Recession and global slow down are forcing companies to re -look their logistics costs. Faced with increasing operational costs, logistics service providers and freight forwarders are increasingly looking towards technology to help them deliver results and rationalise costs. Successful logistics service providers are simplifying their operations and slashing their growing hardware and technology costs by moving to Cloud-based freight management software solutions.

To the uninitiated, cloud-based freight forwarding software is accessed through a web browser. It scores over other 'legacy' freight software solutions which require organizations to purchase hardware and hire technology professionals to manage infrastructure. Software experts who understand the demands of the logistics industry have seen how cloud-based 'plug and play' systems offer several benefits for an industry that requires collaboration with several players to deliver results.

A leading logistics company which recently went live with Softlink Global's 'Logi-Sys' explains how it achieved cost rationalisation, "With cloud-based freight forwarding and logistics solution like Logi-Sys, we not only get to use the software, but also don't have to worry about its management and maintenance. We don't need to set aside financial resources to buy or maintain expensive hardware and software every few years. And instead of paying large amounts upfront for software and hardware, we pay only for how much we use."

For those worried about security of data, Cloud-based freight management solutions ensure that critical business information is protected in a Tier IV data center, which provides the same level of security used by many banks to protect financial information. Annual audits and data encryption ensure that there are no security leakages.

What's more, companies no longer have to spend time and money in training and deploying manpower. The absence of onsite servers and web-based applications also negates the need to setup, install and configure. This means a shorter training period and software that can go live in weeks and not months and years.

A value-based solution like Logi-Sys offers customers the option of scaling up its use in step with the needs of a growing business. New users can be added or reduced on demand. Also established software companies which are focussed on a niche industry segment like logistics, constantly invest in R&D and come up with new upgrades, functionality and features that offer third party collaboration and integration all through a single window.

So, if you're looking for an upgrade or a way out of your old legacy system, cloud is the way to go for seamless integration into your operations.