Dear Customer....Your freight forwarder may not tell you this but they deserve it!

Success our businesses relies on multiple pillars! Yes, sometimes we do fail, we lose and nothing goes as per plan. We must learn from our failures, mitigate and move on, no matter which side of the business you are, a client or a service provider. ?

By writing this article, 'TradeLane Global' is primarily addressing the 'client side' in terms of how and why they should communicate with their service provider, while also reminding 'Freight forwarders' that they should be vocal in asking relevant questions and always ensure to seek proper information before jumping in to provide their commitment to the customer's business, a promise to deliver the impossible, negative quotations, or a variety of other mistakes that result in huge losses.?

Let's start with a 'FUN FACT', SMEs handle 80% of global trade, as do global import/export enterprises operated by small and medium-sized 3PL or freight forwarders. Despite the fact that many regional and local freight forwarders are critical to the whole commodity trade system, they are undervalued. You will be hard pressed to find a freight forwarder who has not been humiliated by clients despite giving their all to satisfy the client's commitment. 'Freight forwarding,' an indispensable component of global trade but is turning to be a 'thankless' profession.?

You may be considering exporting or importing your items as a business owner. Partnering with a reputable 3PL logistics provider or freight forwarder is a fantastic option since they know exactly what to do and how to do it, allowing you to focus on growing your business and extending your customer base.?

There are a few factors to consider when forming a cooperation with a freight forwarder;

You must set aside time to submit as much information about your shipment as possible in order to acquire the most competitive price and best solution for your shipping. The quotation you will receive will be based on the information you provide, which implies that if you have been receiving quotes without providing comprehensive information, you are on the verge of a ticking time bomb.

If there has been no financial loss as a result of this approach, both parties have been fortunate. There are no exceptions to the rule that the most accurate quotation can only be issued when all shipment information has been collected.

Misquotes and confusion can emerge from quote requests that contain wrong or missing data. This can have a negative impact on shipping costs and lead to inefficiencies in the supply chain. The traditional adage "bad in, bad out" holds true in this case. Customers would most likely receive poor pricing quotes as a result of faulty data and information. All parties engaged in the shipping process, including the shipper, the forwarder, and the ultimate customer, may suffer as a result of this.

When the Shipment is ready to be picked up, it is critical that all necessary documentation be available and in hand. Failure to do so could result in a significant loss of time. In the Shipping industry, time is money, and any time lost can have a negative influence on meeting deadlines, which can have a negative impact on the bottom line.

As your ultimate goal is to expand internationally. It's crucial, though, to balance this enthusiasm with reasonable expectations. Importing/exporting a product without a customs broker, for example, can result in a slower overall procedure, increasing supply chain inefficiencies. Collaboration with a Good 3PL is a wonderful approach to get realistic fulfillment and shipment time estimates.

Finally, when dealing with a freight forwarder, failing to provide clear information on special demands or transportation patterns is a huge blunder. If you plan to ship on a regular basis, you should give your forwarder as much information as possible about your specific needs or trends. A forwarder's job can be made considerably easier with information like monthly shipping schedules and product descriptions. Customers should expect speedier fulfillment times and better supply chain efficiency in exchange. When you partner with a supply chain and logistics expert like ‘TradeLane Global’, you have a liaison and negotiator with freight forwarders, which can lead to better pricing and terms for your company. This has the added benefit of allowing you to concentrate on your main business activities while freeing up resources that would otherwise be spent on non-value-added tasks.

Inquire about your freight forwarder's value added services and see whether they could benefit your company. ‘TradeLane Global’, for example, provides a full range of wrap-around services to handle your shipping from beginning to end, including product sourcing, warehousing, and distribution.

Last but not least, treat your logistics partner with respect. They are deserving of it.

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