Cargo Insurance: Protecting Shipments, Strengthening Relationships and Creating New Revenue
Updated: Sep 14
( Find video below )
We had a great Oppi webinar session discussing cargo insurance, liability and claims, and exploring the opportunities insurance can create for freight forwarders.
Joined by Breeze, alongside Oppi, the session looked at why cargo insurance is about much more than simply protecting goods when something goes wrong.
Why cargo insurance matters for freight forwarders
When cargo is lost or damaged, one of the first questions a customer may ask is: who is responsible?
For freight forwarders, liability can be complex. A forwarder’s liability and the actual value of the goods are not necessarily the same thing, which can leave customers exposed when a claim occurs.Offering cargo insurance gives customers an additional layer of protection, while also giving forwarders an opportunity to provide a more complete service.
It can help protect customer relationships during difficult claims, demonstrate added value and create an additional source of margin.
Making insurance part of the shipment quote
During the webinar, one of the primary subjects we discussed was the integration of cargo insurance into the standard quoting process. T
hen Stuart Booysen showcased the Oppi and Breeze integration and guided participants through the entire process from quote to policy.
Within Oppi, a forwarder can enter the shipment details and request a cargo insurance quote through Breeze. The insurance can then be added to the customer’s shipment quote, with the forwarder able to apply their own markup.
Once the customer accepts the quote and the shipment becomes a booked job, the insurance policy can be issued directly within Oppi. There is no need for upfront payment to arrange each individual policy, with Breeze invoicing the forwarder monthly.
The insurance certificate is also generated within the platform, helping keep the policy and shipment information together.
Around 90% of quotes returned in real time
Speed is important when insurance is being offered alongside a freight quote.Around 90% of cargo insurance quotes through Breeze can be returned in real time, allowing forwarders to provide an insurance option without unnecessarily delaying the quotation process.
Certain higher-risk commodities, routes or high-value shipments may require manual underwriting, but these can be referred for review when required.
Creating an additional revenue opportunity
Cargo insurance doesn't have to be treated simply as an optional extra.
By including an insurance option alongside every appropriate shipment quote, forwarders can give customers the choice of additional protection while creating another potential revenue stream for the business.
During the webinar, we discussed the importance of understanding whether customers already have their own cargo insurance and, where they do, comparing areas such as the level of cover and deductibles. This changes the conversation from simply selling insurance to helping customers understand the protection available to them.
Bringing cargo insurance into the freight workflow
The aim of the Oppi and Breeze integration is to make cargo insurance a natural part of managing a shipment rather than a completely separate process. Quoting, adding a markup, customer approval, policy creation and insurance documentation can all sit alongside the shipment within Oppi.
For freight forwarders, that creates an opportunity to offer customers additional protection without adding unnecessary complexity to their day-to-day processes.
A huge thank you to Dan Eskein and Alex Craine from Breeze for joining us and sharing their expertise, to Stuart Booysen for demonstrating the process within Oppi, and to everyone who attended the session.
Protect the cargo. Add value for the customer. Create another revenue opportunity.
watch webinar here:
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