ShipServ alternative

The Tidal alternative to ShipServ

ShipServ is a maritime online procurement marketplace and supplier network. If your real bottleneck is turning email RFQs into quotes, here is how Tidal fits, honestly.

See it on your RFQs Replace or keep ShipServ?

Replace it, or keep it. Each Tidal module is sold on its own.

Generated quote with each line priced from the catalogue
A quote in Tidal, every line priced from the supplier’s own catalogue. Live system at a Trinidad marine supplier, details blurred.

The short answer: People searching for a ShipServ alternative are usually suppliers or operators who already have the enquiries coming in and need to answer them faster, not another place to find suppliers. ShipServ is a marketplace and supplier network; if your bottleneck is turning inbound email RFQs into accurate quotes, that is a different job.

Two ways to switch

Replace ShipServ, or keep it and add Tidal

You do not have to rip anything out. Pick the path that matches the job you want done.

Replace

Move your quoting to Tidal

If ShipServ is where your team handles RFQs today, Tidal can take that job over.

  • RFQ inbox that sorts requests from other mail
  • Lines read from any buyer layout, priced from your catalogue
  • Quotes in your own template, approved by a person
  • Approved quotes sent to your ERP as sales orders
See Quote Desk →
Keep

Keep ShipServ, add one module

If ShipServ does a job you still need, keep it and add only the part of Tidal that removes the typing.

  • Quote Desk for RFQ to priced quote
  • Invoice Capture for supplier invoices from a photo
  • Each sold on its own, no platform change
  • Connects to your ERP through its API or an import file
See ERP integrations →
Why Tidal

Why teams choose Tidal

Tidal reads your inbound email RFQs, matches every line to your own catalogue at 90%+ first pass accuracy, applies your margin rules, and returns a quote in under 30 minutes. Pricing is scoped to your volume and the modules you need, so contact us for a quote.

181 of 212RFQ lines priced correctly with nobody touching them, in a replay of three real RFQs
0lines given a wrong price. Lines it could not price were left open with the reason shown
1 approvala person approves every quote and supplier invoice before it goes anywhere

Measured in a replay of three real RFQs (212 lines across Excel, PDF and IFS files) from our live customer, a marine supplier in Trinidad.

Honest fit

When ShipServ is still the right fit

ShipServ still fits when your goal is supplier discovery or marketplace visibility across ports, which Tidal does not do, Tidal is not a marketplace. Many suppliers keep a marketplace presence and add Tidal to handle the quoting.

How Tidal works

What your team sees

Screenshots are from the live system at a Trinidad marine supplier. Customer and supplier details are blurred.

Tidal RFQ inbox sorting emails into RFQs and orders
1. RFQs arrive and are sorted automatically.
Generated quote with each line priced from the catalogue
2. Every line is priced from your catalogue.
Supplier invoice and the lines Tidal read from it
3. Supplier invoices are read and checked.
Switching

How to move from ShipServ without risk

  1. A 30 minute callWhat you use ShipServ for today, your ERP, and your monthly RFQ and invoice volume.
  2. A trial on your documentsSend us a few recent RFQs or supplier invoices. We show you the result beside what your team produced.
  3. Set upWe load your catalogue and supplier prices and connect your ERP by API or import file.
  4. Side by side, then switchRun Tidal next to ShipServ until you trust the results, then move the work over.
FAQ

ShipServ alternative, answered

Is Tidal a ShipServ alternative?
Tidal is an alternative for the quoting job, not the marketplace job. If you need to turn inbound email RFQs into accurate, margin protected quotes quickly, Tidal replaces the manual retyping. If you need supplier discovery, ShipServ remains the relevant tool, and the two can be used together.
Why do suppliers switch to Tidal?
Because the slow, costly step is answering RFQs by hand. Tidal reads the email, matches every line to the SKUs and codes in your own catalogue, applies margins and returns a quote in under 30 minutes, at over 90% first pass matching accuracy.
How much does Tidal cost compared with ShipServ?
Pricing is scoped to your volume and the modules you need, so contact us for a quote. ShipServ does not publicly disclose its pricing.
Can I keep ShipServ and use Tidal too?
Yes. Keep your marketplace presence for discovery and use Tidal to process the RFQs that arrive by email. Tidal runs standalone or integrates with your ERP.
Can Tidal replace ShipServ completely?
For RFQ to quote and supplier invoice entry, yes. For anything else ShipServ does for you, keep it. Many teams keep ShipServ and add one Tidal module, Quote Desk or Invoice Capture, which are sold separately.
Does Tidal connect to our ERP?
Yes. Approved quotes go to your ERP as sales orders and approved supplier invoices as bills, through its API or an import file. Tidal has set routes for ERPNext, Acumatica, Odoo, SAP Business One, NetSuite and Business Central, and connects to other ERPs the same way.

Compare Tidal and ShipServ on your own RFQs

Send us a few recent RFQs and we will show you, line by line, what Tidal produces.

Contact us
Related

Keep researching

Tidal vs ShipServSide by side comparison. Quote DeskRFQ to priced quote, then a sales order. Invoice CaptureSupplier invoices from a photo to payables. ERP integrationsERPNext, Acumatica, Odoo, SAP Business One and more. All comparisonsTidal against other maritime tools. ShipNet Alternative (2026) BASSnet Alternative (2026) ProcureShip Alternative (2026)

Free trial on your documents

See Tidal on your own RFQs

Leave your work email and company. We will reply within one business day to arrange a short call and a trial on your own documents.

  • ✓ A trial on your own RFQs before you commit
  • ✓ Keep the systems you already run
  • ✓ No spam, a reply within one business day
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