How xChange helps freight forwarders automate SOC container bookings?

Automating the SOC container booking process can reduce manual effort, save time, reduce costs, and ultimately streamline logistical operations. This blog will give you detailed information on how you can achieve transparency in container price and availability with SOC container automation.

For freight forwarders, SOCs, or Shipper Owned Containers are a great business investment. SOCs help avoid demurrage and detention charges and offer more global routing and scheduling flexibility than Carrier Owned Containers (COCs). While using SOC, you don’t have to rely on the carrier’s container availability, maintenance, or logistics operations. 

However, the traditional SOC booking process is manual, time-consuming, prone to delays, and often frustrating. If you caught yourself agreeing, here comes your solution!

Container xChange, the largest global container marketplace, is designed to automate and streamline SOC container sourcing. It gives freight forwarders like you instant access to a vast network of suppliers and available units worldwide. 

And now, with our public search bar, finding SOCs takes just a few minutes. Try it out for yourself. 

What are the challenges with the traditional SOC booking process & how xChange can help?

You’re already aware that the traditional SOC booking process is highly manual, resulting in time-consuming delays, uncertainty in securing your units, and little to no price or container condition visibility. Let’s explore these challenges in detail. 

Manual process

Traditional SOC booking is a highly manual process involving excessive paperwork, back-and-forth phone calls, and lengthy email exchanges. While these tasks may seem manageable at first, over time, they become tedious and prone to human error—something your business would surely want to avoid. 

Negotiations are often lengthy and time-consuming, especially when coordinating with multiple suppliers. Thus, managing a complex process like this requires close attention and effort, leading to delays and inefficiencies.

On the Container xChange leasing marketplace, you can talk directly to the container suppliers on the platform itself. No need to manage multiple phone calls or emails. Chat directly, negotiate prices, and keep all important conversations in one place. 

Availability 

SOC containers are often in limited supply, especially during peak seasons or in high-demand regions. This unpredictability can lead to last-minute cancellations, making it challenging to secure the units for your planned shipments on time. 

With xChange, you don’t have to worry about container availability. We have a wide inventory of 100,000 containers ready to be leased! Moreover, we are home to over 1,700+ vetted suppliers, giving you access to containers in key locations globally. Find containers exactly where and when you need them, hassle-free. 

Lack of visibility into pricing and condition

More often than not, you’ll have little to no transparency when it comes to container pricing or selecting the condition before booking. This lack of control forces you to rely on limited information, often leading to surprisingly high costs and quality issues. 

However, on xChange you can see prices upfront and compare multiple leasing offers to find the ones that suit your budget—and we don’t charge any commission on your deals. 

Advantages of automating SOC container booking for freight forwarders 

As a freight forwarder, keeping your business operations running smoothly without delays or disruptions is essential. After all, every timely delivery and seamless logistics experience enhances your credibility and strengthens business relationships with your clients. 

By automating the process, you gain better control, free up time to focus on what really matters, and streamline your operations. Here are a few advantages of automating SOC container booking: 

Saves time and effort

Automation streamlines the entire process—from finding the best deals to comparing prices and securing SOC containers effortlessly. This ultimately reduces manual labor and administrative tasks and saves time for higher-value work. 

Ensures cost-effective SOC procurement

Finding SOCs at the best price can be challenging in a manual setup due to limited transparency. However, automating the procurement process gives you access to real-time price trends and availability; it helps you make informed buying decisions and saves you from overpaying. Automation can significantly reduce your expenses and increase profitability. 

Reduces the risk of empty container repositioning

Managing SOC bookings manually often leads to imbalances in container supply, increasing the risk of empty container repositioning—which can be costly for you as a freight forwarder. With an automated system, you can plan ahead and access available units that match your routes, ultimately minimizing repositioning costs. By automating SOC container booking, you directly contribute to maintaining an efficient container flow in the supply chain.

Enhances supply chain reliability 

With an automated system, you gain greater visibility into available units, saving you from shipment disruptions due to last-minute cancellations. Moreover, you can secure containers as needed, which means smoother operations, fewer delays, improved customer satisfaction, and a more reliable supply chain. 

Read more: Digitalization in logistics and benefits.

How does xChange automate SOC container bookings?

Container xChange, the largest global container marketplace, simplifies the process of finding and booking SOC containers, eliminating the inefficiency that the traditional SOC booking process brings with it. 

We make it easier for freight forwarders like you to ditch the endless calls, dozens of back-and-forth email interactions, and the uncertainty of finding containers by connecting you with a wide network of 1,700+ container suppliers. With xChange, you can book SOCs with ease all in one place. 

Here’s how xChange directly solves the challenges of manual SOC bookings and provides your freight-forwarding business with a smoother experience: 

Smart search with global digital marketplace 

With xChange, you can gain access to a global network of over 1,700 trusted container suppliers in over 2,500 locations worldwide on one platform. This means you can find and lease available SOC containers for one-way moves without the hassle of last-minute cancellations. Find new customers worldwide and boost revenue for your business. 

Read more: How to book a container in shipping?

Instant matchmaking

Our smart, tech-driven platform instantly connects you with suppliers based on your preferred location, container type, and availability. You can put your endless phone calls and email exchanges on the backseat and instead view detailed company profiles to understand them better before making any decisions. You can see our extensive inventory, receive supplier quotes, and negotiate terms with them directly online. 

“Whenever we face a new route, we jump onto xChange first. It connects us with multiple suppliers in minutes—no days wasted hunting random contacts.”

Teresa Tang, Dele International Logistics

Makes negotiations transparent, faster and smoother

By now, you already know how time-consuming and frustrating it can be to negotiate SOC deals manually. With xChange, you can chat directly with multiple suppliers simultaneously, compare, and negotiate deals with them without any middleman. 

As an added security, our platform houses only vetted members to ensure you’re doing business with trusted people. 

Automated price visibility and booking

Container xChange provides full market price and supplier visibility. You can book containers instantly when you see a price that suits your wallet, in just a few clicks.  

Contract and compliance management

Standardized agreements ensure transparency and security, removing the tedious task of creating manual contracts. Additionally, with our automatic invoicing and payment protection, you can make your transactions safely without worrying about fraudulent activities. 

Tracking and visibility

Container logistics is a volatile market, and we understand that. That’s why we provide end-to-end monitoring of container availability and movements so you can plan better and avoid shipment disruptions.

“We value how easy it is to post a demand and see real supplier options. For small shipments, it saves me from emailing a dozen potential sources.”

Candice Zhao, T.H.I. Group

If you’re looking to simplify and automate the process of booking SOCs, minimize costs, and improve operational efficiency, join our leasing marketplace for FREE today and take full control of your container sourcing process. Reduce manual effort, minimize costs, and improve operational efficiency.

Common FAQs: Automating SOC container bookings