As your business expands, you need to rethink the services you use so they do not become a limiting factor. This process won’t be easy, especially if you go beyond shipping locally and look to reach customers in other states and even other countries. To make this possible, you could consider using a freight forwarder, and they can make the whole process easier – providing, of course, that you find the right one.
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#1 Collection times fit in with your shipping schedule
First of all, it is important to find a freight forwarder that will fit in with your shipping schedule. This will undoubtedly save your employees the frustration of having multiple shipping loads waiting for collection and clogging up your warehouse or sending their trucks away only half full. Not all companies will offer daily collections, so you need to be sure about what you need to ship and when to ensure you are working efficiently. You should build a good relationship with your prospective freight forwarders, let them know how your business works, and come up with a mutually beneficial solution.
#2 Right traffic management system
You should make sure that they have the right transport management system so that they will be able to keep track of the whereabouts of your goods and inform you when there are difficulties in reaching delivery targets or the chance of additional unforeseen expenses. Having a heads-up in these circumstances is highly beneficial as it means that you can re-jig your workforce so that they are not waiting for a delivery or a collection that will not happen until much later than expected. It also gives you a chance to alert any customers to possible delays, which is important to safeguard your relationship with them as well as your reputation.
#3 Ensure that they can cope with business fluctuations
Depending on what niche you are in and what it is you sell, it is likely your business will fluctuate throughout the year. There are enough problems with running a seasonal business as it is without the possibility that your shipping company is going to drop your business from their rota because they have had a few months of lighter loads from your site.
You also need to make sure they have the structure in place to cope with those larger loads when they come, so your profits aren’t left sitting on the tarmac because they don’t have the capacity. Again, this is a case of sitting down with your forwarder and making sure they know exactly how your business works, so they can provide you with the service you need.
To sum everything up
When you want to increase your shipping options, it can be beneficial to get a freight forwarder involved. To find the right one, you need to identify a company that fits in with your shipping schedule and has the infrastructure to deal with fluctuations in your business, especially if your trade is seasonal, like in the marine leisure industry. You also need to look at the software they use and whether it can effectively manage the transport of your stock to and from your warehouse.
