International Shipping Solutions
Offering international shipping is a crucial component of your ecommerce fulfillment strategy. Getting a handle on rates, rules and regulations, and service options is key.
Shipping internationally is more expensive and complex than domestic shipments. But, there are strategies for making it more cost-effective and sales stimulating. Here are a few to consider:.
1. Air Freight
Air freight is the transfer of goods and cargo by commercial, charter or passenger airlines for delivery to global destinations. It is a valuable option for companies that require time sensitive shipments to be delivered to buyers around the world in a matter of days.
The speed of air freight is its most compelling benefit, and enables shippers to compete with domestic retailers who can offer next-day shipping to their customers. Additionally, it is a great option for shipping to remote locations where there is limited access to other types of freight transport.
When using an international freight carrier for your air shipment, it is important to choose a partner with an extensive network and reliable customer service. In addition, you should work with an experienced 3PL provider that can handle customs clearance, insurance and package tracking.
Your logistics provider will coordinate with an airline to pick up your shipment from a warehouse or facility, load it onto the plane and deliver it to your buyer. This type of shipping requires the use of an airport, so you should choose a provider that is close to a major airport. Another consideration is the environmental impact of air freight, as it generates more CO2 emissions than other shipping methods. To offset this, you can invest in carbon offsetting.
2. Sea Freight
Ocean freight shipping is the most cost-effective transportation method for international product shipments over longer distances. Shipping via this mode of transportation can take between 20-60 days depending on the destination country.
When shipped via sea freight, your products will be loaded into a metal shipping container (or multiple containers) on a cargo ship. These ships are far larger than a commercial airplane and international shipping solutions can hold thousands of containers. The average shipping container is twenty-foot or forty-foot equivalent units, and you can save more on your freight costs by sharing space in these containers with other shipments (called Less than a Container Load or LCL).
This type of shipping is great for large product orders that need to be transported across oceans or continents. It also works well for oversized cargo such as vehicles, heavy machinery or boats that cannot be transported via standard containers.
Like air freight, ocean freight can have high transaction fees that are incurred from the complexity of handling paperwork and ensuring all required documents are international shipping solutions submitted correctly. These expenses can be avoided with effective optimisation services that reduce the chance of costly delays and penalties. The most advanced visibility solutions provide insights into the rate and booking process as well as a digital document hub to simplify the management of all required documentation throughout the ocean journey.
3. Ground Freight
Whether you’re shipping perishables, routine goods or final-mile deliveries, ground freight shipping provides the flexibility and reliability that your business needs. With the right logistics software, you can easily find the best rates to ensure that your shipments remain profitable.
Unlike air, ground transportation handles large and bulky items such as furniture, appliances, heavy equipment and even automobiles. This type of transportation is usually more affordable and less volatile than air, as weather delays tend to be shorter in duration.
In addition, ground transportation can be completed in a fraction of the time that it takes for an airplane to travel the same distance. For instance, a shipment delivered by ground freight can get to its destination within 2 to 7 business days depending on the distance.
Another advantage of ground freight is its flexibility, as you can choose between less-than-truckload (LTL) or full truckload (FTL) shipping. The difference is that LTL shipments can be combined with other loads destined for the same location, while FTL shipments are dedicated to a single load.
In some cases, ground freight can also be used in an intermodal transportation model, where several modes of transportation are used to move cargo. For example, goods may be shipped by sea to a port, then transferred to a warehouse via ground freight, and finally delivered to the end customer by air.
4. Logistics Services
International shipping solutions often require a variety of services that can be offered by logistics services companies. These companies specialize in providing warehousing, transportation & logistics management services. Logistics service providers oversee all the moving parts that get a product from its manufacturer to a customer, including coordinating shipping services and managing a distribution network.
International logistics requires a lot of planning and specialized expertise to navigate customs regulations, currency conversion, duty calculations, and other unique considerations. A logistics services company can handle all of these details for you and work with multiple carriers to ensure your freight is delivered on time and in the most cost-efficient manner.
A logistics service provider can also offer a range of other services to help with your business needs. For example, they can provide debt collection services if you are having problems getting paid by customers. They can even manage all your inventory and orders from a single platform, saving you from having to deal with multiple dashboards.
If you are considering partnering with a logistics company to handle your international shipping, it is important to choose one that can deliver on its promises. A logistics services company with a reputation for excellence and a global network of partnerships can provide you with the best possible experience. In addition, a logistics services company should offer transparent and real-time tracking of all your freight to ensure that it arrives on time and in the proper condition.