freight forwarder Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Excelsior Worldwide Logistics Corp.

6 Signs that it’s Time for you to Find a New Freight Forwarder and Customs Broker (Infographic)

excelsior on September 28, 2018

Many businesses resist changes because they overestimate the value of what they have and underestimate the value of what they might gain by giving that up, including finding a new freight forwarder and customs broker. Yes, finding a new and better one may cost a lot of time and effort, but it’s still not enough reason to settle for a partnership that doesn’t work anymore. Here are six signs that it’s time for you to find a new freight forwarder and customs broker:

Your business is growing

As your business grows, your service needs also increase that’s why you need a freight forwarder that can provide you with a complete range of services.

Your freight forwarder must also be stable and established so that you won’t have to jump from one freight forwarder to another all over again, considering that your business is on the verge of developing and expanding.

If your current freight forwarder is not stable and established, you can’t guarantee whether they will last in the business or not. One day, it might even get dissolved while you’re caught unprepared and have adverse effects on your business. It’s best to look for a freight forwarder that you can grow and succeed with.

Poor customer service

In every business transaction, effective communication skills are highly essential because it fosters efficient service provision and a healthy business relationship between two (or more) parties.

If you are having a hard time communicating with your current freight forwarder and customs broker, if it’s not because of poor communication skills perhaps you’re dealing with another contact person every time.

If you don’t make a move as early as now, it won’t only make you uncomfortable with the business relationship; it might also affect the productivity and profitability of your business.

Outdated technology

Using modern technology doesn’t only help a business save time and avoid hassles, it also helps in keeping ahead of the competition.

Most freight forwarders now use online tracking, electronic proof of delivery, and electronic billing among others to make sure that the products will reach its destination intact and on time.

However, there are still some freight forwarders who refuse to keep up with the trends, thinking that it works just the same or it’s too expensive. What about your freight forwarder? Are they helping you keep ahead or are you falling behind your competitors?

Recurring service failures

Although occasional problems are unavoidable in the freight forwarding business due to factors like weather, calamities, strikes, and transportation problems, it shouldn’t be used as an excuse for recurring service failures because it’s probably caused by lack of knowledge and experience, poor customer service, or outdated technologies as mentioned above.

Uncompetitive rates

Is your current freight forwarder charging you a reasonable rate? Do the quality of service that they provide match its price? If you think that you’re paying more than how much you should, why not canvass on other freight forwarders and compare the amounts? Who knows, you might even find a freight forwarder with cheaper yet better services or one that you can bid with for a lower rate.

Is it a partnership?

Last but not the least, you should assess whether your freight forwarder and customs broker treats you like a partner. Are they committed to providing you with the best services? Do they care about your success?

In the end, it’s not just the skills and knowledge that counts. It’s the business ethics that make transactions smooth and business partnerships last.

Here at Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics, we treat our clients as partners. We also conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation & exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience for 17 years in the business.

Sources:

Why You Need a Freight Forwarding Partner in Your Supply Chain (Infographic)

excelsior on August 30, 2018

Your company is getting bigger, and so are your market and the number of shipments to be made. The problem is, you don’t have your own shipping function. Why not get it outsourced through a freight forwarding partner so that you can focus on expanding your core business further?

To help you fulfill the required documents

Document processing is one of the most crucial and complex stages in every business transaction. Especially in importing and exporting products, wherein there are many different documents, clearances, and permits to be processed. Through partnering with a freight forwarder, the fulfillment of your commercial, transport, financial, and government documents will be hassle-free because you will be assisted throughout the process.

To reduce expenditures

Freight forwarders ship loads of products on a regular basis, that is why they can use their affiliation with multiple transportation companies across the globe to negotiate for better prices on your behalf. Your freight forwarding partner can also cut back your costs through consolidating several small shipments with products from several clients into one large shipment.

To avoid product damage and delay

The main goal of every product-driven business is to have its goods delivered to the right location, intact and on-time. Teaming up with a freight forwarder will help you achieve it through cargo insurance document management services, route optimization, and transport tracking.

Products in transit are inevitably exposed to risks and dangers that is why cargo insurances are highly essential. In case of accidents, theft, and other unfortunate events during the transportation, damaged insured goods can be converted to cash claims.

While route optimization will make the delivery of your time-sensitive products faster by using the shortest and most convenient path. Most freight forwarding companies now use modern technology to find the best routes in order to avoid late deliveries.

Transport tracking, on the other hand, works through using tracking numbers as identification in determining the current location of a shipment.

Indeed, hiring a freight forwarding partner helps in optimizing a supply chain. But in choosing one, aside from the above-mentioned services and benefits, you must also ensure that the freight forwarder is dependable, trustworthy, and experienced to make sure you’re in good hands.

Excelsior Worldwide freight logistics have been in the business for seventeen years and counting. With trained and experienced employees who uphold the principle of integrity, we provide only the best services to our clients.

Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our services.

Sources:

How to Ensure Successful Partnership with a Freight Forwarder

excelsior on August 15, 2018

A productive and efficient partnership with a freight forwarder is critical in today’s challenging import-export landscape. Not only it is important to generate the best return for your investments, but it can also significantly boost your competitiveness in the market because a freight forwarder streamlines the overall logistics operations of your business in the long run.

Here are the ways to ensure a successful partnership with your chosen freight forwarder.

Communicate Your Priorities

If your freight forwarder knows what matters to your import-export business on the get-go, they will be able to provide you with the solution best suited to meet your goals. For instance, if you want to achieve significant cost-savings, then they can help ship your cargo by sea. If you need to receive your goods quickly, they can offer to ship your goods by air instead.

An experienced freight forwarder should be able to help you on every aspect of shipping, from which type of container to use, choosing the right Incoterms, and releasing your cargo in customs yard, but they need to know your business priorities first.

Know Your Compliance Responsibilities

Hiring a freight forwarder for your business doesn’t free you up from compliance responsibilities. It is essential that you understand your compliance obligations as an exporter since failure to comply with compliance regulations can put you and your freight forwarder to severe legal and financial implications.

As an exporter, there are four key compliance considerations which you need to deal with:

Proper classification of what you’re shipping.
Trade policies and regulations in your country.
Proper labeling in your cargo.
Proper documentation requirements.

While a reliable freight forwarder will be more than willing to help you in these aspects, lack of basic understanding in this area can lead to serious issues, since most forwarders often tender shipments based on information that exporters give to them.

Only Work with a Reliable and Trustworthy Freight Company

When choosing a freight forwarder, reliability and trustworthiness are two factors that most business owners tend to overlook. Don’t make the same mistake of taking the risk of partnering with a freight company without these characteristics because it will only affect your reputation in the industry.

That said, accreditations and affiliations with reputable trade and logistics organizations can be an indicator of these qualities of a freight forwarder. Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics partners with International Container Terminal Services, Asian Terminals Incorporated, and Chamber of Customs Brokers.

We are also duly licensed as Total Logistics Company by the Bureau of Customs, and holds a Philippine Economic Zone Authority accreditation, which has the additional benefit of simplifying and speeding up the customs process for your shipments.

Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation & exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience for 17 years in the business. Contact us today to learn more about our service.

5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Freight Forwarder (Infographic)

excelsior on July 31, 2018

A reliable and trustworthy international freight forwarding company is crucial to the success of any import/export business operations. Regardless of the size of your company, this aspect could mean make or break your business.

Make sure to ask these five questions before you entrust your cargo in someone else’s hands.

1. Are You Trustworthy?

First, you need to choose a company that puts integrity at the core of their business. A freight forwarding company acting in integrity means that they are not driven by a desire to earn huge profits, get in on trends, and other external mechanisms. Instead, they sincerely value the trust their customers put in them, and in the result, they become the “go-to company” in their respective niche.

A trustworthy company is also one that is a member of a reputable associated and has accreditations which embody their legitimacy and reliability.

Excelsior upholds utmost integrity in their customer service, business dealings, and business operations. They are duly accredited as Total Logistics Company by the Bureau of Customs and have strong affiliations with key authorities and logistics organizations in the country.

2. Do You Provide the Shipping Service I Need?

It’s important to make sure that the freight forwarder you intend to hire provides the freight service that you need. Do they have the mode of transport necessary to transport the volume of cargo you want to ship? Do they provide port to port, port to door, door to port, or door to door services?

3. Do You Have Strong Experience in the Field?

Freight forwarding companies have sprouted like mushrooms in the recent time, so it is only imperative to choose one that has a reputation that has been built accordingly through the years. A good freight forwarder should indicate the number of years they have been in operation, as some of the companies they have managed to provide service with.

As well as checking how long your chosen freight forwarder has been in business, it’s also worth checking how much experience they have that’s relevant to the cargo you wish to ship. Excelsior has been in service for the past 17 years and continues to be the trusted freight forwarder of a plethora of different businesses in the Philippines these days.

4. Is Your Rate Cheaper Than Shipping Line?

Perhaps the most cited reason why most businesses use a freight forwarder is that they offer cheaper rates than shipping lines. They do this by proposing rates to multiple shipping lines, giving cost advantage which they subsequently pass to their clients. Therefore, it only makes sense to choose one that charges less compared to what shipping lines offer. This is crucial if you want to save money on your import/export cost effectively.

5. Do You Cater Brokerage Services and Provide Own Trucking Services?

Probably, you are looking for a freight forwarder because you want to simplify the complicated process of moving your goods across borders. As such, it is more practical and cost-effective to choose a freight forwarder who is also capable of meeting your customs brokerage and trucking services needs.

By doing so, you will only have to deal with one company with regards to brokerage documentation, and that all your cargos will be managed consistently from the point of origin to the point of destination.

Sources:
https://issuu.com/virgill.ratliff/docs/tips_on_picking_the_best_internatio