Multimodal is the annual flagship exhibition, which brings together thousands of people from across the supply chain, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham, featuring conference sessions, networking and awards.  Registrations for the event opened last month.

The Forward Solutions team is one of the longest established freight software development companies, providing an end-to-end solution for a wide range of operators with 20+ users in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US.  The company are transport sector specialists, providing IT systems for leading multimodal players across air freight, sea freight, road freight and rail freight.

With the massive and continued sector growth in technologies, Forward Solutions had a hugely successful show last year, where it demonstrated its new user interface (UI) which is about to be launched.  Forward Solutions invested £1/2million and 3,000-man hours in the development of this new technology – Forward’s most significant single investment to date – to ensure that its software is fully intuitive and easy to use.

Forward Solutions Managing Director Richard Litchfield comments:

“The response from visitors to our stand at Multimodal was excellent, it was a great opportunity to meet both existing and new customers face-to-face following the challenges of Covid-19.  It provided our team with the perfect environment to showcase the UI in an excellent setting of collaboration and support, the whole atmosphere of the show was really positive.”

Forward Solutions at the Multimodal Exhibition 2021. Picture by Shaun Fellows / Shine Pix Ltd

Richard added:

“We have a unique appreciation of the many challenges operators face every day and are using this understanding to bring a different perspective to the market, which we’ll be sharing in at the event in June.  2022 will be an important year for use where we focus on supporting our customers using the latest innovations and technologies to help their businesses thrive.”

Multimodal has secured a partnership with the Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE&T), and also with the Career Colleges Trust (CCT).

IOE&T, as a provider of education and training to professionalise the UK’s international traders, will run two days of CPD accredited free to attend seminars aimed at their membership of small/medium shippers.  The CCT support students looking at the logistics industry for their careers.

Robert Jervis, Event Director at show organisers Clarion Events Ltd commented:

“Multimodal 2022 is going to be another flagship event.  We are excited about these new initiatives, and we will continue to work closely with the market on more actionable and improvements to ensure that the show retains its position as the UK and Ireland’s leading transport and logistics event.  Whilst the CCT collaboration will further enhance our third day focus on the logistics industry future workforce addressing recruitment, apprenticeships, training, education and the skills gaps.”

Forward Solutions is part of the Freight Software Group with BoxTop Technologies and together the duo has a portfolio of over 300 customers.

Multimodal Stand 2045

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The Forward Solutions team is one of the longest established freight software development companies, providing an end-to-end solution for a wide range of operators in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US.  The company provides IT systems for leading multimodal players across air freight, sea freight, road freight and rail freight.

The firm started the year as Forward Computers and ends with a new MD, new name, new look as well as significant new product development, increased turnover and growth.  The team also attended flagship transport show Multimodal for the first time for many years.

Forward Solutions Managing Director Richard Litchfield, who joined the company in April comments:

“The company has made huge strides this year both in terms of refining our products, as well as significantly changing the operation to becoming much more customer focused.  The massive changes have resulted in significant growth, with an increase in turnover in excess of 25%.”

“This expansion is a result of on-going investment in the business, demonstrating to our customer and the market we are at the forefront of new technology.  Assisting the sector with innovation continues to be essential for growth, where the most successful operators are those which embrace investment in new technology adoption. Forwarders that offer online solutions of transportation management are leading the way, and utilising the latest technology to improve their customer experience.”

In the summer Forward Solutions announced a half a million-pound investment in redeveloping and reengineering its product portfolio.  Marking its largest investment in development to date will see an additional User Interface (UI) to utilise the existing feature rich solution which will be rolled out in early 2022, ensuring its software is more intuitive and easier to use.

Richard adds: “January is going to be very significant for us, the new UI is our largest single investment in reshaping our front-end and is the first of many developments we’re making to ensure our customers have best-in-class technology, to help them improve efficiencies and deliver the best solutions to meet their continually evolving needs.”

It is expected that 2022 will have its own challenges – such as continued Brexit changes, retirement of CHIEF services and moving to CDS, as well as the growing appetite for greater sustainability within transport and logistics. All of which is focusing operators on the need to increase efficiency and communication through improved technology.

Forward Solutions is part of the Freight Software Group and sister company of BoxTop Technologies.  Together the duo has an existing portfolio of over 350 customers.

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The use of Customs Handling Imports and Export Freight (CHIEF) to submit import declarations for goods brought into Northern Ireland from outside the UK and EU is being phased out, which means movements from mainland UK to NI will require a declaration on CDS.

From 31 October 2021, the CDS (Customs Declaration Service) will replace CHIEF for these movements.

So, unless companies use the Customs Declaration Service for the movement of goods into and out of Northern Ireland, the trade will not be permitted.

Richard Litchfield, Managing Director of Forward Solutions, said:  “It is vital that anyone wanting to ship goods into or out of Northern Ireland, after the end of October, switches to CDSNI. It is the only option for declaring movements of goods in and out of Northern Ireland and without it, all movements will be halted.

“We have been planning for this change for some time, and we are one of only a handful of freight software providers that will be CDSNI-ready before the end of October. This means that all our customers who rely on trade with Northern Ireland will experience a smooth transition away from CHIEF. Our specialist IT systems, adapted for the move away from CHIEF, will enable customers to keep on moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland as normal.”

Richard added:  “While there is still the Trader Support Scheme (TSS NI) this is not suitable for more than occasional declarations and does not have full functionality. This is why we have been so focused on ensuring we are CDSNI-ready, so that we can be of maximum assistance to our customers.”

Steve Spence, Application Manager at Denholm Global Logistics, and a Forward Solutions customer, said:

“Forward Solutions is always at least one step ahead of the post-Brexit changes. Our ability to move goods into and out of Northern Ireland is an important part of our business now and going forward.

“Knowing that we have the right IT solutions in place ahead of time is extremely reassuring.”

The Forward team is led by logistics specialists with technology expertise who have a deep understanding of the operational challenges faced by freight operators.

Forward recently announced half a million-pound investment in redeveloping and reengineering its product portfolio. Forward Solutions is developing an additional User Interface (UI) to utilise the existing feature-rich solution which will be rolled out in 2022.

Forward is one of the longest established freight software development companies, providing end-to-end solutions for a wide range of operators in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US.

Forward Solutions is also revamping the presentation of its Forward Office software to a suite of eight products designed to meet different customer needs.  Packages now start from a Forward Core – essential services package with additions such as integrated customs clearance, mobile apps and API integration.

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