Sea Freight Software 2024: Features, Innovations, and Current Solutions.

For thousands of years, maritime transport has played a central role in the movement of goods and people. Today, the sea freight industry faces new developments and regulations, such as the monitoring of CO₂ emissions. With our freight forwarding software Xfreight and the Xsea module, we offer freight forwarding companies sustainable, customized, and future-oriented solutions. In this article, discover the challenges that 2024 holds for sea freight and how the right software can efficiently overcome them.

Since the beginning of 2024, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) has applied to maritime transport. Shipping companies must pay a CO₂ tax for ships weighing more than 5,000 gross tons. Emission certificates must be purchased for each ton of emitted carbon dioxide. In 2024, the percentage stands at 40%, increasing to 70% in 2025, and reaching 100% by 2026. This new regulation aims to enhance environmental protection and encourage companies to invest in lower-emission technologies or alternative drive methods.

Increased Time Pressure and Competition

The growing online trade has led to increasing time pressure in the sea freight industry, as customers want to receive their goods as quickly as possible. Companies need to keep up with the competition and avoid delays in transport processes. In addition to short delivery times, many customers also value transparency (real-time shipment tracking), low shipping costs, and sustainability.

Digitalization and Automated Processes:

To make sea transports more efficient and work processes faster, digitalization remains a key topic in 2024. Innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, or blockchain technology can optimize logistics processes. Automation saves valuable time in the planning and execution of goods transport, increasing flexibility.

Security and Data Protection:

Cyber attacks are an increasing threat in the global sea freight trade. For this reason, data protection and higher security precautions, for example when transporting dangerous goods, are of great importance. Small and medium-sized freight forwarding companies in particular should ensure that their IT systems are well protected against hacker attacks. Employees should also receive regular security training.

New Customs System ICS2 for Sea Freight:

With the introduction of the new I mport Control System 2 (ICS2) for sea freight imports into the EU in June 2024, the requirements for customs declarations for EU import shipments have increased. Detailed data is required. This EU-wide customs system aims to prevent the importation of dangerous or illegal goods into the EU, improve security, and enable more efficient customs clearance.

Xsea – The Solution for Current Challenges in the Sea Freight Industry

Our Xfreight software, particularly the Xsea module, enables companies to respond precisely to current developments, regulations, and challenges in modern sea transports. We ensure the software is always up to date and adapts individually to our customers’ needs. Thanks to a variety of features, automations, and interfaces, even complex processes can be handled quickly and easily.
Key features and characteristics of the Xsea module include:

Role-Based Web Client: Depending on the role, only the information necessary for an employee’s work is displayed. This keeps work processes clear, effective, and secure.
Multi-Client and Multi-Language Capability: The software can manage different companies, locations, and languages simultaneously, facilitating work for internationally operating freight forwarding services.
No Redundant Data Entry: Data (e.g., order data) only needs to be entered once and is available for all processes and departments, saving time and reducing errors.
Order Flow for Multimodal Transports: For complex transport orders with different modes of transport, a well-structured OrderFlow helps to better plan, structure and understand the entire order process.
Intelligent Task Management: Tasks can be automatically distributed and prioritized, helping to avoid delays and complete tasks more efficiently.
Multi-Routing: Various departments (e.g., logistics, finance, and customs) can work on an order in real time, speeding up the process and ensuring clear communication.
Fully Integrated Accounting: All financial processes can also be handled directly within the software, eliminating the need for separate financial software and enabling quick generation of invoices, bookings, etc., using existing information.

Interfaces of Xsea

But that’s not all, because the Xsea sea freight module also has important interfaces. Particularly noteworthy are the following new systems, which will play a particularly important role in 2024:

CO₂ calculator:

Calculation of emissions data for various shipments (LCL, LTL, House)
Complete traceability of CO₂ values across all transport modes
Detailed data collection and determination of average values
Integration with EcoTransIT World (ETW) systems in Hanover

Container Tracking System:

Real-time tracking of (sea) containers
Tracking by container number, booking number, or BL number (for multi-containers)
Access to the current transport status
Delivering precise forecasts, e.g. for delivery arrivals
Historical tracking records available

Additional (Optional) Interfaces:

Dakosy communication interface
DBH (BHT) communication interface
Portbase communication interface (Netherlands ports)
Boycott list monitoring/compliance check
Xcust customs software

These features and interfaces ensure that current regulations, such as determining emission output and submitting customs data according to ICS2, can be easily followed and tracked. At XTRAS forward thinking, we don’t look back – we constantly evolve all systems and interfaces to meet your needs and keep an eye on the future.

Xfreight as an All-In-One Software for Freight Forwarding Companies

Are you a logistics or freight forwarding company looking for a solution for all your business processes? We offer software for all modes of transport. Whether by water, air, road, or rail – with Xfreight freight forwarding software and its integrated modules Xsea, Xair, Xroad, and Xrail, you always have full control over all global transport processes.

Xfreight stands for:

Easy to use
Flexible customization options
Transparent processes
More efficiency for your business

Start your company’s journey into the future and optimize your business processes. We are happy to assist and develop tailored software solutions according to your requirements, whether for sea freight or beyond.