Operational Excellence for Freight Forwarders

  • Agentic Artificial Intelligence

    Post 1/7: WHAT is Agentic AI? (And what isn’t it?)

    Traditional software follows rules. Agentic AI makes decisions.

    Agentic AI refers to systems that can perceive, plan, act, and reflect—like a digital employee. But let’s be clear:

    ⚠️ Agentic AI already exists today, but only in narrow, domain-specific environments—not across all domains like a human.

    Platforms like AutoGPT, and N8N + LangChain show early examples of agents that operate semi-independently, especially in logistics, marketing, and support.

    🌟 These systems aren’t AGI—but they act agentically within their sandbox.

    🔁 Next: WHERE Agentic AI is being used in the real world.

    #AgenticAI #DigitalEmployees #NarrowAI #AIWorkflow #LogisticsAI #SupplyChainInnovation #FutureOfWork #RPA #AIProductivity #AutomationStrategy #Digitization

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Post 7/7: What Happens When They Compete Outside Their Sweet Spot

    When small forwarders pursue large global clients:

    • They may underprice or overcommit.
    • Risk reputational damage if execution fails.
    • Lose focus on their core SME base.

    When large forwarders pursue small clients:

    • Clients may feel neglected or priced out.
    • Service personalization often suffers.
    • Internal processes may not suit transactional needs.

    Bottom line:
    The winners understand their lane—and stay in it or grow with clarity.

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Post 6/7: What Small Forwarders Struggle With

    Trying to do everything often backfires.

    Common pitfalls:

    • Limited rate leverage
    • Overstretching into services beyond core strength
    • Fragmented tech stack
    • Dependency on key staff or clients
    • Difficulty competing in global tenders

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Post 5/7: What Small Forwarders Do Well

    Small forwarders build trust through agility.

    Strengths include:

    • Tailored service delivery
    • Personal client relationships
    • Speed in quoting & execution
    • Success in underserved or emerging markets
    • Entrepreneurial problem solving

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Post 4/7: What Large Forwarders Struggle With

    Size comes with trade-offs.

    Challenges include:

    • Inflexibility in service customizations
    • Slower response time for smaller clients
    • Complexity in internal processes
    • Less personal account management
    • Struggles in niche, low-volume lanes

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Post 3/7: What Large Forwarders Do Well

    Large forwarders excel when the task is complex, global, or regulated.

    They shine in:

    • Serving multinational clients
    • Managing high-volume, multi-lane shipments
    • Delivering standardized SOPs
    • Investing in automation, ESG, and innovation
    • Winning and running RFQs

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Post 2/7: Characteristics of Small Freight Forwarders

    Small forwarders are agile, customer-centric, and often locally dominant.
    They thrive in flexibility, service quality, and personal relationships.

    Key traits:

    • Niche market expertise
    • Hands-on customer service
    • Quick decisions, no red tape
    • Customizable solutions
    • Strong regional agent networks

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization #mmlogistix

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Post 1/7: Characteristics of Large Freight Forwarders

    Large forwarders (USD 2B+ revenue) are built for scale.
    They operate global networks, run proprietary systems, and handle end-to-end supply chains. Think compliance, capacity, and cross-border coordination.

    Key traits:

    • Global offices & assets
    • Deep sector specialization
    • Digital platforms & integrations
    • Strong procurement power
    • Focus on large contracts & tenders

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization #mmlogistix

  • 🚢 Large vs. Small Freight Forwarders: What Makes Them Tick?

    Introduction

    In today’s global logistics landscape, both large multinational forwarders and agile regional players play critical roles. But their strengths—and weaknesses—are not created equal.

    Over the next 7 posts, I’ll break down:
    ✅ What large forwarders do well
    ✅ Where small forwarders outperform
    ✅ Where each fall short
    ✅ And what happens when they step into each other’s turf

    Whether you’re a forwarder, shipper, or supply chain leader, this series will help you better understand the strategic choices that shape the forwarding industry.

    Follow along and share your thoughts as we explore both sides of the freight equation.

    #LogisticsLeadership #FreightForwarding #SupplyChainStrategy #LargeVsSmall #Forwarders #SME #GlobalForwarding #BusinessStrategy #CorporateStructure #FreightForwardingStrategy #ClientFit #ForwarderGrowth #BusinessScaling #CustomerCentricity #LocalExpertise #ForwarderTech #Digitization

  • “Why Working Capital is Everyone’s Problem — and How to Fix It”

    Part 3: How Technology Can Fix Working Capital Problems

    The root of working capital problems often lies in manual processes, departmental silos, and rushed decisions. Thankfully, modern digital tools offer practical, scalable solutions to reduce errors and improve cash conversion cycles.

    ✅ Solutions by Technology:

    Problem AreaTechnologySolutionImpact
    Incorrect/ Late InvoicingOCR + RPAAuto-generate invoices from job recordsMore accurate, timely billing
    Poor AR Follow-upAI-driven workflowsIntelligent reminders based on payment behaviorFewer overdue accounts
    SOP Non-ComplianceRPA botsAuto-trigger actions when SOP steps are skippedEnforces standard processes
    Credit Note ChaosAI Anomaly DetectionFlag invoice irregularities earlyFewer adjustments, cleaner SOA
    Bank Reconciliation ErrorsRPA + APIsMatch transactions daily with system entriesFaster, error-free reconciliation
    No Cash Flow VisibilityDigital DashboardsReal-time KPIs by dept. & customerCross-functional accountability

    #WorkingCapital #CashFlow #Digitization #AIinFinance #OCR #RPA #FinanceTransformation #BusinessEfficiency #DigitalOperations #mmlogistix