CFS billing software should connect commercial charges with the physical operations actually performed on cargo. A Container Freight Station may provide much more than basic stripping, stuffing or temporary storage: labeling, weighing, inspection, palletization, repacking and other services can all become part of the customer offering.
The challenge is ensuring that the terminal knows what was performed, on which cargo, for which customer and whether the activity is chargeable.
Solvo.WMS records cargo-level warehouse operations, while Solvo.Billing provides the commercial layer for configured service accounting and invoicing.
How CFS Billing Software Connects Operations and Revenue
When warehouse execution and billing are separated, commercial teams may need to reconstruct performed services after the fact.
Information can be spread across:
- spreadsheets;
- emails;
- paper documents;
- employee notes;
- manually prepared reports.
This increases the risk that an operation was performed but not recorded correctly for billing.
A connected process starts with the physical warehouse event.
The WMS knows that a specific operation was completed for a specific cargo unit. Relevant information can then become an input to the commercial rules configured in Solvo.Billing.
The operational chain becomes:
Storage and Cargo Handling Charges
Temporary storage is one of the core services of many CFS facilities.
Solvo.WMS maintains information about when cargo was received, where it was stored and when it left the warehouse.
The operational record can therefore support service-accounting scenarios associated with storage.
Other handling operations may also form part of the commercial model.
Depending on the terminal, these can include:
- receiving;
- cargo movement;
- picking;
- staging;
- consolidation;
- stuffing-related handling;
- special cargo operations.
The exact billable event and tariff remain subject to the customer’s configured commercial rules.
Labeling, Repacking and Palletization
Cargo may require preparation before storage, release or stuffing.
Common value-added operations include:
- labeling;
- relabeling;
- repacking;
- palletization;
- changing handling units.
Solvo.WMS can record these operations as part of warehouse execution.
This is especially relevant in LCL operations, where cargo belonging to different shipments may need individual handling after deconsolidation or before consolidation.
See LCL Cargo Management.
Weighing and Dimensioning
Weight and dimensions can be important for both warehouse operations and commercial service accounting.
Operators can register these values during receiving or another configured stage.
Solvo.WMS can also integrate with weighing and dimensioning equipment when required.
Instead of maintaining measurements as a separate manual record, the data remains linked to the cargo unit.
Inspection, Photo Capture and Traceability
Customers may request cargo inspection or evidence of cargo condition.
Warehouse personnel can record inspection-related information and take photographs during handling.
The resulting data stays connected with the cargo history.
CCTV integration can provide additional evidence around warehouse operations.
This is particularly valuable when service completion later needs to be confirmed or a customer dispute needs to be investigated.
Customer Requests Through Solvo.Web
Managing value-added services becomes easier when customer requests enter a controlled digital workflow.
Solvo.Web provides a customer-facing layer for requests and relevant cargo information.
Depending on the configured process, cargo owners and consignees can use it to work with delivery requests, cargo status and other service information without relying entirely on calls and email.
The internal warehouse process remains in Solvo.WMS.
Service Accounting Through Solvo.Billing
Solvo.Billing provides the commercial layer for chargeable services.
Depending on the project and tariff configuration, service accounting can cover operations such as:
- temporary storage;
- handling;
- labeling;
- weighing;
- repacking;
- inspection;
- photo capture;
- palletization;
- stuffing-related services;
- other configured operations.
This allows commercial settlement to be based on information connected with real warehouse execution.
Value-Added Services as a CFS Growth Opportunity
For some terminal operators, additional warehouse services are not merely a cost center. They can become a separate revenue stream.
Once a CFS already controls cargo by owner, consignee, status and warehouse location, it has the operational foundation for more complex customer-specific services.
A terminal warehouse can gradually move beyond basic stripping and release toward 3PL-style operations such as:
- longer-term storage;
- partial release;
- customer-specific processing;
- repacking;
- order-based dispatch;
- specialized handling.
For a broader multi-client warehouse model, see 3PL Warehouse Management System.
CFS Billing Across Import and Export
Chargeable operations can appear in both directions.
An import shipment may generate:
An export shipment may generate:
The WMS provides the operational history required to understand what actually happened to each cargo unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services can be recorded for CFS billing?
Depending on project configuration, services can include storage, handling, weighing, labeling, repacking, palletization, inspection, photo capture, stuffing and other warehouse operations.
What is the role of Solvo.Billing?
Solvo.Billing provides the commercial layer for configured chargeable services, while Solvo.WMS provides operational information about the cargo and work performed.
Can value-added services be linked to individual cargo?
Yes. Warehouse operations are performed against cargo records, allowing the relevant service history to remain associated with the handled cargo.
Can customers submit requests online?
Solvo.Web can provide a customer-facing digital workflow for cargo information and requests, depending on project configuration.
Turn Cargo Handling into Controlled Services
Connect physical CFS operations with customer requests, service records and commercial accounting.
