6 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shipping Company

Published on: 15 February 2022 Last Updated on: 12 February 2025

A reliable shipping partner is integral to the success of any business that depends on a supply chain. The choice of a shipping company also has a direct implication on ‌costs and hence profitability. A brand’s reputation hinges very much on its ability to deliver products to the customer’s door as promised.

The shipping experience your customers get has a big weight on their satisfaction. If they receive their products safely and on time, they are happy. But when they have to contend with high shipping costs and delayed deliveries, the brand image suffers. Therefore, the choice of shipping services should be carefully considered. Here are some of the top factors you’ll want to consider when choosing a shipping company.

Consider Shipping Specialization

Shipping services specialize in carrying different freight types. For example, oil tanker services specialize in carrying petroleum products. You must look at the nature of your products to decide if you need specialized shipping services. There are advantages in using specialized shipping services:

1. Experience in Product Handling

Experience in product handling is a must in order to be successful in this field. A specialized service will have experience in handling your product. They can make sure that your product will arrive in good condition, at the destination point.

For example, a shipping company that handles fragile products will always carry the tools necessary to handle fragile products. This allows you to be sure that your product will arrive in good condition, without being damaged.

2. Specialized Packaging

Special products require custom packaging. For example, perishables require packaging to keep the product as fresh as possible. Additionally, the product must be protected against contamination. For example, a dairy has to be placed in special containers to keep its products fresh. A shipping service must show it will accommodate your packaging requirements.

It is also about marketing the product. Specialized packaging can help to create a unique identity for a product and set it apart from the competition. This can be especially important for small businesses that are trying to compete against much larger companies. Specialized packaging can be used to create a sense of luxury, sophistication, or excitement around a product.

Compare shipping rates

Shipping rates can vary depending on the shipping company and the service that is used. It is important to compare shipping rates in order to get the best deal. Remember, shipping rates have an impact on your operating expenses and hence customer shipping prices. Online shopping platforms often allow customers to choose their preferred shipping service. You must offer them affordable shipping to make your products attractive.

Compare Delivery Times

Shipping delivery times play a big role in meeting your customer’s expectations. Delivery time has a direct impact on your profits. Deliveries that are fulfilled within the specified time frame help you remain competitive.

You have to offer quick delivery services to suit the demands of your customers. But faster shipping costs more, so you need a balance. The competitors in the market might offer less expensive shipping rates, but the importance of offering fast delivery services cannot be neglected.

Consider the Destination Network

A shipping service’s transport networks can impact delivery times in a few ways. Service with a dense, interconnected network of hubs will be able to get packages to more destinations faster than one with a less-connected network.

The location of the service’s hubs on land is also important – a service with hubs in major metropolitan areas will be able to reach more customers in a shorter amount of time than one with hubs in rural areas.

Consider the Size and Nature of Freight

What is the size of the products you want to ship? For example, bulky products like oil, grains, and heavy machinery need a shipping service that has the machinery and space to handle the loading and unloading.

One important consideration is whether a shipping service has partnerships with land services that can handle your product e.g., bulk grain handling, offloading, and storage.

Consider Tracking, Tracing, and Customer Service

Today, it is a standard expectation that a shipping service will offer tracking and tracing of freight for both the business and the end customer. It offers valuable information on the shipment status and allows customers to easily check the progress of the delivery. This information offers the end customer confidence that their order is in transit.

A good shipping service must also demonstrate good customer service. In turn, it helps businesses become more responsive to their customers because they can respond to issues from a point of information. For example, if a customer’s order is delayed, the shipping service should have a clear answer on the problem, so that the seller can inform the customer about the situation and when it will be resolved.

Conclusion

Shipping services play a big role in helping businesses meet their customers’ expectations. It is important to choose a shipping service that will ensure your supply chain runs optimally to get goods to your customers affordably and on time. It enhances the brand, raises customer satisfaction, and raises profitability.

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A Well-Oiled Trade Show Machine: The Ones Running the Show

Trade shows are important to any business. It is the most cost-efficient way to market and it is the best way to reach people, and in order to make it successful, it is vital that all the cogs to the wheel work in perfect harmony. Integral to the success of the company during a trade show is the show booth. However, a lot has already been said about the stands. What is normally overlooked is the people who man them, and the staff that makes the exhibition booth decoration in Las Vegas work. Without these individuals, your booth, no matter how beautiful it looks, it will be a disaster. On the other hand, staffers should not just be assigned nonchalantly. Serious thought should be put into picking them. Then, there is the question: How should you pick the ones to man the stations? MIND YOUR LANGUAGE: Not the words spoken any staff member helping run a business can manage to strike a conversation. Also, most of the time, we are mindful of the words we use in front of clients. What you should look out and be mindful of is your non-verbal communication because this has a huge impact in the performance of your company. Certain tips that you should remind your staff members: Always pay attention to visitors, even those who are not stopping by Have a pleasant mood every time you are in front Talk to clients and not with your colleagues, unless needed Listen to your customers Greet them politely, with enthusiasm, and graciously express gratitude regardless if a deal was struck or not Avoid showing signs of being lazy i.e. leaning over the exhibition booth decoration in Las Vegas Smile These are things that should be instilled in staffers already, but these simple things tend to be overlooked when in a pressure-packed area. So, they may just be reminded every now and then, or, pick those who are already innately doing these to avoid making any accidents. KNOW YOUR ROLES: It would not hurt if everyone has their specific roles to cover. At least this way, someone is always there to cover certain topics at any time. Although, all staff members should at least know the most basic answers to any query, but they should also know who the client can talk to if it goes beyond their field. That is why, the stand should always be manned by someone who is an expert about the entire operation. Being a master with one role is better than knowing everything but knowing all the answer to one. NOT A TIME TO DINE: This is not saying that staff members are not allowed to eat or drink. However, showing attendees food and drinks left around the exhibition booth decoration in Las Vegas just appear unprofessional. Eat at your own time, and if it cannot be avoided, do not leave any trace that visitors can see. Showing a professional and serious brand is huge in a trade show, and food visible to the public just makes you a slob. Staffers are just as important as the booth itself. Every piece of the wheel should turn perfectly to make a well-oiled machine, and ensuring a good staff is adamant to have a successful day. Read Also: Execute The Perfect Expo With This Trade Show Checklist 5 Signs That Your Business Might Need Custom Software Featured Image: xibitsolutions.com

Balancing the Books with Outsourcing – Virtual Receptionists

In this modern age of ever-increasing use of electronic forms of communication, there is no wonder that many kinds of businesses are constantly looking for ways to keep up with their competition. Indeed, accountancy firms looking to improve the way they handle incoming calls to their offices will probably consider contacting a provider of virtual reception services. Of course, busy owners of an accounting company who need to ensure all their calls are answered in a professional and courteous manner at all times would be wise to search for websites providing insight into the benefits of virtual phone answering solutions. By looking at websites that tell you the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant, overworked accountants who wish to find a solution to their current issue regarding office reception service should be able to find out more about why using a virtual office assistant service is a good idea. Needless to say, accounting firms with aspirations of becoming a leader in their industry will need to make sure they are able to retain their clients by providing a phone call answering service with very high standards. Providers of professional virtual phone answering an email response services that are thinking of branching out into the accountancy sector will need to make sure they hire the right people for this kind of work. Skill Set : As there are suppliers of virtual office receptionists who have people from a variety of backgrounds in their employment, it should not be too difficult for an accounting firm to find a virtual office assistant with the right skill set for their organization. Indeed, by taking our time when looking for a telephone answering service for our accounting business, we should be able to avoid ending up with a virtual assistant that is not suitable for the tasks they are given. Of course, highly-qualified virtual office assistants with a background in bookkeeping or other accounting competencies will be able to deal with related enquires by existing or potential clients so much more competently than those with little or no experience in this field. Some of the tasks undertaken by a receptionist working in the accounting industry include: Managing all incoming invoices Inputting Accounts Payable data into the accounts system Making sure key bills are paid on time Answering telephone calls from clients and colleagues Managing email accounts for client communications Multiple Offices : Accountancy firms that have done exceptionally well since their inception may have got to the stage where they have offices in a number of places including different parts of the country where they are based. Australian accounting firms in Sydney who happen to have a number of offices in the CBD would be wise to get in touch with a provider of virtual assistant services in order to be able to provide a focal point for all their incoming calls. Indeed, by reducing the number of different telephone numbers we have for our business, we should be able to increase the control we have over our company practices. Bosses of an accounting company that have managed to secure the services of a professional virtual office assistant provider are bound to discover the benefits of such a smart business move. Moreover, busy accountants who do need to visit their various office locations throughout the city will appreciate having a virtual receptionist to handle all incoming calls whilst they navigate through congested traffic during peak hour times. Of course, accounting firms who are able to function much better by employing the services of a virtual secretary will be able to focus more on the other important aspects of their business. Read Also : 4 Reasons Your Home Business Needs A Virtual Receptionist An Introduction To Voice Over IP (VoIP)

The Right Way To Conduct An Executive Search In The Manufacturing Industry

The manufacturing industry has grown tremendously over the years. But hiring a suitable executive can be a challenge. To help you out, here are some tips: 1. Recruitment Strategies In addition to traditional recruitment, many manufacturers have embraced social media and other digital strategies to attract top talent. Click the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media for more information about social media. A good recruiting strategy is to connect with job seekers through social media and offer them a chance to opt-in to the company's communications and digital properties. Creating an engaging candidate experience is crucial to attracting specialized candidates. Candidates should be able to easily schedule interviews and receive prompt communication. This way, the process of hiring is quick and easy. With the help of applicant tracking systems, manufacturers can attract more niche talent and eliminate their reliance on external recruiting agencies. With these tools, employers can streamline recruitment processes and save money. Moreover, they can use AI-powered sourcing tools such as chatbots and text-to-apply to streamline the hiring process. Besides, talent pools also provide ready-to-hire candidates. Recruiting strategies for manufacturing include creating a recruiting pipeline and promoting your company culture. For example, you can target recently displaced workers by advertising your open positions and perks. In addition to the social media network, the manufacturing industry should tap into current employees and offer them referral incentives. Recruiters should communicate regularly with their existing employees. This way, they can build a strong connection with the people who have worked at the company and can evangelize for the company. In addition to leveraging your existing employees, companies should also use innovative messaging solutions to cast a wide net. 2. Writing The Right Job Description The manufacturing industry is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. Click here for statistics about job openings. Candidates are attracting attention from a variety of industries, including "sexier" fields and those requiring a college degree. Competition for manufacturing positions is high, making it imperative to write an effective job description. Make sure your description reflects the position you're seeking. List the main functions of the position in bullet point form. Use present-tense verbs and state the time commitment and frequency of tasks. Avoid using vague descriptors that can mislead prospective applicants. Also, include the skills and experience required for the role, not every skill in the world. Make it clear what is expected of applicants and how they will contribute to the success of the company. Your title should contain keywords. It should tell people what kind of talent you're seeking and is one of the most important parts of your job description. From the perspective of search engines, the job title is important, as these words are given weight by algorithms. Use keywords in your job description in a way that pushes it to the top of search results. If your description is too generic, your job posting will not receive the attention it deserves. 3. Strong Leadership Skills CEOs need to have strong social skills, particularly when navigating the complexity of the modern manufacturing world. CEOs and senior executives in executive search firms spend much of their time interacting with people, communicating information, and facilitating the exchange of ideas. Strong social skills help them build teams and foster an environment where diverse talent thrives. In any field, strong leadership skills are an absolute must. The key to getting a great job is to possess these qualities. Without them, you won't have a chance of succeeding in the executive role. As a result, candidates should focus on these qualities while they're in the hiring process. Leaders with strong people management skills are highly sought after by the highest ranking firms. Having strong people management skills is also an asset when searching for executive positions. This means that a manufacturing executive search will rely more on these skills than those necessary in production. It is important to narrow your search to the correct skill set to ensure the best fit Successful candidates are capable of understanding the organization's long-term vision. They'll use this to explore the scope of the position and develop a game plan to get there. They'll be able to achieve both immediate and long-term results, and they'll have no trouble developing direct reports. Read Also: 7 Top Gear Manufacturing Companies in the USAHow Portable Metrology Tools Are Making Manufacturers More Flexible5 Things to consider When Choosing a Footwear Manufacturing Company

6 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shipping Company

Consider Shipping Specialization

1. Experience in Product Handling

2. Specialized Packaging

Compare shipping rates

Compare Delivery Times

Consider the Destination Network

Consider the Size and Nature of Freight

Consider Tracking, Tracing, and Customer Service

Conclusion

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Related

A Well-Oiled Trade Show Machine: The Ones Running the Show

Balancing the Books with Outsourcing – Virtual Receptionists

The Right Way To Conduct An Executive Search In The Manufacturing Industry

6 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shipping Company

Consider Shipping Specialization

1. Experience in Product Handling

2. Specialized Packaging

Compare shipping rates

Compare Delivery Times

Consider the Destination Network

Consider the Size and Nature of Freight

Consider Tracking, Tracing, and Customer Service

Conclusion

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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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