Interview with Anibal del Diego, Conqueror’s Membership Development Coordinator


“My job is to make sure that the number of Conqueror agents keeps growing steadily so as to provide our members with coverage in all the major cities/ports around the world.”

This week we interviewed Anibal del Diego, Conqueror’s Membership Development Coordinator. Anibal is responsible for conducting extensive research about the applicants before recruiting the most reliable and capable independent freight forwarders.

Conqueror Freight Network for independent freight forwarders
Anibal del Diego, Conqueror’s Membership Development Coordinator                                       

Moreover, his other task consists of finding new sales leads and selecting reliable forwarders as Conqueror members. Before joining Conqueror, Anibal gained years of experience in the Sales and Customer Service department. His experience with multinationals gave him a thorough idea of objective-driven performance to ensure ultimate customer satisfaction. Additionally, Anibal’s social interaction skills allow him to offer an affirmative and determined approach to Conqueror’s customer relationship management.

Q. We would like to know a bit about your experience at Conqueror Freight Network.

A. The time I have spent with my wonderful team at Conqueror has been extremely satisfying. We have a small team with a close bonding and working with them is a productive and pleasant experience. Over the years we have been working together to resolve our customer’s problems and think up the most innovative solutions. Most importantly, Conqueror has taught me a great deal about client communication, client research, and enrolling new agents for even greater network coverage.

Q. Tell us about your job. Do you find your everyday tasks interesting?

A. My daily tasks are both engaging and demanding at the same time. My primary job is to conduct thorough research about the companies of the applicants to determine their reliability. As you know, we only accept dependable and financially secure members to ensure a safe work environment for all our members.

Additionally, being the Membership Development Coordinator, I am the first person our members contact before making it to the network. Lastly, I also need to contact potential members and tell them about how Conqueror can help them with business expansion. I make sure that the number of Conqueror members keeps growing so as to cover all the major cities/ports around the world.

Q. What is the best part about working at Conqueror?

A. The warm and friendly work environment allows us to be creative and experiment with new approaches in every aspect of my job. Moreover, my teammates as well as the management are very encouraging and supportive. I can say that over the years, our team has become like a family. In spite of all the challenges I face in the course of my work, I enjoy solving problems and testing new tactics to further the interests of both members and our network. The dynamic office ambience greatly enhances my productivity. Together with my colleagues, we form part of a very close-knit group that works toward helping our agents and enabling them to globalize their business and augment their ROI.

Q. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

A. Communication with members from so many linguistic and cultural backgrounds can be a very exacting task. Nevertheless, my experience in client servicing allows me to carry out this task proficiently.

Q. What were the starting years of Conqueror like?

A. Conqueror Freight Network was formed 10 years back in January 2011. Since then we have been helping independent freight forwarders from around the world to effectively compete against the largest multinationals of this sector. The sole objective of our network was to give the small and mid-sized logistics companies a platform to increase their share of businesses.

To begin with, we had 50 members from 33 countries. However, with time we have established ourselves as the largest exclusive freight forwarding network in the globe with over 260 members from 136 countries. Regardless of the multiple challenges this sector has been facing since our pandemic, we were able to maintain our network standards, expand our member base, and offer them all the means to grow their businesses.

“Transparency, creativity, and the know-how to deal with difficult situations – these are some of the qualities I have inculcated during my career. I strongly believe that clear communication, honesty, and the means we provide to help freight forwarders compete with the largest players are the three things that are helping our network to grow.

 

Q. How did you celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Conqueror?

A. We put together a very touching video for members to watch during the Virtual Meeting. Here we compiled the best moments of the network along these years. It was really exciting, since all of us gave ideas to make it and the final video where the entire Conqueror team congratulates the members was not only affecting but also was very funny. It was a special moment when we felt a strong sense of team spirit. We all were very proud of the network! After the Meeting, we had a small party with some snacks to celebrate this occasion.

Q. What do you think are the biggest benefits of Conqueror in terms of sales?

A. The greatest financial advantage for our agents is undoubtedly Conqueror’s Referral Programme. The members need to suggest to us the names of a reliable forwarder in cities that are vacant at the moment. In case the recommended company becomes a network member, the referring agents get a 25% discount on their upcoming membership fee. They can avail of a maximum of 4 discounts of 25% every year. This implies the chance of paying zero membership fee in the next year! Moreover, members wanting territorial exclusivity in more than one city are required to pay just 50% of the membership fee for every additional branch.

Q. What is the most important objective of the sales team?

A. The principal task of the sales team is to increase the coverage of our network. To achieve this, Conqueror’s PR and Marketing team conduct several promotional campaigns. They contact the leading freight forwarders in every city who have the professionalism to make it to our network. Moreover, we are not searching for the largest forwarder with the largest business volume. What we want are trustworthy, well-managed, and financially solvent forwarders with considerable business volume and sound credit history. This way all our members can rest assured that they are dealing only with the most reputed and dependable partners.

Q. What are the values that motivate you?

A. Transparency, creativity, and the know-how to deal with difficult situations and make the right decision- these are some of the qualities I have inculcated during my career. I strongly believe that clear communication, honesty, and the means we provide to help independent freight forwarders compete with the largest players are the three things that are helping our network to grow.

I feel that in the last 10 years we have been able to convince our members that we care for them and our main objective is to help them grow. Being customer-focused rather than competitor-focussed, allows us to be more pioneering and has greatly contributed to our expansion. A satisfied customer means a lot for our business. My objective is to keep ensuring that the agents get what they are looking for.

 

Conqueror Freight Network celebrates its 10th Anniversary during its Second Virtual Meeting

During the event, Conqueror screened a commemorative video with some of the highlights of the network in the last 10 years

This year Conqueror Freight Network completed 10 years in the industry. Conqueror celebrated this special occasion during the 2nd Virtual Meeting, held on 29th and 30th November. Additionally, as a token of appreciation, a touching video with the highlights during the past decade was screened after the Speech by Antonio Torres, Conqueror’s President and Founder.

Conqueror's 2nd Annual Meeting of Independent freight forwarders
Conqueror Freight Network’s 10th Anniversary

Hit the above link to watch our 10th Anniversary Video

“I have been a member of Conqueror since 2011 and have seen it grow. The video played at the Event was very heart-warming. It made me remember all the good moments we have had at the Meetings, the friends we have met there and all the work and efforts we made along these years”, says one of the Conqueror members.

Conqueror was launched back in 2011 as an exclusive network for freight forwarders. Since then, it has been helping independent freight forwarders to effectively compete against the largest multinationals of this sector. The network started its operations with 47 cities in 33 countries. Presently it has more than 260 members across 137 countries, becoming the largest exclusive international freight forwarders network.

To quote Antonio Torres, “We have come a long way since the foundation of our network. All these years, we have grown together, expanded our business, established long-term relationships, being present in 10 editions of Virtual and Annual Meetings. Since the very first moment, there has been a fantastic personal and professional relationship among all Conqueror members. This is why I would like to thank all of them for their trust throughout these years, and even more in these difficult moments”.

“Conqueror’s Annual Meetings have helped members to get together for enhanced networking and better prospects of project exchanges. Our 1st Annual Meeting at Phuket in 2012 gave the members the first insight into the immense potential of this network. This is why there couldn’t have been a better time to celebrate our 10th Anniversary with our members than the Second Virtual Meeting,” continues Antonio Torres.

Conqueror's 2nd Virtual Meeting of independent freight forwarders
Conqueror’s 2nd Virtual Meeting

 

Conqueror’s custom-made meeting platform allowed each delegate to schedule a maximum of 28 videoconferences with their international logistics partners. Members got to schedule a total of 1680 videoconferences. Additionally, this year, the participants got the option of accessing a chat room with up to 5 random partners. The friendly chitchats further fostered the connections among network members.

The delegates also attended the FreightViewer workshops held during the online conference. Andrea Martin, Conqueror’s FreightViewer coordinator showcased the several utilities of Conqueror’s member-exclusive TMS.

“One of the Conqueror’s biggest achievements in the last ten years is the creation of our own digital freight quote generation platform. We are the first international network with global coverage to launch instant quoting ability for our members, through FreightViewer. We always strive for more and better services, in order to provide members with the most innovative and unique benefits. Apart from FreightViewer, every year we increase the wide range of logistics and marketing services we offer our members,” adds Mr. Torres.

 

Conqueror’s 2nd Virtual Meeting is all set to start on Monday

The virtual meeting is your once in a year opportunity to increase the outreach of your company right from the comfort of your home or work station

Conqueror’s 2nd Virtual Meeting is all set to take place on the 29th and 30th November on our bespoke meeting platform. The cloud conference will bring together network members from over 50 territories on one platform for increasing the number of concerted projects within the network.

The online one-to-one videoconferences that constitutes the core of the event will result in productive communication among the delegates. During the time of the pandemic, this is the only way to do the groundwork for several collaborative projects in the coming months. Members will get to conduct as many as 28 one-to-one videoconferences with previously chosen partners. Make sure to carefully check your time zone before starting with the conference.

Conqueror's 2nd Virtual Meeting of independent freight forwarders
Conqueror’s 2nd Virtual Meeting

 

Apart from the one-to-one meetings, you will also get to take part in the FreightViewer workshops to be conducted by our FreightViewer Coordinator Andea Martin. Additionally, there is also the opportunity for informal chat sessions with your network partners during the coffee breaks.

Our tailor-made conferencing platform will ensure a seamless videoconferencing experience as per your agenda. In a time when this industry is reeling under the effect of container crisis, space shortage, stiff competition, and rising prices, it is crucial for the small and mid-sized entrepreneurs to collaborate and nurture their businesses. So make sure to prepare for the one-to-ones and do not forget to do a little research about the partners you’re about to meet. Preparing a soft copy of your company brochure will help you showcase the accomplishments of your company. Lastly, ensure that your laptop, mic, and internet are in perfect working order. Make your company stand out from the rest!

Hope you have a highly productive online conference!

 

The 3’rd edition of this year’s Conqueror quarterly newsletter

Conqueror’s Autumn Newsletter contains useful tips for our upcoming meeting, news from the members, the sector and much more

Conqueror’s Newsletter for September 2021 is now published and available for viewing on the website. The Virtual Meeting page of the newsletter includes a bunch of useful tips on meeting preparation and conferencing etiquette. Like always our member news section will update you with the latest undertakings of your network partners. In this edition, you’ll find the news about your partners from Cape Town, Hangzhou, Madrid, Ashdod, Nouakchott, Qingdao, and Odessa.

Conqueror's September newsletter
Conqueror’s Newsletter for September 2021

Click on the above image to read the newsletter

Additionally, there is also an interview with the Sales Manager of BlueX Trade who talks about the digital trends in our sector. The blog on Decarbonization of Maritime Shipping will definitely be a riveting one. Our Logistics News in focus is about the drone delivery of vaccines carried out by UPS. Moreover, there is also a compilation of interesting news bits from the sector.

Lastly, you will find all the regular sections like a list of public holidays, members’ birthdays, and endorsed exhibitions. If you want to feature the news of your company in our next newsletter then don’t forget to write to us!

Conqueror’s interview with BlueX Trade- one of the most innovative logistics tech companies

Andrea Martin, from Conqueror’s FreightViewer department, talks to Wilson Huang, BlueX’s Senior Sales Manager, about the latest digitization trends in the transportation and logistics industry

Conqueror Freight Network has been encouraging its members to embrace digitization ever since day one. To this end, they have made available a wide range of online tools and platforms within FreightViewer, their free and exclusive transport management software. Conqueror members can avail these platforms to digitize several aspects of their businesses. The transportation and logistics industry is going through a transition phase. Ever since the pandemic, this industry is witnessing a transformation that is somewhat disruptive. For this reason, independent freight forwarders and carriers are now trying to make use of digital solutions provided by companies like BlueX.

→ Click on the image below to listen to the full interview

Conqueror's Interview with BlueX
Conqueror’s Interview with BlueX

BlueX is coming up with innovative logistics tech platforms that make ocean cargo service easier and more accessible for the shippers, forwarders and carriers. Simply put, they are doing this by connecting the service providers and the customers on one single platform.

BlueX interacts directly with the carriers to create a fresh business model aimed at maximizing the revenue of the shippers. In this interview Wilson Huang and Andrea Martin discusses the way in which this industry is transforming to become more focused on efficiency and customer service. In addition, they also touch upon the way in which the pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation.

Mr. Huang thinks that this sector has started embracing technology since the last three years. However, the process soon became imperative to survive the stiff industry competition. In the last two years this industry has seen a major change in terms of new technologies. For example, eight out of the top ten carriers have created their own freight rate quotation platform. Maersk started this over a decade ago by launching their online booking platform Maersk Spot Booking. Presently, 52% of their cargo are being booked on this online platform.

Wilson Huang who has experience both as a carrier and as a forwarder is in a perfect position to analyze the current scenario and present a valuable opinion. According to him, digitization is not longer the future of this industry…it is happening at the very moment. So long, it were the carriers who pioneered the process of digitization. However, the scenario is fast changing as several freight forwarders are using technologies to optimize their workflow. Flexport- a freight forwarding and customs brokerage company has clearly demonstrated how digitization is meeting the modern needs of forwarders. Lastly, the pandemic has provided a further push to the digital endeavours of the transportation and logistics industry. The digital trend is finally being transformed from a vision to the reality.