you. The independent players need to capitalize on the available tools to foster an ethos that is based on client experience and transparency.

WRAPPING IT UP

As one of the best freight forwarder networks, Conqueror offers a member-exclusive digital tool called FreightViewer. It is a digitized rate management and quote generation platform that comes with loads of self-customization features. This lets you deal with the problem of changing freight rates from carriers by organizing all the various rates on a single platform. Now you can send instant accurate quotes to your customers and even allow them to check out all the logistical processes and compare the quotes.

In other words, this digital tool which members get free of cost is going to digitize a very important part of their everyday office job viz. rate management and quote generation. This first step towards a more digitized process will keep independent freight forwarders more organized and more at par with the stalwarts in the industry.

Refer&Earn

Conqueror is now covering 250 cities in over 140 countries across the world!

We still have room left for more members

We’d like to take this opportunity to remind our agents once again about Conqueror’s Referral Programme.

Refer&Earn

As an agent, all you have to do is suggest the names of reliable freight forwarders who are potential candidates for CQR membership.

In case your recommended company makes it to our network then you as the referring agent will get a 25% discount on your next annual membership fee!

That’s not the end of it! If you can refer more agents who successfully becomes a part of our team then you can get as much as 4 discounts every year making your annual membership fee as less as zero for the coming year!

So make sure to tell your peers about the benefits of being a CQ R member and you might get yourself a discount on your next membership fee!

Examples of cities where we need coverage

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

You can check all the public holidays and details on www.officeholidays.com

CONQUEROR BIRTHDAYS

ENDORSED MEETINGS

Conqueror has a collaboration and presence at many industry events. Members can enjoy exclusive discounts.

Check the list of events