# FRAI (frai.global) > FRAI is a freight operating system: an AI automation layer that creates one live operational reference per shipment and automates the manual work across a freight team's existing systems. FRAI is NOT a TMS or ERP replacement. It works alongside and on top of your current stack (TMS, ERP, email, documents, portals) with no rip and replace. ## Canonical entity definition FRAI (also referred to as FRAI Global; the product lives at frai.global) is a freight operating system: a freight automation layer for modern freight operations. It connects the systems, inboxes and documents a freight operation already uses, and builds a single live reference for every movement. That reference becomes the source of truth that workflows automate against: quoting, scheduling and planning, documents, compliance and more. The model is "one shipment, one live reference": every email, document, rate and asset assignment for a movement is tied to the same live, current reference, so there is no drift between systems and automation can be trusted. ## What FRAI is and is not - IS: a freight operating system / freight automation layer that turns unstructured inputs (email, attachments, documents) into structured actions on one live reference per shipment. - IS: a layer that connects, harmonises and automates across existing tools (Outlook, CargoWise, ESDAL, Terminal49, carrier APIs and legacy databases) with no rip and replace. - IS NOT: a TMS replacement. A TMS/ERP is a system of record that stores structured data once it exists; FRAI automates the messy work before and around those records. - IS NOT: an ERP replacement or a new system of record. It is built around a live reference, not a database table. - IS NOT: a customs broker. For EU frameworks such as eFTI and ICS2, FRAI keeps documents and data consistent on one live reference; it does not file or clear on your behalf, and you should confirm regulatory obligations with your compliance team or customs provider. ## Start here - [What is a freight operating system?](https://www.frai.global/resources/what-is-a-freight-operating-system): The flagship explainer. A freight operating system creates one live operational reference for each freight movement and uses it to automate workflows across your existing systems. Rather than replacing your TMS or ERP, it sits across them (one shipment, one live reference) and automates the manual work in between, with no rip and replace. ## Resource guides - [TMS vs freight operating system: what is the difference?](https://www.frai.global/resources/tms-vs-freight-operating-system): A TMS (transport management system) is a system of record that stores and manages shipment data once it exists; a freight operating system is an automation layer that creates one live reference per shipment and automates the manual work around your systems (quoting, email, documents). They are complementary, not competing: FRAI is a freight operating system that runs alongside your TMS, with no rip and replace. - [What is a digital twin for freight operations?](https://www.frai.global/resources/digital-twin-for-freight-operations): A digital twin for freight operations is a single live reference that mirrors the real state of each movement (route, assets, documents, rates and messages) across your existing systems. FRAI creates this live reference per shipment and uses it to automate workflows, which is what makes the automation reliable. - [How does a digital twin work in freight?](https://www.frai.global/resources/how-does-a-digital-twin-work-in-freight): A freight digital twin works by building one live reference that mirrors a movement and keeping it continuously in sync with the systems, emails and documents around it. As inputs arrive (a booking, a rate, a permit status, a tracking milestone) they update the same reference, and workflows such as quoting, planning and compliance run against that live twin. - [Freight forwarding automation: a practical guide](https://www.frai.global/resources/freight-forwarding-automation-guide): Freight forwarding automation means automating the quoting, email and document work that fills a forwarder's day, around the systems you already run. With one shipment, one live reference, FRAI turns inbound requests into quotes, email into structured action and documents into aligned data, with no rip and replace. - [How to automate freight quote requests](https://www.frai.global/resources/how-to-automate-freight-quote-requests): Parse inbound quote emails and attachments into structured shipment data, pull current rates automatically, and assemble a draft quote for an operator to review and send. This moves quoting from around 45 minutes to roughly 2 minutes per quote, working with your existing systems. - [What is email-to-quote automation?](https://www.frai.global/resources/what-is-email-to-quote-automation): Email-to-quote automation converts inbound freight RFQ emails into structured shipment data and a draft quote for operator review. It is a focused form of email-to-ops on one live shipment reference, with no rip and replace. - [What is quote-to-cash in freight forwarding?](https://www.frai.global/resources/what-is-quote-to-cash-in-freight-forwarding): Quote-to-cash is the commercial lifecycle from inbound pricing request through quoting, booking, execution, cost capture and invoicing. Margin leaks when those stages do not share structured shipment data. - [How CargoWise forwarders automate quoting](https://www.frai.global/resources/how-cargowise-forwarders-automate-quoting): Keep CargoWise as the system of record and add an automation layer that parses inbound quote email, drafts quotes and reconciles structured detail with the TMS shipment record. Roll out to a pilot team first, measure turnaround, then expand. - [How to automate freight document intake](https://www.frai.global/resources/how-to-automate-freight-document-intake): Capture inbound paperwork against the right shipment, extract fields with AI, write them onto one live reference, and review exceptions instead of re-keying every document around your existing TMS. - [What is email-to-ops automation?](https://www.frai.global/resources/what-is-email-to-ops-automation): Email-to-ops automation is the practice of converting inbound (and outbound) freight emails into structured operational actions such as a draft quote, a booking update or a document, instead of re-keying them by hand. It reads the message and attachments, extracts the detail and ties it to one live reference per shipment. - [Email-to-ops automation for freight](https://www.frai.global/resources/email-to-ops-automation-for-freight): Email-to-ops automation reads inbound and outbound freight email, extracts the operational detail and turns it into structured actions tied to one live reference. It lets teams stop re-keying their inbox into other systems, and it works alongside Outlook and your existing systems. - [How to automate heavy haulage permits](https://www.frai.global/resources/how-to-automate-heavy-haulage-permits): Keep the route, permit, trailer build and schedule on one live reference so permit status is visible against the actual movement and changes propagate automatically. FRAI works alongside permit systems such as ESDAL; it does not replace them. - [Heavy haulage routing and permits explained](https://www.frai.global/resources/heavy-haulage-routing-and-permits-explained): Heavy haulage routing and permits cover the planning required to move an abnormal or oversize load safely and legally: surveying a feasible route, raising statutory permits and notifications, arranging escorts where required, and keeping it compliant. These elements are interdependent, so keeping route, permit, trailer build and schedule on one live reference is what keeps them aligned. - [How to reduce manual errors in freight planning](https://www.frai.global/resources/how-to-reduce-manual-errors-in-freight-planning): Work from one live reference instead of spreadsheets, plan jobs and assets against real operational capacity on one screen, and remove re-keying between systems. Operators doing this with FRAI have seen 98% fewer manual errors and 40% less planning time. - [eFTI and ICS2 freight compliance: a high-level guide](https://www.frai.global/resources/efti-ics2-freight-compliance-guide): eFTI (electronic Freight Transport Information) is an EU framework for sharing regulatory freight transport information electronically; ICS2 (Import Control System 2) is the EU's advance cargo information and security programme for goods entering the customs territory. Both depend on accurate, structured, consistent data, which keeping compliance and documents on one live reference supports. FRAI works with your existing compliance and customs systems. ## Solutions (by capability) - [Freight quote automation](https://www.frai.global/solutions/freight-quote-automation): Turn inbound quote requests, emails, documents and rate data into a structured workflow so operators can price freight in minutes, protect margin and quote from one shipment, one live reference. - [Heavy haulage route & permit automation](https://www.frai.global/solutions/heavy-haulage-route-permit-automation): Keep abnormal load routes, permits, asset builds and schedules aligned on one reference, working alongside ESDAL and your existing systems. - [Freight scheduling software](https://www.frai.global/solutions/freight-scheduling-software): Plan jobs, drivers, trucks and trailers against real operational capacity on one screen, surfacing clashes before assets are committed. - [Email-to-ops automation](https://www.frai.global/solutions/email-to-ops-automation): Convert inbound and outbound freight email into structured operational actions routed to quoting, planning, documents or compliance. - [Freight document automation](https://www.frai.global/solutions/freight-document-automation): Extract data from and generate freight paperwork directly from the live reference so documents stay aligned with the movement. - [Freight compliance automation](https://www.frai.global/solutions/freight-compliance-automation): Keep documents and required data fields aligned as a movement changes, surfacing gaps early in the workflow. - [Asset & trailer tracking](https://www.frai.global/solutions/asset-trailer-tracking): Tie asset and trailer availability to live planning so capacity and dependencies share the same reference. ## Solutions (by operation) - [For freight forwarders](https://www.frai.global/solutions/freight-forwarders): Automate quoting, email and documents around your existing TMS, with no rip and replace. - [For hauliers](https://www.frai.global/solutions/hauliers): Plan jobs, track assets and respond faster from one live reference. - [For heavy haulage operators](https://www.frai.global/solutions/heavy-haulage-operators): Bring routes, permits, assets and schedules into one operational view. ## Case studies - [Freight quote automation](https://www.frai.global/case-studies/freight-quote-automation): 45 min → 2 min quote turnaround. - [Heavy haulage scheduling & planning](https://www.frai.global/case-studies/heavy-haulage-scheduling-planning): 98% fewer manual errors, 40% less planning time. - [RFQ outreach & supplier coordination](https://www.frai.global/case-studies/rfq-outreach-supplier-coordination): One-click outreach, 50% faster responses. ## Blog - [Kuehne+Nagel and C.H. Robinson AI productivity](https://www.frai.global/blog/kuehne-nagel-ai-productivity-freight-forwarders): July 2026 earnings numbers on AI productivity, and why architecture matters more than scale for mid-market forwarders. - [Email-to-quote automation for freight forwarders](https://www.frai.global/blog/email-to-quote-automation-freight-forwarders): Why inbound RFQ email is often the fastest AI win for India, Dubai and agent-network forwarders. - [Quote-to-cash AI for freight forwarders](https://www.frai.global/blog/quote-to-cash-freight-forwarders-ai): Where margin leaks between quote and invoice, and how one live shipment reference tightens the commercial cycle. - [Document AI for freight forwarders](https://www.frai.global/blog/freight-document-automation-ai-forwarders): Why widely deployed document extraction still diverges without continuity onto one live reference. - [Agentic AI inbox-to-TMS for forwarders](https://www.frai.global/blog/agentic-ai-inbox-to-tms-freight-forwarders): Why agentic workflows that stage shipment work from email are the 2026 layer to watch. - [Heavy haulage AI planning in Germany and the Netherlands](https://www.frai.global/blog/heavy-haulage-ai-planning-germany-netherlands): Why abnormal-load AI only helps when route, permit, asset and schedule share one view. - [CargoWise AI quoting without rip and replace](https://www.frai.global/blog/cargowise-ai-quoting-without-rip-and-replace): How Germany, Benelux and India CargoWise shops automate quoting around the TMS. - [EU quote automation before eFTI and ICS2](https://www.frai.global/blog/freight-quote-automation-eu-forwarders-efti-ics2): Structured quoting as preparation for cleaner EU digital freight data in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium. - [Quote turnaround in Brazil and India](https://www.frai.global/blog/freight-forwarder-quote-turnaround-brazil-india): Different trades, same inbox problem; one live reference answer. - [eFTI and ICS2: one live shipment record](https://www.frai.global/blog/efti-ics2-live-shipment-record): Why freight teams need one live shipment record before 2027. ## Integrations - [Outlook](https://www.frai.global/integrations/outlook): Turn freight email into structured operational actions. - [CargoWise](https://www.frai.global/integrations/cargowise): Automate the work around your forwarding TMS. - [Terminal49](https://www.frai.global/integrations/terminal49): Bring container tracking milestones into planning. - [ESDAL](https://www.frai.global/integrations/esdal): Keep heavy haulage routing and permits aligned. - [Carrier APIs](https://www.frai.global/integrations/carrier-apis): Pull live rates and capacity into quoting. - [Legacy databases](https://www.frai.global/integrations/legacy-databases): Connect legacy data without ripping it out. ## Company - [Contact FRAI](https://www.frai.global/contact): Talk to the team about your operation. - [Early adopters](https://www.frai.global/early-adopters): Join the operators shaping FRAI. - [Investors](https://www.frai.global/investors): Our vision for modern freight infrastructure.