Xeneta integrates with sourcing platform Keelvar

Xeneta, the provider of ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics, together with Keelvar, intelligent sourcing optimization and automation platfrom, have announced an integration that "is set to transform supply chain procurement."

This collaboration will create a seamless connection between Xeneta’s freight rate database and Keelvar’s advanced sourcing optimization platform, ensuring procurement professionals can make data-driven decisions with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.

Keelvar's Sourcing Optimizer automates bid feedback and pricing strategies, while Xeneta provides the world’s largest real-time database of ocean and air freight rates, with over 450 million rates and 160,000 ocean port-to-port pairs. This integration enables procurement organizations to streamline the process of comparing freight rates across carriers, gain real-time market insights for informed procurement decisions and achieve significant cost reductions through optimized bid strategies.

Thorsten Diephaus, VP Strategic Alliances at Xeneta, said: “This collaboration is set to transform the procurement process, enabling a seamless shift from traditional methods to a more dynamic, data-driven approach.

"By integrating Xeneta’s powerful ocean and rate data with Keelvar's innovative automation solutions, we are enhancing our customers' ability to manage both spot requests and tender handling with unprecedented efficiency and accuracy.

"This partnership empowers businesses to optimize their procurement strategies, achieve significant cost savings, and respond swiftly to market changes. Together, Xeneta and Keelvar are at the forefront of redefining supply chain management for the modern era.”

With this powerful integration, procurement organizations can achieve two key objectives that are often difficult to balance: negotiating optimal prices for all goods and efficiently managing the complex and time-consuming process of freight rate negotiations. By automating these negotiations, the integration enables significant cost savings and operational efficiency.

Furthermore, this solution adapts to unique client needs, automates key procurement activities, reduces manual tasks, and enables quicker, more strategic decision-making.

Speaking about the integration, Eric Kim, Senior Sourcing Manager at Microsoft, said the ability to have Keelvar pull Xeneta data directly into bids is “a powerful capability that opens the door to further enhancements.

"It not only improves the bidding process but also lays the groundwork for advanced features in the future. This includes the potential for automated spot buying when market conditions, as analyzed through Xeneta, are favorable,” Kim said.

Through the integration, customers will benefit from smooth workflows between Xeneta and Keelvar systems that can automate the import of real-time freight rate benchmarks for more accurate cost comparisons, enhance bid feedback processes with current market data, improving negotiation outcomes and provide comprehensive visibility into freight rate trends and market conditions.

Kasia Tati, Partnership Director at Keelvar, added: "It’s a milestone for Keelvar. It’s the first API integration with a best of breed partner.

“Through the integration of our advanced sourcing capabilities within their robust data environment, we’re setting a new standard for freight procurement efficiency.

“As we continue to enhance and refine this integration, we look forward to unlocking even more value for our clients and transforming the landscape of freight procurement technology.”