Flexport and Convoy herald a new partnership

Earlier this week, San Francisco-based freight forwarding and customs brokerage services provider Flexport and Seattle-based digital freight network Convoy said they are teaming up for a partnership, focusing on end-to-end shipment automation across land, sea, and air.

The companies said that this partnership will mesh Flexport’s international client base and Convoy’s North American carrier network, with a focus on providing shippers with what it called seamless logistics services, as well as expand business capabilities for both Flexport and Convoy.

Leadership for both Flexport and Convoy were encouraged by the prospects for this partnership.

“This partnership represents a shift in the logistics ecosystem, fueled by an increase in collaboration and visibility, thanks to technology,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO and Founder of Flexport, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to work with Convoy to make what has historically been a complex, fragmented industry more connected and in doing so, progress in our mission to make shipping easier for everyone.” 

And Dan Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of Convoy, said that this partnership creates a more seamless experience for shippers, and advances a vision long-shared by Convoy and Flexport that technology will create efficiencies and bring flexibility to the supply chain.

A Flexport official told LM that a major driver for this partnership stemmed from how shippers are experiencing unprecedented backup in all facets of global trade.

“It’s a complex ecosystem and difficult to navigate, as domestic port and warehouse congestion, as well as lack of capacity have demonstrated,” the official said. “The partnership will enable Flexport’s international client base to access Convoy’s expansive North American carrier network, all connected via the Flexport Platform, providing customers with a seamless, automated shipping experience. With so much market volatility, both companies shared a vision of providing clients with enhanced visibility and improved customer service while reducing waste in the supply chain.”

When asked what the main benefits of this partnership are for shipper customers of both companies, the Flexport official explained that will provide them with a seamless, automated shipping experience from PO to final delivery.

“They will have access to real-time, SKU-level visibility from suppliers to client distribution centers or retailers; a critical need as the global shipping market is in crisis,” the official said. “Further, the collaboration will help eliminate wasted time and space in the supply chain as domestic route planning is optimized while goods are in transit, and additional FTL capacity aids port congestion avoidance strategies and inventory planning.”

In terms of how this partnership works, the Flexport official offered up the following example:

• a client’s shipment would arrive on a cargo ship at port;
• from there, it would be transported through drayage using Flexport Transmission to a Flexport facility;
• it would then be transloaded onto a Convoy drop and hook trailer; and
• a carrier from Convoy’s network would then pick up the preloaded trailer and haul it to its destination

“The efficiencies of this partnership stem from Convoy’s network of available carriers and guaranteed capacity booked through Flexport’s Platform, helping to automate and optimize a usually complicated process for shippers,” said the official.