1𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡-𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦
Together with the French Foreign Trade Advisors, and thanks to their support, as well as the support from Devoteam, the 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 led by Franck de Bruyn and the Chambre de Commerce France-Lituanie | French Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce - CCFL represented by its board of directors and Guillaume DOUVILLE ▪️ CCI France Lithuania 🇫🇷🇱🇹, the director, the French Lithuanian Business Community is proud to announce the 1st French Baltic Business Forum which will focus on 3 main topics:
3 main topics: 🚆 #Railway •⚡ #EnergyMix • 🚚 #Logistics
Where / When ?
Radisson Blu Royal Astorija • 13th of April, 2023
So far, we already have close to 130 people registered coming from France, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Germany...
This event is an excellent opportunity to learn about those topics as well as network with people interested in the same topics.
I'll have the honor to be the moderator of the round table about the Logistics where we'll speak about this key sector for the Baltic States' economies, its recent evolution and its place in the European #supplychain.
During the round table, Silvija Supranavičiūtė [Integre Trans - Transportation & Freight Forwarding Services], Sarunas Belickas [Cargo stream], Frederic Janik [GEODIS], saulius kazakevicius [CMA CGM], Mindaugas Skuncikas [LTG Cargo] and Thomas Ribalet [Transimeksa] will share their insights about these topics:
- Trends in the road sector in 2023: preferred routes and regulatory constraints
- Employment, recruitment status
- Intermodality and development / use of rail / road infrastructures.
- New communication tools
At this occasion, Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transports & Communications, Marius Vaščega, EU representative in Vilnius, Her Excellency Alix Everard, French Ambassador to Lithuania & Alain BENTEJAC, President of the French Foreign Trade Advisors will also deliver an opening speech.
Thanks again to our sponsor & newest member at the Chamber : #devoteam.
Thanks also to all sponsors & partners involved : 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 • 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 • 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚
Cargo Stream integrated with DHL Express
DHL Express - The undisputed global leader in international express shipping. Great news for customers, as recently Cargo Stream integrated with DHL Express, allowing our platform‘s users to book transportation for everything from envelopes to pallets. Our goal has always been to streamline the shipping process for shippers and consignees alike, and this integration is another step in that direction.
With this new API integration, Cargo Stream users can now book transportation with all carriers in one place, including an automated process with DHL Express. This will save our customers valuable time and effort in managing their shipping needs, as they no longer need to navigate multiple platforms or manual processes to book transportation.
We are thrilled to be working with all: from SME to international leaders and offering our customers a more efficient way to manage their shipping needs. As always, our team is committed to providing our customers with the best possible shipping experience. Join us in celebrating this milestone and the continued growth of our platform.
Cargo stream offers digital solution for container triangulation in Poland
Cargo stream, a digital platform serving global shipping lines in Poland and the Baltic countries, provides advanced automation and logistics management software to ocean carriers in the region to facilitate container repositioning and reuse requests.
In particular, Cargo stream, as a digital shared workspace for overland and maritime logistics management, enables automated matching, booking of containers, and digital amendment of orders.
The software also allows all parties of the supply chain, including shippers, freight forwarders, truckers, and shipping lines, to communicate easily via its digital channels.
In addition, the software can also contribute to reduced congestion and emissions.
"We work with our clients to look for ways to provide services and solutions in the most efficient and user-friendly way. We’re sure that once all users are onboard, all parties of the logistics process will see noticeable financial and sustainability benefits resulting from increased efficiency and a dramatic cut in unloaded container returns,” commented Sarunas Belickas, COO at Cargo stream.
Published by Container news.
The interview with Supply Chain Media BV
An interview with SCM magazine - Supply Chain Movement. The headline is - A thousand digital freight forwarders.
A digital transformation has three phases.
1. A denial.
2. Recognition and asking questions.
3. Everybody trying to catch up.
I think Cargo stream is in the second phase where market leaders started to pay attention to what innovation we bring to the sector.
To sum up the interview, Cargo Stream stands out from other companies in the freight forwarding industry. Rather than being a digital freight forwarder itself, it provides traditional freight forwarders with a platform to streamline their operations. We describe it as a "shared workspace" for land transportation and maritime management. By analyzing the market extensively, the company has identified several outdated practices, such as using email, phone calls, and spreadsheets to manage the supply chain. The company's aim is to show customers the benefits of digitization.
Freight forwarders can easily link their current carriers to the platform, allowing them to assign incoming orders to the appropriate carriers. Shippers can use the self-service option on a freight forwarder's website to access the platform and place their transportation orders. The company's goal is to create one thousand digital freight forwarders throughout Europe within the next one to two years.
The full article can be found here.
We‘re happy to partner with Stripe
Only top-tier solutions for Cargo stream clients. We‘re happy to partner with Stripe — one of the leading payment service providers. Stripe already works with the largest supply chain companies in the world, and we hope that by trusting them to facilitate payments on our platform, we will ensure a flawless experience for our clients. Because this is what matters most.
Stripe is a reliable payment partner for leaders collaborating with other leaders. By using Stripe, Cargo Stream clients can conveniently make payments through a user-friendly dashboard that accommodates payment methods that were previously unavailable, such as credit cards. Additionally, the platform adjusts to regional banking regulations and delivers customized point-of-sale experiences to international customers.
Cargo stream business model moves more and more towards a seamless SaaS experience: it creates a smooth and effortless experience for customers, allowing them to focus on their work and achieve their supply chain management goals more efficiently.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Pigu.lt Begins Using Cargo Stream for Order Logistics Management
One of the largest e-commerce centres in the Baltics Pigu.lt has moved its order logistics and supply management to Cargo stream. This move will help the company, which handles around 36,000 orders a year, to ensure that goods reach customers on time, even in the pre-Christmas period when shopping volumes are particularly high.
"We are constantly investing in smooth and fast delivery, which is one of the key reasons why customers choose to shop online. By moving our logistics and supply management to a digital platform, we are not only aiming to deliver goods to customers as quickly as possible. At the same time, we will manage the company's internal processes more efficiently, improving the working environment for our employees," said Robert Ziminski, COO at Pigu.lt.
Digital transformation—for customers
According to Mr Ziminski, the efficiency of the supply and delivery processes determines the satisfaction and trust of customers.
"We spend up to €10 million on logistics every year and are constantly looking for ways to use our investments in logistics as efficiently as possible while at the same time striving to ensure good prices and fast delivery of goods to customers. In our view, Cargo stream is an efficient solution to speed up the entire journey of goods," said Mr Ziminski.
The Cargo stream platform is the only digital tool currently available on the market that enables taking care of the supply and logistics management processes in a comprehensive way: from organising tenders for transport services to creating orders, warehouse occupancy management, and automated reporting.
On this platform, all participants in the supply chain can automate most of the processes that require the most manual work. They can also communicate in real-time, avoiding the inefficient information sharing via emails or calls.
Getting ready for the Christmas rush
During the pre-Christmas boom, when people start looking for gifts, e-commerce volumes increase several times. "Preparing in advance is essential to ensure a smooth shopping process and timely delivery of orders to customers during peak times. We have no doubt that the new logistics management tool will ensure that we work more efficiently during the Christmas rush," said Mr Ziminski.
He said that with the increase in order volumes, it is particularly important to avoid mistakes or unnecessary delays. "We hope that a system where we can track the status of shipments in real-time will help us have a stress-free Christmas. It is also very important for company managers to monitor automated reports that allow them to assess logistics costs, order deliveries, and warehouse efficiency in real-time. Cargo stream allows seamless work and communication with all logistics partners in one place," said Mr Ziminski.
Improves cooperation
According to Šarūnas Belickas, COO at Cargo stream, the platform is designed to improve not just one part of logistics management but the whole process—at every stage. Cargo stream has thus become the only logistics system that helps all actors in the supply chain: shippers, forwarders, carriers, and warehouse staff.
"For companies like Pigu.lt, working with Cargo stream enables them to combine the work of the commercial and supply departments and the logistics department into one system. Purchasing managers reconcile goods, create orders and can automatically pass them on to the transport department, which is responsible for transport and communication with logistics companies. Warehouse staff can use the platform to organise their work and availability, while the commercial department can monitor the process in real-time to ensure that it runs smoothly," said Mr Belickas.
The digital transformation of logistics is not only about increasing efficiency or saving costs. It also has other positive side effects.
"Our team is motivated by sustainability, which the logistics sector will achieve through better communication and increased transparency. By automating processes and easing problem areas such as the use of return containers or downtime, our customers are working with us to reduce CO2 emissions. And it's not just a promise. Our system has sustainability reporting functionality that clearly shows how and how much customers save," commented Mr Belickas.
It's our new home - a new office
It's our new home - a new office. A nice working environment lifts up team spirit, creativity and execution. We invite our international customers to visit cargo.stream team here.
Also, we are hiring! If you want to be a part of a growing international company, message us - info@cargo.stream
Breakthrough in Logistics Services Procurement Powered by Cargo Stream
Cargo stream introduces a new tool for organising long-term logistics services tenders. According to the company, the new system will help companies purchasing logistics services save about a fifth of their annual logistics budget and speed up the process of a tender set-up by up to 80%.
Customer concerns helped build the solution
Large manufacturing and distribution companies, smaller businesses, and freight forwarding companies all face the need to tender for logistics services. However, the market-dominated procurement process is inefficient and not only time-consuming but also leads to unforeseen costs, says Sarunas Belickas, COO at Cargo stream.
"Our team's experience and conversations with Cargo stream's customers have shown that tendering is one of the most significant problem areas for companies buying logistics services. The process they follow is inefficient from the very beginning and, even after the procurement has been implemented, does not prevent actual prices from rising compared to the prices quoted in the tender," said Mr Belickas.
According to the expert, many companies try to get bids from as many suppliers as possible in each annual, semi-annual or quarterly procurement. However, it is not enough to receive bids by email or other digital tools—the price and other non-standardised data must be manually transferred into an Excel document, which allows all the data to be compared and the most attractive offer to be selected. This extends the time between sending out the invitations and selecting the winner, even for a small procurement.
Time is not the only problem with this process. Surveys of companies show that unforeseen price rises from suppliers are particularly common and may go unnoticed by customers, resulting in significant losses of up to 20 % of the annual logistics budget. This is because customers usually do not have the resources to manually check each invoice against the offer received at the time of purchase, and subsequent audits do not prevent price increases in real-time.
Every detail considered
Cargo stream's solution for companies buying logistics services is a maximally automated tendering and order management system. With Cargo stream, shippers have access to a platform where they can choose the best forms of their tenders. Invitations to complete them are then automatically sent to the selected suppliers. Invitations with a login link can be sent to suppliers from the purchasing organisation's database or transportation companies already registered on the platform.
"When placing long-term service orders on our platform, suppliers immediately receive standardised data entered in templates tailored to their needs. Once received, the data is analysed by our system and winners are proposed so that customers only need to confirm their choice," commented Mr Belickas.
Logistics service providers using Cargo stream also save time by using bid templates that allow them to set their pricing and make an offer instantly.
Once they have chosen a service provider, customers can also manage further processes on the Cargo stream platform. They can use the platform to sign contracts, create orders, track them and communicate with suppliers—a functionality no other procurement tool offers. Cargo stream automatically analyses and compares the invoices received on the platform with the invoices agreed upon at the time of purchase and does not allow price increases unless a reason is provided.
Tender organisers can receive reports on participants and purchasing results in real-time or at the end of a selected period, thereby measuring the success of each project. Finally, further tenders can be organised simply by duplicating the previous one or modifying and adapting it to meet changing needs.
"With our team of experts who have extensive experience on different sides of the logistics barricade, we set out to create a tool that would automate the most time-consuming processes while saving money and reducing the likelihood of errors or delays. We are delighted with the result we have achieved with the procurement organisation tool—we estimate that it speeds up procurement organisation by up to 80%," summarised the COO of Cargo stream.
Kauno Grūdai entrusts its logistics management to Cargo stream: 15,000 orders a year
Every year, Kauno grūdai exports its products—flour and its products, instant products, fodder, raw materials, etc.—to more than 50 countries. As production volumes keep growing, the company constantly explores ways to improve its logistics infrastructure so that the operations run smoothly. Therefore, Kauno Grūdai entrusted the management of its logistics processes to Cargo Stream. According to representatives of Kauno Grūdai, more efficient and digitised processes are essential for many sectors, including food production.
As production volumes grow, so does the importance of logistics
According to Arnoldas Gečas, Head of Logistics at Kauno Grūdai, with supply chain disruptions disturbing the world, market leaders must make every effort to ensure the efficiency of their operations.
"At a time when the world is talking about the shortage of raw materials more and more, avoiding mistakes and working as efficiently as possible is our top priority. We are about to open a new 1,800 sqm warehouse in the Kėdainiai district, where we have invested more than 3 million euros. The demand for fast-moving products produced by Kauno Grūdai is constantly growing, so the increasing production capacity forces us to take an even more responsible approach to logistics," said A. Gečas.
Choosing modern solutions
"Kauno Grūdai operates a total of 6 warehouses, and 30 employees are responsible for logistics processes. The company continuously purchases logistics services as it transports its products daily in Lithuania and abroad and fulfils more than 15,000 orders annually. To improve this area of its activities, Kauno Grūdai has decided to implement a technological solution to speed up the processes and reduce human errors.
"For some time now, we have been looking for a modern yet easy-to-use solution covering the entire logistics chain. We evaluated various options and chose Cargo Stream, which could fit our needs and the required functionality. With this platform, our workload has been reduced two times, and the management of logistics processes has become much simpler for our employees," said Mr Gečas.
According to the company, the platform also contributes to the efficiency of warehouse management—digitised warehouse yard management via the Cargo Stream app helps drivers and warehouse staff to get instant information on the status of loading and better manage processes.
Time saved is golden
According to Šarūnas Belickas, Operations Manager at Cargo Stream, Kauno Grūdai is one of the many success stories where a large-scale company integrating a versatile solution has experienced comprehensive benefits for employees, partners, and the environment.
"Companies choose a digital solution like Cargo Stream for a variety of reasons: for some, the transparency that our platform provides is important. For others, it is important to speed up processes. And others are looking for a way to simplify procurement—annual tenders. Ultimately, they get the tools to achieve these results and more, such as additional benefits: access to sustainability reports and a wealth of data that allows them to improve their operations," said Mr Belickas.
According to the platform's COO, many people underestimate the impact improvement in the efficiency of processes of this magnitude has on the supply chain for manufacturing and other companies. According to Mr Belickas, supply chain participants—shippers, carriers, and warehouse workers—normally communicate via email and calls. The platform thus saves time and helps to see and manage all the necessary information in one place.
"By moving part of logistics processes to the Cargo Stream platform, Kauno Grūdai employees no longer have to coordinate and track shipments using calls or emails—the platform handles everything automatically and in real-time. Not only are processes speeded up, but transparency is also increased—the agreed terms and conditions are verified by artificial intelligence against the final invoices, thus avoiding unforeseen costs and reducing the workload of the accounting department. Most importantly, the platform-driven processes reduce the likelihood of human error by 99 per cent, which means that, in many cases, digital tools help avoid the monetary losses and supply chain disruptions that would occur if a shipment was delayed."
Cargo Stream's solution is not only used by shippers but also by leading transport logistics companies and freight forwarders. The Lithuanian platform has become a key learning tool for transport management students in 4 Lithuanian and French higher education institutions, which are using this digital tool to enable students to create value in their companies immediately after their studies by working with a versatile system.
New Integration With DB Schenker
DB Schenker is one of the world's leading logistics companies, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. We are proud to have partnered with DB Schenker in Lithuania by integrating with DB Schenker's in-house order management system. As a result, the shippers can now manage their entire logistics chain and efficiently collaborate with their logistics service providers on the Cargo stream platform.
With Cargo stream, shippers will be able to directly access DB Schenker's and other providers' systems without additional integrations. At the same time, efficient and automated order management will reduce the amount of manual work and human error. Convenient order management—loyal customers.
