DockHero vs Inbound Connect

DockHero combines dock scheduling, yard management, and a carrier platform in a web-based product configured for each site. Scheduling can use a whole-warehouse calendar or be organized by section or door. Carriers can self-book with a purchase or sales order, which DockHero validates against the warehouse order book. Load rules can set appointment duration, eligible doors, slot capacity, blackout windows, and custom hours. The yard board supports multiple yards and zones, drag-and-drop trailer moves, and live door status. Shunters can use a browser on a cab tablet to view prioritized moves and tell a coordinator when a move is complete. Its free carrier portal provides appointments across invited sites, scorecards, a driver roster, and magic links. SMS updates are sent only to drivers who opted in and include an opt-out. Warehouse plans start at $249 a month and include a 30-day trial without a credit card. DockHero describes its audience as warehouses and dock-based businesses, including food and cold chain, retail, manufacturing, 3PL, e-commerce, and wholesale.

Inbound Connect is a SaaS vehicle booking system for logistics facilities managing truck arrivals. It shows operators which vehicles are expected, when they are due, and what they are carrying, helping facilities plan capacity and assign arrival slots. Carriers can book time slots in advance, while facilities configure workflows, rules, and notifications for settings such as warehouses, ports, intermodal terminals, and air freight hubs. The platform supports electronic document exchange and automated visitor identification, with records of site check-ins and check-outs. Facilities can set automatic charges for peak periods, missed bookings, or late pickups. Integrations include a flexible API, pre-built connectors, and existing links with warehouse and facility management systems; specific integration questions go through support. Mobile-native apps are described for facility staff, forklift operators, and roaming operators. Premium adds mobile booking management for drivers and dispatch teams, AI booking creation from uploaded paperwork, driver and vehicle management, live vessel schedule updates, webhooks, Azure Entra ID single sign-on, and a live capacity dashboard. The company says implementation can go live in days and its team guides setup. Pricing is on request, though opening an account is free; this does not establish that bookings or facility services cost nothing.