CORK, Ireland (June 23, 2021) -- Keelvar, the leading global provider of intelligent sourcing automation solutions, today announced it has further expanded the functionality of its sourcing bots built specifically for ocean and air freight buying. The logistics procurement bots can now support customers where it’s critical to collect and analyze more detailed carrier data for a greater variety of freight needs, including temperature control, specialized goods classifications, and freight pricing based on a combination of weight and container size.

The enhancements have been driven by a number of Keelvar’s sourcing automation customers in industries where shipping requirements may be more advanced, such as in pharmaceutical and medical supplies and industrial equipment manufacturing.

“The global shipping capacity crunch has been especially difficult on organizations that move specialized, heavy or highly-regulated freight,” said Alan Holland, founder and CEO of Keelvar. “Logistics procurement professionals must be selective and diligent when securing carriers, and efficiency is key to responding to dynamic supply chain changes. Our expanded automation functionality makes it easier to reduce the time and effort it takes to source more types of freight. It empowers our customers to leverage AI-powered automation to employ predictable and consistent processes that can scale according to a broader range of spot-bidding needs.”

Keelvar’s latest updates to its intelligent ocean and air freight sourcing bots enable procurement teams to execute rapid and high-quality spot bidding negotiations with these additional freight support criteria in mind:

  • Special temperature control equipment
  • Additional classifications such as dangerous goods or controlled substances
  • Express or expedited shipping needs
  • Vessel types for oversized equipment
  • Freight cost modeling that incorporates different volume-weight ratios; for example – the same container size shipping heavy goods vs. lightweight goods

Keelvar’s latest update allows buyers to ensure bids are eligible for awards with this specific criterion in mind. As a result, buyers achieve improved efficiencies, scalability, negotiation tracking, and process consistency amidst ongoing logistics challenges.

Developed as a no-code solution to work alongside procurement teams, Keelvar’s AI-enabled bots can set up and launch sourcing events within minutes, enabling buyers to be more agile and respond faster to market changes. Working 24-hours a day, the artificial intelligence learns and improves over time, resulting in smarter decisions, faster awards and better outcomes. Buyers still retain control and approval of these events and key decision points in the process, including award decisions. So far in 2021, Keelvar’s blue-chip customers have run thousands of spot buying events using its sourcing bots, which can manage and offload up to 90% of tactical sourcing processes.

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To see a demo of Keelvar’s sourcing automation, please visit: https://www.keelvar.com/intelligent-sourcing-automation 

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About Keelvar

Keelvar is moving procurement forward with its best-in-breed software for intelligent sourcing optimization and automation, designed for easy adoption, scale, and productivity. Keelvar’s SaaS-based products utilize artificial intelligence, machine learning, and category expertise to deliver purpose-built solutions that are delivering results for blue-chip global companies. Customers including Siemens, Logitech, Samsung, Coca-Cola, Novartis, DSV, Grupo Nutresa, Western Digital, and more are turning to Keelvar to advance their strategic sourcing journey spanning logistics, direct materials, and indirect spends. That momentum has resulted in Keelvar receiving $18 million in Series A funding in June 2020 and steady growth of its team worldwide, with headquarters in Cork, Ireland. Visit www.keelvar.com for more information.

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Media Contact:

Tori Vichroski

Corporate Ink for Keelvar

keelvar@corporateink.com