MyFreeway is a comprehensive data management platform which helps you to optimise your supply chain by integrating and streamlining data. It empowers you to maximise the efficiency of your operation with minimal effort and manual intervention.
We wanted to break down the data silos between traders and their partners
Compliance, complexity, and crises are all key challenges across supply chains. This is even more true now than it was when we first began working on MyFreeway in 2018 – when we began working with our clients to simplify what is proving to be an increasingly difficult environment.
Thankfully, digitalisation is also becoming more and more mainstream in supply chains, meaning that there is now a wealth of data at your fingertips.
The problem, though, is that the software which companies have traditionally adoptedhas often only had one particular stakeholder or industry in mind – meaning that the sharing or holistic use of this data is limited. There is a lot of wasted potential in this environment.
There were some supply chain SaaS providers which offered a more complete solution, but this was only for a specific vertical or in conjunction with using the provider’s services. For example, you may have also needed to use their PO management tools, their freight services, or warehouses for that data input to be completed. This means you are then tied to them, and it’s more difficult to leave or to source an alternative solution.
What we wanted to do with MyFreeway was create a standalone solution which could act as a bridge between traders and their supply chain partners – giving the flexibility to work with whichever partners best fit the roles required.
Furthermore, we wanted to give the control of that solution to the client. Although we do provide a managed service for MyFreeway, we didn’t want this to be the only option. It needed to be comprehensive enough to do the job right, but easy enough for users of all kinds to work with.
Our clients were key to building out the core system
The aim was to provide a software solution which would deliver control and compliance no matter what the industry, location, mode of transport, or other circumstance of the client and their operation. For this, we needed to identify where the core processes for each type of stakeholder and vertical overlapped.
With this in mind, we approached our clients and their supply chain partners for help with this project. We analysed their inner processes, looking at the PO management, customs classification, quality control, event reporting, and post-clearance checks – just to name a few.
From there, we built out our universal processor based on this core flow. The principle was that we could use parameterisation to put the user’s data in, process it, and then return it in the same format that the user input it in so that their system could reconcile it without manual intervention.
We worked with a variety of clients, and we built MyFreeway to cater to all of them
We created MyFreeway with flexibility in mind. Consider that your operation could surround any one of thousands of products, and even then could come from or be going to hundreds of different locations around the world – each with their own rules and regulations.
What’s more, the traders, logistics service providers, warehouses, and customs service providers involved in each product all have their own peculiarities. Both within their sectors and across different countries.
It was no small feat, but we built MyFreeway to cater to all of them.
To do that, we leveraged the feedback from test users, data engineers, and customs specialists of different types so that we could add value to the supply chain whilst prioritising ease-of-use and compliance. We wanted to simplify what we could whilst maximising value in each step.
Following the core development, we understood that the output of data didn’t only have to be with the purpose of reconciling in the client’s database. It could also be used to deliver what was previously expert-level data in a digestible format.
Furthermore, we had visibility of previous, current, and upcoming shipments. There was a lot of data being processed, and it made sense for us to enable clients to use all of it. We worked with our partners to make this happen, creating a series of reports and filters which help you to see the data which is most useful to you at any given time. We also worked with customs authorities to create reports which quickly and efficiently give them what they need in an audit, too.
It wasn’t only about data and reporting, though. We wanted clients to be able to perform functions which previously would require the help a customs expert – without compromising on compliance.
We developed a rules-based backend for these specialist processes so that customs experience is not essential to follow them. For example, if you are following a classification process, you can see guidance on screen throughout which helps you avoid costly mistakes or additional consultation.
Our work has awarded us the ability to directly integrate MyFreeway with customs in multiple countries, and saves our global userbase and their partners time, hassle, and money every day.
MyFreeway helps you to save hours of time, reduce risk, and lower expenses
Over 150 retailers and supply chain companies use MyFreeway worldwide, which is a testament to the benefits that the platform provides.
Universally, MyFreeway provides clients with a single platform for monitoring their supply chain. Upcoming shipments, current and forecasted stock levels, and the customs status of stock are all available in one place.
The volume of data is also scalable. No matter the location, variation of stock, or the processes applied to shipments, there is no loss in the quality of the information.
Additionally, the system validates and completes data as it is compiled – resulting in valuable and actionable information in real time. Of course, if there are any issues, then these are highlighted to the user and are easier to resolve.
For the classification element, specifically, MyFreeway cross-references client’s commodity codes with their counterparts in other countries – providing accurate classification globally, without the need for manual calculation.
By itself, this feature saves clients hours of time, reduces the risk of misclassification, and provides immediate estimates for tax spend.
In fact, a single client successfully mapped the commodity codes for over 1.6 million items by themselves in only a six-month period. As you can imagine, this type of project would previously have cost them significant time and expense with external consultants.
We’ve had multiple reports of clients being able to research new markets and complete customs audits much faster than before, and also reduce the number of customs-related incidents because of advanced warnings and proactive correction.
As logistics and customs flows become both more complicated and more digitally led, MyFreeway remains a first-of-its-kind application which will continue to evolve with the market and our customer’s requirements.
It’s not as hard to get started as you’d think
MyFreeway is relatively plug and play. It’s undergone rigorous stress testing and adaptation in line with over six years of client feedback, so the onboarding and user-friendliness are of a high standard.
In no time at all, you’ll be able to:
- Classify your own products in most countries with ease.
- Get the real-time information you need at the push of a button.
- Minimise risk of noncompliance, border delays, and expensive consultation.
Simply put, MyFreeway provides the transparency, compliance, and control you need – globally. It’s like an in-house supply chain and customs assistant, without the price tag.
