Vanguard to use CargoSmart schedule function

   The global shipping software as a service (SaaS) company CargoSmart said Wednesday it has tied up a deal with neutral non-vessel operating common carrier (NVO) Vanguard Logistics Services.
   The deal sees Vanguard integrate CargoSmart’s new Sailing Schedules function with its worldwide in-house transportation management system.
   “The multiple-carrier sailing schedule integration allows Vanguard to streamline the way its global operations team obtains schedule data for more than 20 ocean carriers in one central location,” CargoSmart said in a statement.
   Vanguard operations team previously needed to devote considerable human resources to obtaining accurate and up-to-date carrier schedules for its customers manually from different carriers’ websites, sales representatives and published schedules, CargoSmart said.
   Vanguard operates from more than 90 offices with reach to more 100 countries through agency agreements.
   “CargoSmart’s automated service improves our efficiency by saving our team a lot of time compiling, distributing, and updating sailing schedules,” said Haydn O’Brien, Vanguard regional managing director, East Asia. “CargoSmart’s high quality schedule data let us improve the way we prepare quotes for customers and make bookings.”
   The schedule data is also available via iPhone app, which Vanguard said improves the usefulness of the information.
   “We can conveniently look up sailing schedules and schedule reliability from CargoSmart’s mobile app, anytime and anywhere,” said Meg Yim, Vanguard regional procurement director, Asia Pacific.