The Top Logistics SAAS You Need to Know Today

If you’ve been thinking that lots of things seem to be switching to a monthly subscription model these days – TV and movie platforms, software suites like Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, even grocery delivery – you’d be right.

Logistics software is doing the same.

If you’re trying to scale your e-commerce business or increase your efficiency, you’ve probably started looking at things like order management systems or cloud shipping platforms. These logistics software as a service (SaaS) businesses are piling into the market today.

Read About CBIP's E-commerce Logistics Solutions

But as more and more logistics SaaS companies flood the market, how do you know which ones are a good fit for you? We made this guide to help you learn more about the logistics SaaS industry and some of the services you can choose from.

What types of logistics SaaS systems are out there?

Finding the right software isn’t always easy, and understanding the ins and outs of new, unfamiliar technology can be even harder if you’re not tech-savvy. 

To help you out, we’ve put together a brief snapshot of what today’s logistics SaaS systems can do. Most logistics software services on the market today fall into one or more of the following categories:

Product Order Management – These products help you track product orders, manage online marketplaces, and analyze sales trends to help you make future business decisions.

Warehouse Management – These products let you check inventory, send packages in and out of warehouses, and manage everything you need to fulfill orders. 

Product Tracking – These products let you track the real-time location and status of shipments as they move from the production line to your customers’ front doors.

Risk Assessment – These products give you updates on severe weather, worker shortages, shipping delays, and other potential supply chain risks.

Partner Connectivity – These products allow you to communicate with your production team, couriers, distributors, customs brokers, or any other logistics partners through a convenient, concentrated interface. 

Courier Comparison – These products help you compare different shipping methods and routes so you can choose the cheapest, most efficient option for you and your customers. 

Here are some of the major logistics SaaS companies today

The companies below are some of the major players in logistics SaaS today. It’s worth noting that most of these businesses combine a range of the above features and rarely specialize in just one.

Companies that specialize in SaaS for shipping:

Easyship

Easyship is a Complete Shipping Solution (CSS) that lets you compare shipping carriers and routes and select the cheapest and most efficient options for each order. It’s a good option for sellers who only need help shipping and don’t want the extra services of other SaaS companies.

You’ll also need to do your research on the shipping carriers and routes you choose on the platform to make sure they fit your needs.

RELATED: How Technology is Transforming Logistics: The Shipping Edition

Freightos

Another CSS, Freightos allows you to see quotes to choose the best freight forwarder to ship your ground, ocean, or air freight. Like Easyship, Freightos offers some pretty comprehensive shipping industry insights in its service. 

However, Freightos doesn’t integrate information from all the different carriers you choose on the platform. If you plan to use a variety of different couriers, you might want to subscribe to a different service that gives you better tracking.

Companies that specialize in full-service integration:

Anchanto

Anchanto is a software suite that caters to e-commerce businesses. Its products are known for their widespread integrations with major online marketplaces (like Shopify), shipping carriers, accounting software, and POS systems.

It offers SelluSeller, a platform that integrates e-commerce operations from multiple online platforms such as Shopify, eBay, Lazada, Shopee, and Magento. It also offers Wareo, a WMS that helps manage storage and fulfillment.

Descartes

Descartes focuses on international logistics intelligence, which makes it a good choice for businesses looking to go global. It also offers a variety of integrated logistics SaaS applications. These include apps to connect businesses, oversee e-commerce shipping and fulfillment, and streamline customs clearance.

Gravity Supply Chain

Gravity Supply Chain’s unique partner sourcing network can help sellers find and collaborate with business partners. You can easily request quotes, schedule factory audits, order more materials, and streamline your entire shipping process from a single, integrated location.

So which software service is right for you?

Using “full-service” software may not be the right solution for you. If you don’t use most of the features your software offers, then you’re probably overpaying, plain and simple. 

So how do you make sure you’re getting the best deal on the best software for your business? Look for two things: services that fit your business model and platform integration. More on that below.

Fit software features to your business model

First, take a good look at your own business. Are you a small startup? Are you an established retailer with stores across the globe? You’ll need distinctly different software capabilities depending on which you are.

• If you’re an e-commerce business: You may want to look for an OMS that can connect your accounts on all your online marketplaces, like Amazon or Etsy, into a single dashboard. You may also want a Complete Shipping Solution (CSS) to help you ship orders that come in from different locations all over the globe.
• If you’re a relatively new startup: A simple CSS is a good beginner option that can help you fulfill orders. They can also show you an overview of routes and transport options along with how much you might have to pay to use them.
• If you’re an expanding international business: Try looking for software with risk assessment capabilities to inform you about local laws, weather patterns, or current events in unfamiliar parts of the world. Partner connectivity software can also introduce you to manufacturers, storage companies, or couriers from all over the world.
• If you’re trying to scale or already have a high volume of orders: Consider subscribing to an OMS that can help you sell your products on the most popular online marketplaces. You might also look into a WMS for more transparent and efficient storage and distribution.
• If you’re unhappy with your current production or distribution partners: You might want to use partner connectivity software to request quotes and bids from potential partners at any point in your supply chain.

Look for platform integrations

If you’re selling on ten different online marketplaces, you don’t want to log into ten accounts every day. You want to use logistics software that integrates, communicates, and consolidates each of your marketplaces and logistics options into a single dashboard or interface.

The more parts of your supply chain that you can view in a single software interface, the quicker you’ll be able to access crucial business data. You can use that data to manage daily operations and make decisions for the future.

If you’re nervous about finding the perfect software fit for you, you’re not alone. These days a growing number of businesses are skipping extensive software research altogether. Instead, they’re using a new type of service that can connect you to logistics SaaS systems and beyond: a fourth-party logistics (4PL) company like CBIP.

Work with CBIP to manage your logistics with the best software and services available - no subscription necessary

When you contract with CBIP, you’ll never have to worry about researching complicated software services, requesting quotes from SaaS companies, or overpaying for services you didn’t use again.

As a 4PL, we not only can help you make a custom logistics plan for your business, our supply chains are fully integrated with our proprietary software powered by Anchanto and Gravity Supply Chain. You get all the power of the best SaaS has to offer at no additional charge.

Need special software services those two platforms don’t provide? Thinking about subscribing to a CSS? That’s no problem either. Our experts are on hand to do the research for you and help you find other products or partnerships that meet your specific needs.

If our hassle-free, personalized logistics services sound right for you, give us a call. We’ll schedule a consultation with no strings attached and help you meet all your software and logistics needs.