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How to Build Healthy Relationships with Customs Officials and Why It Matters?

excelsior on October 23, 2024

The ever-changing international freight forwarding market has become more significant, as it is expected to expand to $18.69 billion by the year 2026. While logistics has become an integral part of the world economy, the processes have also become more intricate in ensuring that shippers and customs brokers follow the regulations imposed.

Navigating complex operations, particularly in international shipping, requires extensive regulatory compliance and clearance processes to allow businesses, importers, and exporters to ship their goods successfully. This is why maintaining healthy and strong relationships and business partnerships with customs officials matters.

Establishing connections is a good strategy not to dodge the bullet in strict regulations but to create a streamlined process, faster transactions, and prevent miscommunication.

Here are some practical tips and strategies on how to build a positive and healthy relationship with customs officials:

Adhere to the Rules and Regulations

One of the most crucial steps in building healthy relationships with stakeholders and customs is understanding the enforcement regulations in shipping.

A shipper must be knowledgeable about the requirements, such as licenses, certificates, permits, and other documents that need to be presented before shipping. It is also essential to be well aware of the potential consequences and risks that might be acquired due to compliance failure.

Being informed of the rules and regulations in logistics reflects how professional and respectfula shipper is to the logistics industry officials. Being aware of the rules to follow also creates open communication with the customs officers, which prevents risks and violations.

Establish Proper Communication

The second step to maintaining a relationship with customs officials is to communicate clearly to ensure that trust, collaboration, and transparency will be created. This implies that it is vital to provide the correct information and data related to shipment to keep the customs well-advised.

For instance, your goods’ shipping details need to be changed. Hence, the first thing to do is inform the officials of those changes so they are aware and can provide assistance. This could also prevent misunderstandings and possible conflicts with the customs administrations when shipping your goods.

Stay Proactive

The next step in creating a good relationship with customs officials is to be proactive. Whenever you are planning to engage with a logistics company in the Philippines, it is important to anticipate potential disruptions, conflicts, and risks that may emerge.

Moreover, a business shall be prepared on how to deal with and adapt to such circumstances. Being proactive in engaging with logistics reflects a business’s responsibility and innovation in handling potential concerns.

Ask For Feedback and Recommendations

Securing connections with customs officials can be achieved by seeking their advice and feedback. This enables a business to enhance its performance and efficiency in handling shipments.

As customs officials have expertise in logistics, their opinions and recommendations matter in addressing concerns and potential disputes that might occur.

Seeking help and assistance from customs also restates a business’ dedication and willingness to achieve a conflict-free logistic process.

Apply What You Learn From the Customs

Lastly, one strategy to validate the customs officials’ effort in your logistic clearance and documentation is to apply what you have learned. This means that a business shall integrate its advice, such as using the best practices to improve its logistics process.

In return, it is fundamental to express recognition of their contributions to allow your business to be seamlessly processed.

Establishing contacts with customs can also strengthen a business’ competency, loyalty, and partnership with the officials.

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Conclusion

As the logistics industry continues to evolve, having a good connection with customs officials matters a lot. It cannot only help a business ensure faster shipment processes and transactions but also allow the gaining of essential insights, advice, and tips to enhance a business’s shipment performance.

Fostering collaboration with customs officials may be an advantage for shippers and businesses, but it is critical to remember that maintaining this professional relationship is what matters most.

If you are too busy to deal with customs officials but need help keeping transaction records and documenting your freight forwarding process, a licensed customs broker from Excelsior can help. Excelsior is a logistics corporation that offers reliable shipping services worldwide. It can help clients track their shipments and ensure their safe arrival at their destination.

Read more:

Guide for Successful Exporting

excelsior on July 15, 2020

 

Exporting or the act of trading goods by sending them over to another country has been an attractive venture for many people for as early as the prehistoric times. From the barter system, up to the modern forms of trade, exported products have become so popular that it is one of the primary reasons for the development of globalization and cross-cultural communication.

In the Philippines, a number of products manufactured locally have a considerable amount of export markets to offer on an international scale. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, one of the top export markets of the country can be found in countries such as Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, and Singapore. Along with the country’s growing economy, the Philippines is now more than capable of mass-producing exportable products like electronic materials, minerals, and fruits.

Selling products abroad can be a lucrative business, especially if you know certain methods and techniques in practicing your trade. In case you’re planning to start an exporting company, there are several benefits that you should anticipate.

Benefits of Exporting

Vast markets – Exporting allows an enterprise to gain access to a great number of potential markets. Doing thorough research can help you identify a list of specific locations where you can sell your products and gain maximum profit.

Increased sales – Exporters can enhance their sales potential since they can reach out to more customers.

Better profit margins – More customers lead to increased demands, which in turn results in fairly profitable business.

Makes budget for research a worthy investment – Conducting market studies can help an exporter improve specific products in order to meet the needs and satisfaction of new markets.

Tips for Successful Importing

Despite having some advantages, exporting products is a challenging task. Such practice requires you to establish healthy connections with foreign consumers, which can be very difficult due to cultural and language barriers. You need to learn how you can promote your products and convince international markets on why they should view your brand as a trusted supplier.

To help you increase your chances of success, here are some of the best tips for exporting your goods:

  1. Prepare a well-detailed research

Research is one of the most crucial steps in starting an exporting business. The data that you will receive from the results can give you a proper understanding regarding the demand for your chosen product. When conducting market research, make sure that you establish achievable goals like identifying the economic rate of a potential market, the demographics, as well as closest competitors.

  1. Plan accordingly

You have to consider the following factors:

Capacity – Determine whether you have the adequate capacity (resources) to meet the changing demands of different markets.

Knowledge – Study your products, mainly the driving reasons that can make it valuable and worthy of people in other parts of the world.

Packaging – The design of your packaging reflects a significant portion of your brand’s identity.

  1. Select a marketing route

In order to reach out to a massive number of customers across borders, you can choose one of the marketing routes below:

  • Using a distributor
  • Creating a joint venture
  • Using a sales agent
  • Be a direct seller

  1. Understand the nuts and bolts of the exporting process

Exporting comes with several procedures that involve varying rules and regulations of bringing exported products from one country to another. Remember to check if the goods you’re trying to export will require some paperwork to be done before they can be cleared by the authorities.

  1. Hire a freight forwarder

Freight forwarders are highly skilled professionals that possess immediate knowledge in logistics and can ensure seamless documentation and customs clearing processes when exporting your products. Consider hiring a freight forwarding agency for your business if you want to avoid any unnecessary delays and other related hassles associated with exporting.

Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics conducts free orientation for those who are willing to learn. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience worth more than a decade in the business. Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our service.

 

Sources:

 

Excelsior Worldwide Logistics Corp.