What’s Slowing Down Your Shipping Processes?

shipping processes
July 24, 2016

~by Brooke Chaplan~

.

The shipping process can be completely different for enterprises supplying products across seas than for those just shipping to local suppliers or partners. But one common problem all companies run into is a slowdown of their overall processes. For example, one provider might take half the time to ferry a product to the same destination as another, or you might not realize that your warehouse organization is grinding things to a halt. The culprits that slow down shipping processes are pretty much the same everywhere, and are also very avoidable if equipped with the right knowledge and information.


Internal Complications

The first step in improving your delivery time and purchase turnover rates begins with the ordering structure of your business. If your company has a complicated system of processing an order, valuable time is lost for you and the customer. Several unnecessary hours or days can be lost in processing an order and push the delivery process back. Look for ways to combine steps and cut out redundancies in the ordering process.

Communication with Warehouses

The second an order is made and processed, the required product stored in a warehouse should be packaged and transported to a courier service. If the channel of communication between your firm’s sales department and their warehouse is slow or redundant, your shipping process experiences delays. Delays in delivery accumulate into general dissatisfaction in clients. Update your communication channels and make sure your organization in the warehouses are up to speed with the new ways you process orders.

Disorganized Inventory

Every product should be easy to locate in your warehouses. Once a product is required, you should be able to find it within minutes, or even seconds. When a firm’s inventory is disorganized and uncoordinated, valuable time is lost tracking items. Time your process and then update technological systems to reflect how items are stored and tracked.

Courier and Freight Services

shipping processesShipping companies use different methods to get your products around. Most companies use modernized ships for overseas cargo. They are much slower than the old model ships, but will get more bulk items to the destination at once. Choosing one company to provide all your courier services can be a bad idea. Having various backups allows you the flexibility to work with the best for a given situation. For example, you might choose a better shipping company when you need quick trips done, while relying on your bulk shipping to get big orders overseas.

Paperwork

If you do not use electronic data interchange (EDI), you had better be only shipping one item a month. Otherwise, if you ship in bulk and don’t file your data in EDI, you lose bulk time in handling paperwork. Be sure to update as needed and as you can afford.

Customs Clearance

Clearing at customs is by far the longest and most annoying process in shipping. Shipping companies spend ample time here, but shrewd businesspeople are able to pass through customs the minute their goods arrive. How? They declare their cargo before it leaves their country. They adequately prepare for clearance even before their goods arrive.

.
The secret to thriving in the shipping industry is always to protect the relationship between your firm and your clients. Do everything possible to ensure early arrivals. In cases of inevitable delays, communicate with clients to brief them every step of the way. Your customers will know what to expect and will appreciate your honesty.


Share this Post - shipping process


Meet the Author: Brooke Chaplan

Brooke ChaplanBrooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening.

For more information on better shipping options, check out Arrow Truck Sales.

Contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.


Categories

More Posts:

How to Keep Your Business Safe From Cybersecurity Threats

How to Keep Your Business Safe From Cybersecurity Threats Find more business software and technology tips at Leadership Girl. Cybersecurity is a major concern for businesses big and small. Every year brings a new record number of cyber attacks and by 2025, cybercrime...

When it’s Time to Hire an HR Professional for Your Company

As your business continues to expand, it might be a wise decision to employ an HR specialist who can help you manage and optimize your workforce. An HR expert brings with them essential services that will streamline the operations of your company while keeping your...

Manufacturing Tips Businesses Should Follow

To be a victorious business, it takes more than having an outstanding product. Knowing the significance of manufacturing and how it impacts their financials is integral for any organization that wishes to thrive in today's marketplace. To keep up with the competition,...

What I Wish I Had Known When I Started My Business

Starting a business is hard work. There are so many things to think about and do, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Trust me, I know from experience! When I started my business, there were a lot of things I wish I had known. But thankfully, I've learned a lot...

Product Mistakes You Might Be Making at Your Business

Running a business isn’t easy, and making product-related mistakes can cost your company time and money. From creating products without doing market research to holding excess inventory or failing to file patents, there are numerous pitfalls that you need to be aware...

A Five-Step Guide to Starting a Logistics Company

If you've been considering launching a transportation and logistics company, now is the moment. The transportation and storage sector is very important and profitable. Statistics show that by 2027, the global logistics market would have grown from its 2017 valuation...

How to Reduce Your Tax Burden When Operating a Business

As a business owner, you already have many financial responsibilities. Adding on the burden of taxes can be overwhelming. To reduce any stress, you need to find ways to reduce what you’re spending on taxes.  Start a Retirement Plan  Having a retirement plan in place...

​​How to Prevent Lawsuits From Ruining Your Company

No one wants to deal with the hassle and expense of a lawsuit. Unfortunately, lawsuits can happen to any business, no matter how big or small. The best way to protect your company is to take preventative measures to make sure that you are doing everything possible to...

Explaining the What, Why, and How of Strategic Alliance

A strategic alliance is a business arrangement in which two or more companies come together to form a partnership to pursue a common goal. By teaming up, these companies can leverage each other's strengths and resources to achieve their objectives more quickly and...

10 Strategies an Ecommerce Business Needs to Follow to Increase their Customer Base

Online retailers need to drive traffic to their websites to boost sales. It is important to choose the right marketing strategies to drive traffic since not every strategy will work for every business. This article provides an overview of efficient marketing...
Manufacturing Tips Businesses Should Follow

Manufacturing Tips Businesses Should Follow

To be a victorious business, it takes more than having an outstanding product. Knowing the significance of manufacturing and how it impacts their financials is integral for any organization that wishes to thrive in today's marketplace. To keep up with the competition,...

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

A company retreat is an excellent opportunity for team-building, learning new skills, and fostering relationships between colleagues. Whether your team is large or small, a well-planned retreat can be an invaluable investment in your company's success. We will explore...

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

Prioritizing employee health is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. By investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and build a positive company culture. Here are some tips on how to...

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

In today's fast-paced business environment, keeping up with technological advancements is essential for success. Implementing the latest technology can offer numerous benefits, such as improved productivity, enhanced data security, and reduced costs.  Improve...

What are local links and how to earn them

What are local links and how to earn them

What local links are and how they might assist local businesses develop an efficient SEO strategy are covered in this article. Local links allow visitors to learn more about a region and its businesses by connecting websites from the same area that are relevant to one another. They must be pertinent to the neighbourhood and offer valuable resources or information. Content marketing, reviews, sponsored content, social media, and directories are all ways to generate local links.

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Property management is not a simple job, there are multiple tasks that a property manager should complete for various property investors. Marketing is one of the difficult parts, but it’s crucial. You can only attract tenants to your property and gain income after you have generated leads. Therefore, you should try your best to come up with smart and effective strategies to get your company known.