Freight Forwarding SoftwareDevelopment
Run shipments from quotation to delivery, with documents, charges and agent accounts kept together for every job file.
Freight Forwarding Software Development: what the work involves
A forwarder never owns the cargo or the vessel, only the coordination: quoting, booking space, preparing documents, tracking movements and billing each party correctly. Every shipment is a job file with a dozen documents, several carriers and agents, and charges in more than one currency. When files live in spreadsheets and email, costs go unbilled, documents contradict each other and nobody can see profit per job.
DevKey builds forwarding software around the job. A shipment records parties, routing, containers or packages, house and master references, and the milestones expected. Quotations convert to jobs, documents such as bills of lading, packing lists and invoices are generated from the same data, and costs and selling charges post in their own currencies so profit appears per job. Customers and agents can follow status through a portal.
Core features
Quotation to job conversion
Rate quotes carry through into a job file so that agreed prices and routing do not need re-entering after acceptance.
Shipment job file
Shipper, consignee, notify party, routing, containers, cargo details and references are stored once and reused by every document.
Document generation
Produce house bills, delivery orders, packing lists and manifests from job data in your own layouts, with consistent details.
Multi-currency charges
Costs from carriers and agents, and selling charges to customers, are recorded in their original currencies with exchange rates stored.
Milestone tracking
Record departures, arrivals, clearance and delivery, and share updates with customers through a status page or message.
Agent and customer accounts
Statements and balances for overseas agents, carriers and customers, with profit by job and by customer.
What we get right before launch
Document accuracy
Inconsistent consignee names or weights cause costly clearance delays. Generating all documents from one record and flagging mismatches reduces rework.
Unbilled costs
Costs often arrive after the job closes. We keep jobs open for late charges, show jobs with costs but no matching invoice, and prevent closure with open items.
Carrier and customs system access
Tracking feeds and customs filings depend on third-party access. We integrate where a carrier or authority offers an interface and use manual milestones elsewhere.
Tools and technology
- Next.js
- React
- TypeScript
- Node.js
- PostgreSQL
- Prisma
- Redis
- REST
- Docker
Common questions, answered
Does it handle both sea and air freight?
Yes. Modes have their own fields and documents, such as containers and bills of lading for sea or air waybills for air, within one job structure, so mixed forwarders manage all shipments in a single system.
Can we see profit on each shipment?
Yes. Every job accumulates costs and selling charges, converted at recorded rates, to show gross margin. Late costs are included as they are posted, so the figure improves in accuracy as the file completes.
Can customers track their cargo?
A tracking page can show milestones and documents you choose to share, using a link or login. Updates can also be sent by message when a status changes, such as arrival or release.
Can it link to our accounting software?
It can post invoices and payments to your accounting package or provide a clean export. We confirm the target system's capabilities during discovery to choose between direct integration and scheduled files.
More Custom Business Software services
All Custom Business Software servicesImport Export Management Software Development
Manage trade contracts, shipments, letters of credit and landed cost, so every import or export deal shows its true margin.
Transport Management Software Development
Book loads, issue bilties, plan trips and bill freight from one system, with every party's balance and every truck's trip history on record.
Supply Chain Management Software Development
Connect suppliers, warehouses, shipments and customer demand in one view, so a delay upstream is seen before it becomes a stockout downstream.
Ready to start your Freight Forwarding Software Development project?
Tell us what you need and we will come back with a clear scope, timeline and the questions worth answering before any build starts.