Integrate with a freight forwarder's digital platform API to automate shipment booking, document exchange, and status tracking

Steps

1. Identify a digital freight forwarder (such as Flexport, Freightos, or a similar platform) that exposes a documented REST API; complete the developer onboarding and obtain OAuth credentials or API keys per the platform's authentication documentation.
2. Create a shipment booking request via the API specifying origin, destination, incoterms, cargo details (weight, dimensions, commodity, HS code), and required service (FCL ocean, LCL, air).
3. Upload commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin documents to the forwarder's document management API endpoint; confirm the platform acknowledges receipt and assigns each document to the shipment.
4. Subscribe to shipment milestone webhooks or poll the status endpoint to track events: booking confirmed, cargo pickup, origin port departure, transshipment, destination port arrival, customs clearance, and final delivery.
5. Retrieve the Master Bill of Lading number and House Bill of Lading number from the API after booking confirmation; use these references to track the shipment on carrier systems and reconcile against customs filings.
6. Pull freight invoices from the forwarder's invoice API after shipment completion; match invoice line items against the original quote for audit, and flag discrepancies for dispute before payment.