DECEMBER - 2020 19logisticstechoutlook.comMichael Letoof addressing the inefficiencies of the out-dated freight procurement process. They recognized that the truckload industry was beset with challenges around the manual processes adopted by brokers and shippers, who heavily relied on emails and Excel spreadsheets to administer their Requests for Proposal (RFP). Besides, RFPs cause shippers to overpay for capacity and restrict pricing options by only inviting a fraction of the available carriers. It invariably results in limited options for shippers as they can only choose the best rate from a limited pool of carriers. As an answer to this problem, Emerge provides its Digital Freight Marketplace--a suite of tools including Dynamic RFP, Spot Management, and a Light TMS, to present the best rate from a massive network of vetted carriers alongside rates from a shipper's incumbent network. To put this into perspective, Michael explains that, most shippers usually source their capacity through 40 or 50 logistics partners--of which the vast majority are trucking companies and a small subset of brokers. The market, on the other hand, is replete with thousands of brokers and freight carriers. Emerge acts as the direct route connecting shippers to this wide pool of carriers, allowing them to find reliable truck capacity at optimized shipping rates. "We are offering a free platform to shippers, enabling them to directly communicate with carriers, sign contracts, and do so with high visibility. It provides shippers with a better way to manage their freight while offering additional capacity at reduced costs by identifying the right partners on the right lanes," says Michael. Emerge brings in a carrier marketplace of about 30,000 carriers who can directly connect with current and new shippers on a single platform and bid on contracted lanes. Embracing an "all-inclusive" approach, the platform connects all parties interested in moving freight, from shippers, brokers (traditional and digital) to carriers while simultaneously improving service, right from the quote to delivery. Currently, the company has a billion dollars' worth of freight moving through its platform annually. Pushing full steam ahead, Emerge is focused on adding more transactions to create a robust network effect that will help both shippers and carriers find the right partners to optimize their transportation spend. The more partners Emerge adds the more optimized the network becomes diving value from both a cost and service perspective. "We focus on providing the most efficient truck to our shippers when they're procuring a full truckload. Our aim is to enhance our market reach and onboard more shippers onto our platform in order to help them effectively procure their freight," states Michael. We built Emerge with the goal to empower shippers with a level of sophistication that they never had from a spot and contract standpoint
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