BY AMIT MAHESHWARI, CEO, Softlink Global
For many freight forwarders across Asia, growth has been the default goal for years. More shipments. More customers. More lanes. In 2026, this thinking turns dangerous if it runs without control.
The market will stay uneven. Asia trade will move in short waves. Philippines to China. Vietnam to Singapore. Singapore to GCC. One week space is easy. Next week vessels roll. Rates jump without warning. Extra charges show up after cargo moves. Ports slow down due to weather, congestion, or sudden checks.
On reports, volumes may look healthy. On the ground, cash quietly leaks. This is where control becomes the real advantage.
Many companies still depend on monthly numbers to judge performance. That worked when markets were calm. In 2026, it will fail. By the time month-end reports are ready, losses are already locked in. Storage billed late. Detention missed. Costs posted after invoices go out. Credit crossed because “the customer promised to pay.”
If you don’t see profit at job level, every day, you are guessing. And in 2026, guessing costs money.
Day-to-day reality is simple. Ops books the job. Costs must follow fast. Estimates must be close to actuals. Billing should start the moment BL or DO is released. Credit checks should stop jobs, not politely warn and move aside.
These are not finance rules. These are control points.
In the Philippines, many teams still depend on Excel next to the system. When ports delay or customs holds cargo, Excel stays silent. The system should flag risk. If it doesn’t, people step in. Under pressure, people miss charges. People forget follow-ups. People make exceptions that turn into losses.
Control is not about being strict. It is about removing doubt. Watch a few clear signals.
How many days pass between BL or DO release and invoicing.
How often estimates don’t match final costs.
How many jobs run with negative margin but still move forward. How often credit is overridden “just this once.”
These signs appear long before cash dries up.
Avoid chasing volume just to look busy. Busy teams often hide weak margins. Avoid running ops, docs, and accounts as separate silos. Delays live in the gaps. Avoid trusting end-month reports. They explain failure after it happens.
One hard truth for 2026.
Growth without control drains cash. Control is what makes growth survive.
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