Logistics is essential for every business; however, you have to understand that it doesn’t stop with delivering a package to a buyer. It also represents the company’s dedication to providing a quality shopping experience to the public. Knowing the common shipping mistakes most entrepreneurs make will give you an edge. Most of these mistakes aren’t huge, but they can significantly affect your business.
Knowledge will give the company an edge, allowing it to develop further; however, it can be challenging to distinguish what you’re doing right and not. Below is a guide that aims to teach you about the common shipping mistakes entrepreneurs make. Use this article as a simple reference to gain your edge. That will allow you to save the resources that you might have been wasting unnecessarily.
1. Ignoring Local Shipping Regulations
Your destination countries have their local shipping regulations and requirements. Other destinations are more thorough than the others, depending on the kind of product you’re planning to ship. Be attentive to the local shipping and customs regulations of particular countries to ensure you comply with them.
Not following their regulations can result in lawsuits, expensive fines, delays, or confiscation by accident.
2. Not Investing in Shipping Insurance
Freight insurance is one aspect of international shipping; however, a few policy conditions will cost more money. For example, incorrect labeling information, packaging, or categorization will void your insurance. Find the time to read the requirements so that you can get the most suitable coverage for your packages.
3. Getting Low-Priced Shipping Prices
Whether you’re planning to use the ocean, rail, air, or land freight, negotiating the rates is essential, but don’t base your decisions on their rates alone. Many entrepreneurs tend to pick the cheapest options, resulting in long-term problems and unsatisfactory services.
Read Here- DevOps: Development Precedence and Services Peculiarities
4. Mistiming the Exports and Imports
Miscalculating the schedules of your exports and imports will negatively affect supply chain management and customer satisfaction. Before shipping your products out, take the time to check the cut-off times and shipping lengths of your exports and imports. In addition, you’ll have to factor in delays and unexpected problems. Have a plan prepared if these situations happen. Don’t underestimate and overpromise to your customers.
5. Using the Wrong Logistics Company
Managing international logistics is challenging. Most companies use intermediaries to ship or deliver their products when they reach the destination region or country. Make it a habit to evaluate the logistics and freight movement company you’re planning to hire. That’s because they might not have the same standards as you, causing low-quality services.
Do your research. Learn more about the existing logistics services in your destination country to ensure that only a reliable handle your products.
6. Not Understanding the Essentials
International shipping is demanding and complicated. You have a lot to learn about international shipping, including customs regulations, supply chain management, shipping charges, and freight rates. Even if customs brokers can take the burden off your shoulders, you still have to educate yourself about their shipping process. That can help you reduce the overall shipping rates, get the right coverage, and make informed decisions.
7. Incorrectly Packing/Labeling Items
Incorrectly wrapped or packed parcels are prone to damage. International shipping will entail frequently moving the package, meaning they can collide with other products or fall. Make it a habit to correctly pack your products to lessen potential damage. That’s especially helpful if you’re shipping fragile items, such as ceramic glassware.
Incorrect labeling details can also result in different problems, including damaged items, additional charges, and delays. Find the best means to correctly label your products and make sure their delivery address is correct.
8. Not Getting an Automated Solution
One of the typical shipping mistakes that entrepreneurs make is not using automated solutions. Now, you can find different platforms or tools that support online shipping practices. You can also find additional plugins that will automate shipment packing and creation. Using such tools will also make labeling much more manageable, allowing you to download every piece of information from your warehouse’s back office.
9. Not Tracking Each Delivery Receipt
You shouldn’t hold your customers responsible for the damage. Suppose your products got lost or damaged during transit. In that case, there’s a simple way to ensure that the damage happened during transit and not while packing. Keeping delivery receipts that prove no damage to the product is one way to ensure the package is secured. It’ll also help you determine which part of the process damaged your parcel.
No entrepreneur wants to dissatisfy a customer, so most of them bear the product damage costs, even if it means paying more. But doing that will also ensure higher customer satisfaction.
Managing a business isn’t an easy feat. Most entrepreneurs still make mistakes. While there are mistakes you can’t avoid, you can usually keep away from these common issues.
Meta title: 9 International Shipping Mistakes to Avoid
meta desc: Offering international shipping to customers is the first step of growing your business, but you can’t do things properly without educating yourself. Below are nine mistakes businesses must steer clear of to succeed.
