As freight forwarding becomes increasingly complex and competitive, ExFreight is pushing to democratise access to enterprise-grade logistics tools, especially for small and midsize forwarders, often overlooked in the tech arms race.

“After more than a decade of internal use, Exfresso had proven itself as a powerful advantage in our own operations,” Charles Marrale, CEO of ExFreight, said. “We realised the challenges we solved—fast, confident pricing, global coordination, and automation—were just as relevant to independent forwarders as they are to large enterprises.”

The decision to license Exfresso reflects both market demand and a broader recognition that digital transformation must be inclusive. Despite the logistics sector moving trillions of dollars in cargo annually, much of it still runs on email threads, spreadsheets, and phone calls. Exfresso aims to modernise this fragmented infrastructure by providing a single, intuitive platform for quoting, booking, tracking, and collaborating across all transport modes—air, ocean, road, and rail.

What makes Exfresso particularly groundbreaking is not just its capabilities but its scalability and simplicity. “Small and midsize forwarders often lack the tech resources of global multinationals,” Marrale stated. “Exfresso levels the playing field by offering enterprise-grade functionality without enterprise overhead.”

The platform is fast to deploy, with users typically onboarded and operational within hours. There’s minimal training required, yet the benefits are immediate: real-time pricing, seamless visibility across shipments, and the ability to scale without hiring additional staff.

For many smaller forwarders, Exfresso provides a pathway to compete globally without compromising on the personalised service that sets them apart. Marrale puts it plainly: “By licensing Exfresso, we’re helping smaller players compete on a global stage with the same digital tools once reserved for the biggest names.”

Connectivity, speed, and transparency

What distinguishes Exfresso in an increasingly crowded digital freight software market is its combination of operational utility and collaborative power. Unlike many platforms that act as isolated digital toolkits, Exfresso is a hybrid ecosystem—part operating system, part relationship engine, and part marketplace.

“Exfresso stands out for two reasons,” Marrale explained. “First, it offers instant, accurate routing, rating, booking, and tracking across all legs of a shipment. Second, it connects users to a network of trusted forwarders and agents.”

That network is key. Smaller forwarders using Exfresso gain more than just software—they gain access to a vetted, collaborative global community. This lets them expand their reach, explore new trade lanes, and engage in digital partnerships without sacrificing their independence or brand identity. “By tapping into this network, they can instantly extend their reach, access new trade lanes, and partner with vetted agents in other markets,” Marrale said.

This approach enables a new kind of scalability—organic, flexible, and resilient. Rather than establishing offices in every global hub, forwarders can form on-demand alliances through Exfresso’s built-in trust framework. The platform serves as a neutral, secure hub for information sharing and transaction coordination, effectively turning small firms into agile global players.

The platform’s most innovative feature, however, lies in its patented digital pricing engine. “Our patent covers a distributed database architecture that aggregates and updates supplier pricing and tracking data in real time,” Marrale explained. This unique capability allows users to produce dynamic, multi-leg quotes that are accurate, transparent, and tailored to each customer’s needs.

“Because Exfresso integrates a deep, global database of freight products and services—constantly refreshed from real-world sources—it can deliver multi-leg routing and pricing options in seconds,” he added. The outcome is faster decision-making, higher quote confidence, and a significant reduction in costly human error.

The impact is tangible. Instead of juggling spreadsheets, email chains, and legacy systems, forwarders can provide professional-grade, error-free service that rivals the biggest players in the industry. “That means fewer errors, faster turnarounds, and happier customers,” Marrale noted.

Building a full-stack platform

ExFreight’s vision for Exfresso extends well beyond current functionality. While early adopters have praised its usability, speed, and intuitive interface, the roadmap ahead points toward a broader ambition: to build a comprehensive digital platform that serves every major function of a modern freight forwarder.

“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Marrale stated. “Users love the speed and accuracy of the rating engine, as well as how intuitive the system feels out of the box.”

Upcoming features aim to expand on this momentum. The platform is rolling out enhanced network-building tools, enabling users to form closer, more structured digital partnerships within the Exfresso ecosystem. This is particularly valuable for small forwarders looking to grow through collaboration without entering into restrictive corporate alliances.

Beyond these social features, ExFreight is developing solutions in areas like cargo insurance, payments processing, and ESG (environmental, social and governance) tracking. Marrale envisions a future in which forwarders can automate workflows, manage compliance, and analyse profitability all within a single interface.

“In the near term, we’re focused on improving usability and expanding collaboration features,” Marrale outlined. “Beyond that, we’re actively developing enhanced analytics capabilities to give forwarders deeper insight into their most and least profitable customers, trade lanes, and services.”