Top 5 Project44 Alternatives and Competitors

What is Project44?

Project44 is an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) that can be integrated into existing Transportation Management Systems.

It connects shippers, carriers and 3PLs in real-time. Project44 uses cloud-based freight APIs that allow you to track containers through their entire journey and automate complex tasks. It also secures and centralizes document sharing and communication so all the stakeholders are on the same page.

Project44 Features

Project44 offers a number of features that benefit shippers.

• A Global Multimodal Network

Project44 allows you to track shipments through their entire journey irrespective of whether it is being transported by sea, air, rail or road.

• High-fidelity data

Project44 automates data cleansing, formatting and enriching to make it insightful and actionable while meeting high standards of data privacy.

• API services

Project44 offers a full shipment lifecycle automation solution for rating and bookings, routing, dispatching, tracking and paperless document retrieval.

• Diverse interface approaches

Project44 integrates with and feeds data into a variety of systems and user applications for end-to-end visibility and easy onboarding.  

• Insights and analytics

Project44 analyses historic data to predict ETAs, benchmark carriers, evaluate lane performance and more.

Project44 Visibility

Project44 consolidates data from 55+ shipping lines, over 5000 vessels and 700 seaports to offer real-time track and trace functionality for consignments moving over the oceans as well as those being transported by road, rail and air. It also offers extended visibility for containers while they are at ports, terminals and yards. In addition, it makes planned sailing schedules visible for carrier selections, routing and scheduling.

Project44 Workflows

Project44 provides a full shipment lifecycle automation solution. Rather than rely on guesswork, it provides information ranging from available capacity to rates and schedules for data-driven decision-making. The machine learning ETA model calculates the lead time and schedules dispatches. Once the shipment is on the move, it is automatically tracked.

Top 5 Alternatives to
Project44

Project44 is only one of the many solutions that makes your container flows visible as they go from port to port. If you’re not satisfied with the features available and want something better, here are a few alternatives you can check out. Compare below:

Alternative #1

BuyCo

BuyCo is a collaborative platform that aims to simplify shipping for importers and exporters. This platform is connected to 95% of all ocean carriers and offers shippers complete visibility and control over container movement. It brings all the different aspects of planning, processing and tracking together to streamline operations.

BuyCo allows you to track containers in real-time and provides realistic ETDs/ETAs. When a schedule is disrupted, you will be instantly alerted so you can decide on the next step without wasting time. In addition to providing data about carriers such as rates, routes, schedules, etc., BuyCo also automates repetitive tasks such as making booking requests, generating shipping instructions, and managing documents.

BuyCo also analyses the data available and presents it in a graphic, easy-to-understand form so you can measure your supply chain performance and identify ways to optimize it.

Alternative #2

Shippeo

Shippeo offers multimodal transport visibility and real-time insights with the help of artificial intelligence. It collects data from different sources and presents it on the TMS, ERP or WMS platform of your choice. Shippeo is deployed in 75 countries and connected to over 140,000 carriers.

The machine learning ETA algorithm continually analyses data to anticipate disruptions and predict accurate ETDs/ETAs. Shippeo’s color-coded Control Tower Map further identifies at-risk deliveries and their location in real-time. The information can be made visible on the customer visibility portal or shared with customers via a link to manage their expectations and optimize on-site operations.

Shippeo also aggregates delivery information and assesses it to identify potential issues and areas for improvement.

Alternative #3

FourKites

FourKites is a global supply chain visibility platform that helps you track and trace end-to-end container movement. This includes time spent in transit as well as time spent in the yard.

FourKites acts as a single platform where shippers, carriers and all stakeholders can communicate and collaborate.

It uses APIs, EDI and RPA technologies to provide actionable data for decision making. FourKites combines real-time visibility and predictive Dynamic ETA information to maintain visibility over a shipment even when the transportation mode is changed. FourKites tracks shipments over road, rail, air and the oceans. It offers 24/7 online scheduling and provides real-time email alerts in the case of disruptions so that they can be proactively managed. The solution is flexible and suited to small and large shippers. It can be easily integrated with most existing TMS, WMS or legacy systems.

Alternative #4

Portcast

Portcast is a route-based SaaS platform that provides real-time predictive visibility and helps in demand forecasting. The proprietary data analytics engine gathers information from multiple sources to make accurate predictions for ETAs/ ETDs. It provides complete visibility for containers as they move from the loading port to the discharge port. In case of disruptions and delays, it sends risk notifications up to 5 days in advance along with qualitative reasons for the delay and alternative shipping routes if required.

Portcast also looks into external factors such as economic patterns, seasonalities, market capacity, holidays, customer no-shows, etc., to make accurate demand forecasts for up to 3 months in advance. This empowers you to take advantage of dynamic pricing and improve capacity utilization. The Portcast APIs make it easy to integrate with existing systems.

Alternative #5

Wakeo

Wakeo is a real-time visibility platform that can be easily connected to existing TMS or ERP systems for complete end-to-end visibility over shipments. It tracks shipments over the road, rail, air and oceans and uses machine learning and advanced algorithms to predict ETAs and anticipate delays. By providing disruption alerts in advance, it minimizes detention and demurrage costs and helps proactively manage customer expectations. It also offers data insights to minimize in-transit inventories and streamline operations.

Further, Wakeo takes information from multiple stakeholders and provides neutral, reliable data that can prove helpful for shippers while negotiating contracts and QBRs.

Things to Consider when selecting your Ocean TMS

Relying on the carrier’s projected schedule is no longer enough. An Ocean Transportation management system (TMS) plays a critical role in managing the movement of goods. Ideally, you need a TMS that gives your team all the information required to be productive and allows all stakeholders to collaborate without compromising on existing processes and practices.
Let’s take a look at some of the key considerations.

Visibility Alone Is Not Enough, You Need Control

Being able to track your shipment as it moves across the ocean is critical to managing supply chain operations. If there’s a delay along the way, you need to know early enough so that you can notify your customers. When you select your digital Ocean TMS, you must ensure that you get the most reliable Carrier ETA so you can make on-time deliveries with minimal delays. BuyCo, for example, tells you the average number of days a carrier is usually delayed along a certain line so you can estimate a realistic ETA, not just the one your carrier is telling you.

Sometimes, you may need to prepare an alternative plan. Hence, visibility over container movement needs to be complemented with control over operations. You need a digital Ocean TMS that gives you relevant information in real-time and allows you to make changes to your operational plans quickly. 

Automation

Preparing ocean container operations takes a lot of time and effort. You need to search for shipping schedules that match your needs, place booking requests, prepare documents, etc. Many of these tasks can be automated and doing so will save you time and money while boosting productivity. Time is money and automating tasks can also lower operational costs. Hence, when you’re choosing your Ocean TMS, look into the automation features available. For example, BuyCo allows you to automate repetitive tasks like shipment planning and vessel selection.

Collaboration

When you’re using multiple channels of communication, information can get lost along the way. It affects productivity, lowers the reliability of data and decisions based on it, and increases risk of error. What you need is a way to centralize all communication and manage documents. The Ocean TMS you choose should also be able to trace additions and changes while recording a history of all maritime operations. Of course, it needs to be easy to integrate with other systems. BuyCo centralizes all communication on a single dashboard so that all the members of your supply chain can access updates and document sharing.

Decarbonization

When organizations look at decarbonization, it is not just the manufacturing process they’re considering but shipping as well. As EU regulations increase taxes on CO2 emissions, more and more organizations are going to focus on decarbonization. Along with compliance, this also builds a socially responsible brand image. Hence, when you choose your Ocean TMS, along with timelines and costs, you need to pick one that provides data on CO2 emissions so you can select lines and routes that lower your carbon footprint.