If you have ever used any of the traditional freight forwarding services before, you know how it works.
You ship your containers to the port. And then nothing happens. No communication or response. Ultimately, you receive nothing. After a couple of days, you are notified by someone that your customs have detained the shipment without any notice. And then there are additional charges which you did not discuss earlier.
That is how the traditional international shipping solutions or processes operate for many companies. Many emails. Many phone calls. Many people were involved. And some luck too.
But here is the difference!
Advance Shipment operates very differently from the traditional one. In this blog post, you are going to examine the mistakes in the traditional international shipping solution process. And see how the alternative process saves time and makes life much easier.
What's Wrong With Conventional International Shipping Systems?
To be honest, there is nothing wrong with conventional logistics. It was developed decades ago. Under a different approach to conducting business.
The trouble is that international shipping solutions themselves have evolved. But not the process of shipping.
Conventional international shipping involves several parties. Booking, customs clearance, delivery- each one is managed by a different company.
All of them know their role. But no one sees the whole picture.
No visibility during transit - You get your booking confirmation. An estimated delivery date is provided. Anything else in between? It mostly turns into a guessing game.
Unexpected fees - Storage costs. Demurrage fees. Customs detention. This normally happens only after there have been problems. At that point, it is too late to do anything about it.
Excessive documentation - Cargo shipping services are documentation-heavy. One mistake in filling out forms. One wrong entry. And your cargo ends up stuck in the port.
Too many touch points - Need any updates? You call one company. They ask you to reach out to another company. Another company. You find yourself repeating the information about the shipment every time.
Very little room for flexibility - Ports become congested. Ships get delayed. Itinerary changes. The traditional approach of logistics and supply chain management doesn’t have an alternative plan.
Advance Shipment - What’s Different?
It is quite easy to see. One team will be responsible for the whole shipment. Not just for any piece of it. Booking. Documentation. Customs clearance. Storage. Delivery. Everything will be linked.
So, whenever anything goes wrong, everyone will know about it right away. Quick problem solving.
End-to-end Control
Advance Shipment covers the whole process. If there is a rolling of the vessel, alternative solutions can be found. If there are any problems with the documentation, they will be sorted out before the shipment gets stuck at storage facilities. And not when everything is too late.
Real-Time Visibility. More than a Tracking Number.
Tracking information will give you the location of the shipment. Visibility will give you the situation. You’ll get milestone notifications. Revised ETA. Exception Alerts. Notifications for delay events. This will mean that you get to know about any delay before your customer.
Shipping flexibility
Not all shipments require the same shipping option. Some might need sea freight. Others might need air freight. Sometimes a combination of both.
The best international shipping solution is one that suits your shipment.
Documentation
Many delays in shipping begin with documentation. Incorrect HS code. Missing certificate. Incorrect invoice. A tiny mistake. But with big consequences.
The Advance Shipment inspects documentation in advance, avoiding expensive mistakes.
Technological Tools That Really Help
Almost every freight forwarding services company claims to be a technology-driven business. It often means only the presence of their website. Really useful technology must do many more things. Such as keeping all shipment documentation in one place. Bill of lading. Invoice. Packing list. Access is easy. Downloading is easy too.
And such technology must be able to foresee potential risks. Port congestion. Carrier delays. Schedule changes. And it must provide useful reports. On-time delivery statistics, transit times, transportation cost, the real numbers. Not just guessing.
FAQ’s
What sets Advance Shipment apart from an ordinary freight forwarder?
An ordinary freight forwarder service provider is responsible for the booking of your shipment only. Advance Shipment is responsible for everything in between. From planning and documentation to compliance, monitoring, customs, and finally delivering the goods.
Is it more costly?
Not necessarily. Freight pricing can be comparable. However, eliminating additional costs such as fees and penalties helps to reduce the total shipping cost.
What are the possible shipping options?
Shipping by sea, Shipping by air. Or multimodal transportation. This will depend on your cargo, budget, and deadline.
Does this apply to large firms alone?
No. It could even help smaller firms more since they do not always have a logistics department within their firm.
How does the process of customs clearance take place?
Preparation of documents is done before shipment. Classification of HS is verified. Customs clearance takes place at origin as well as destination.
Bottom line
For decades, companies were used to the uncertainties that came with international shipping solutions. It was all standard. Not much else was possible.
Times have changed. Advance Shipment gives you control. Visibility. Surprises are kept at bay. And one team taking care of your shipment from beginning to end.
Whether you’re sending your first container or your hundredth, you will soon notice the difference.
Curious about how your current shipping process can be improved? Contact Advance Shipment. We will take a look at your shipping lanes, spot weaknesses, and let you know where unnecessary costs may be hurting your company’s bottom line.
Let us do your shipping assessment now with Advance Shipment.