Sharing with CoLoCa: Passing Calculations to Others
In the daily work of freight forwarders, exporters and logistics professionals every minute counts. CoLoCa not only offers a precise container loading calculator, but also a practical sharing feature that allows complete calculations to be passed on easily. In this post we show how to use sharing sensibly, which benefits it brings to your processes and give concrete tips for efficient use.
Why Sharing Is Important
In logistics, decisions are often team- and customer-dependent: item counts, volume specifications and container utilizations must be verified, approved or coordinated with partners. A share link avoids misunderstandings, reduces follow-up questions and increases productivity. Instead of screenshots or manually transferred numbers, the recipient receives the complete, exactly reproducible calculation with all positions.
How Sharing Works in CoLoCa
- Your calculation is securely stored on the server and a unique URL is generated (format:
https://coloca.net/calc/{token}). - The link is permanently valid; after that the stored calculation is automatically deleted.
- Privacy: Only the data minimal and necessary for the calculation is stored.
- The recipient can fully restore the calculation: all positions, quantities and the utilization display are immediately visible.
The result: fast coordination with customers and colleagues without misinterpretations.
Practical Examples
- Pallet sharing example
- Input: 5 pallets × 120 cm × 80 cm × 100 cm
- Result: 5 × 0.96 m³ = 4.80 m³
- Action: Create a share link and send it to the customer — they immediately see the volume and the recommended container size.
- Container utilization example
- Total volume of a shipment: 57.93 m³
- 40ft standard volume: 67.69 m³ → utilization 85.6% (🟡 Well utilized)
- With a share link the utilization including remaining space can be discussed directly.
Tips for Efficient Use (Usability & Productivity)
- Use favorites & presets: Save standard positions (e.g. pallet dimensions, typical packed goods) as a preset. This saves recurring entries and increases speed.
- Project management: Work with clearly named titles or project descriptions so multiple calculations can be easily assigned.
- Personalized display options: Set units (m³ or ft³) and decimal places so they match your internal documentation. Uniform formats prevent rework.
- Keyboard shortcuts: Learn the shortcuts for frequent actions (add new position, delete position, create share link). Small shortcuts save a lot of time in day-to-day work.
- Use real-time feedback: Thanks to instant recalculation you can see changes to volume and utilization immediately — ideal for last-minute changes.
Exporting and Visualizing Results
Even though the share link is the quickest way to pass on results, it is worth exporting results for quotes or archival purposes and preparing them visually:
- Visualization: The color-coded utilization display (green/yellow/red/black) makes it immediately clear whether a container is optimally used.
- Export tips: Create a summary view with title, positions, total volume, utilization in % and remaining m³/ft³. This summary is suitable for quote emails or internal reports.
- Documentation: For quotes you should always state the units used, the number of positions and the creation date — this keeps the calculation traceable.
Practical Workflows for Different Target Groups
- Freight forwarders: Create a calculation during the quote phase, save it as a preset and share the link with the customer. This allows container size and costs to be weighed directly.
- Exporters: Use share links to pass packing instructions and loading lists to suppliers. The recipient sees exactly which dimensions and quantities are expected.
- Logistics professionals: Use shared calculations for warehouse planning. The remaining m³ per container help when planning multiple loads.
Security and Privacy in Daily Use
CoLoCa stores only the data necessary for the purpose. This minimizes privacy risks and complies with typical compliance requirements in logistics. Recommended practice: Share sensitive data only with explicitly authorized contacts and name share links descriptively.
Quick Start Checklist
- Check inputs: Verify units and quantities.
- Use preset: Reuse standard positions when possible.
- Generate share link: Copy the link and send it to the recipient.
- Visualize: Use color coding for quick classification.
- Document: Save or export a summary.
Conclusion
CoLoCa's sharing feature combines precise container volume calculation with easy collaboration. Whether you create quotes, coordinate loading lists or conduct internal planning: share links save time, improve the usability of your processes and increase productivity. With clear presets, personalized display options and the right shortcuts, the workflow can be significantly optimized in just a few minutes.