6 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shipping Company

15 February 2022

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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Top 5 Mistakes B2B Businesses Should Stop Making Right Away

Many experts point out that running a successful B2B business is easy if you avoid making some important mistakes. Even if you are not running exceptionally sophisticated campaigns to woo newer clients, simply avoiding mistakes can give your company the much-needed boost. This is more important in the new scheme of things, especially for a post-COVID-19 business world. With 2021 just around the corner, it is essential that you pay heed to the contents of this article and ensure that you are able to avoid some if not all of these mistakes. In this article, we speak to some of the leading minds from the B2B world of marketing, sales, and logistics. We ask them about the mistakes and the way forward. List of Top 5 Mistakes B2B Businesses should stop making right away 1. Maintaining Data on External Disks- We all know how data is important to the success of any business. In the case of B2B companies, data can be the deciding factor between success and failure. Most B2B companies are still averse to maintaining data on the Cloud and prefer to use hard disks. Experts are of the opinion that in addition to the risks of data getting corrupted or being destroyed by human error, this strategy is flawed and outdated. Maintaining data on the Cloud does not only increase its security but also ensures cross-department usage of the same. 2. Using Outdated ERP and Inventory Management Tools- The next set of mistakes concerns B2B businesses still relying on age-old strategies for inventory management. With AI, ML, and Automation being offered by the best vendors, it is high-time, B2B businesses should opt for the best inventory optimization software. This will allow B2B businesses to accelerate the pace of their functions, boost the efficiency of the team, and improve customer experience. Looking after simple things like reducing the turnaround times can have a major impact on any B2B business in the world. 3. Manual Task Assignment and Follow-Ups- If you are a B2B business owner, you will agree that following up with your team members or checking the progress of their work can be a pain. Using phone calls, emails, WhatsApp and other outdated mechanisms promotes inefficiency and prevents clarity. This is why automated task assignment workflow software should be used to better employee performance. From Trello to Asana, there are many credible ones in the market, which are simple to use and will allow you to keep track of the work assignments of your employees. 4. Doubting Digital Platforms- Most business consultants point to the fact that B2B businesses and their owners are still hesitant when it comes to pursuing digital transformations. They still feel that the internet will not be able to help them fulfill their sales and marketing objectives. However, nothing can be further from the truth. Using search engines and social media in a strategic fashion can help you with a number of advantages. From reaching your target audiences to improving branding and lead generation, there is a lot to achieve from digital. 5. Taking help from External Specialised Vendors- B2B businesses think they must set up internal teams to start digital transformation or automate their processes. They fear hiring specialists. However, it does not have to be that way. By working with specialized digital marketing agencies, they can bring on an external partner firm, which can help them in multiple ways. This will ensure that they do not have to hire teams, give them systems, and spend on their office spaces. Once you start avoiding these mistakes, you will see a qualitative and quantitative transformation in your B2B business. You need to understand that the world is increasingly moving towards a digital framework, and as a business, you need to make the most of it. Common B2B Marketing Terms you Should Know Still a beginner at your B2B marketing strategies. Here is your dictionary to understand the different B2B marketing lingo. 1. What is the 80/20 Rule in B2B? The 80/20 rule simply states that 80% of a company’s revenue comes from 20% of its customers. In a business-to-business model, this highlights the need to identify and cultivate your key accounts. Therefore, concentrate on your sales resources on those customers who generate the most profit for you rather than trying to be all things to all people. You truly cannot impress anyone! 2. What is the 95/5 Rule for B2B? The 95/5 rule suggests that at any point in time, 95% of your target market is not actively buying, and only 5% are. As a result, B2B firms need to focus on consistently building brand and supplier awareness. This also includes developing relationships with customers so that they will think of them when they do go into ‘buying mode.’ B2B customers are different than dealing with one customer. Therefore, it is important you are always in their mind. 3. What are the 4Cs of B2B Marketing? The 4Cs are Client, Cost, Communication, and Convenience. In B2B marketing, it’s all about understanding the client’s needs, keeping costs in check, opening channels for communication and making sure your product or service is convenient and of value to the customer – this is what customer relationships and loyalty are built upon in the world of B2B. 4. What are the 3 Most Important Qualities of a Successful B2B Salesperson and Why? Knowledge, Persistence, and Empathy! Successful B2B salespeople must be knowledgeable, persistent, and empathic. The more knowledge you have about your product but also about the development in your industry or the general economy – the more credible person you become for your client. Because let’s face it, only real knowledge gives you power over the situation (matched with superb confidence). Every business out there looking for answers is desperately looking for someone who has all the answers. However, as we talk of successful B2B salespersons, we need to consider that they often also deal with long sales cycles. In those cases, persistence is what will make you stand out from the competition. If I shower my leads with attention every day, no other competitor can gain a share of attention. While we’re in relationships, people buy from people they “take care of them." Therefore, a successful B2B salesperson must adopt empathy when dealing with their clients. 5. How to Gain B2B Sales Experience as a Beginner? As a beginner, you can gain sales experience in B2B by shadowing your experienced sales reps, going to networking events, and taking internships or entry-level sales positions. The most valuable lessons are learned through real-world interactions, so concentrate on developing exceptional communication and negotiation abilities. Plus, never stop learning, self-reflecting, and staying on top of industry news if you want to become an expert. 6. What is the B2B Lifecycle Strategy? The B2B lifecycle strategy refers to an end-to-end management of the customer journey. This starts from leading to post-sales support by providing value at every stage, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty through attracting, engaging, converting, and retaining clients with consistent, personalized experiences. Read Also: Top 10 B2B Marketplaces to Grow Business! 5 Most Common Digital PR Mistakes And How To Avoid Them The Right B2B E-Commerce Platforms to Sell Your Used Machinery

5 Ways To Reduce The Packaging Cost In Your Business

Every business needs to look for ways to reduce the cost of overall production and distribution of their products. Most often they focus on product redesign in a way that the overall material cost will be lesser. But packaging cost can be another important contributor in the overall cost of a product. So, if you are looking to cut some cost of your product, here are 5 useful ways you should consider: 1. Prioritize Research And Development Large business organizations need to have research and development division to determine or find the best packaging for their products. Yes, a box is a box but not all packaging made in the same process. Your research team should continuously come up with multiple product packaging designs and test each on a small scale to know exactly which one brings the desired result. Getting rid of unnecessary layering from the product packaging is one of the easiest ways to lessen the cost of packaging. Your research department can this continuously work on product redesign. This might not be a perfect option for small businesses though. So, small businesses can simply imitate market leaders. 2. Buy Packaging Materials In Bulk Your goal should be to get the economies of scale when you buy various packaging materials. Most suppliers will offer you significant price discount when you buy in bulk. So, contact with various suppliers, check the quality of their products first and then ask for their best offers for bulk purchases. No matter how large or small your business is, you should look to have the advantage of economies of scale. 3. Cut Wastage In Every Way Possible Wastage in packaging might be one of the reasons your company have high packaging cost. So, know the exact level of packaging waste in your business and look for ways to cut those wastages to have lesser packaging cost. 4. Adopt Flexible Packaging Flexible packaging has brought about a revolutionary change in the packaging industry. If your product is a perfect fit for adopting flexible packaging and you are yet to adopt that, consider adopting it ASAP you can. Plastic porch packaging is the most popular flexible packaging option as it requires less packaging material per product, takes less space in storage and transportation and most importantly reduces the cost of packaging. Marketing and promotion to get much easier. If you are in a legal cannabis business, you can adopt flexible cannabis packaging. 5. Outsource Packaging Small businesses should not invest in large packaging machinery. So, in order to reduce the cost of packaging, they can simply look for various packaging companies around and make a good deal of monthly and yearly packaging needs. These are some common ways you can reduce the cost of packaging in your business. Apply the ones you feel perfect for your business and competitive advantage over your competitors.

Choosing a Quality Prep Center For Your FBA Business

Often, a company is more focused on the quality of their products. They give less attention to packaging. It leaves the vendor with no choice but to rely on prep centers. To new investors, a firm that can do that on their behalf is significant. FBA business is very popular now. Many leading businesses, both big and small consider Amazon to be an important sales vertical for them. However, most of the time, they do not have the knowledge, expertise, or resources to leverage and push their performance on Amazon’s platforms. This is why it is best that such businesses go for Affordable FBA Prep to improve their turnaround times, work on their packaging, boost logistics and generate more sales. To ensure a certain standard, one needs to outsource some of the processes to other companies. You cannot solely rely on yourself to tackle every problem. Even if you have the resource for it, you might not have the expertise. Using a service like FBABEE will give you leverage over your competitors. Source: Pinterest Amazon is a big company with a lot of rules. It has a stringent guideline for the items it receives. A quality prep center will ultimately help you in preparing your package in those specified rules. To find such a company, you will have to look at the following merits: Choosing a Quality Prep Center For Your FBA Business: 1. Location: A company has to be aware of the fact that the product that they are selling will likely be manufactured far away from them. A dynamic company will have to come to terms with this fact. If they are flexible enough, they can manage it. FBA Business has the potential to move to the next level. The problem with this is that they cannot physically check the product before the dispatch to the FBA warehouse. It can be troubling as the quality check which is necessary to ensure the excellence of the product is difficult. To save time a prep center will check the product for you, before packing and shipping it to your selected warehouse. Source 2. Time-Saving: A service such as Amazon has a lot of rules to ensure quality. A vendor that does not follow these guidelines properly will face rejection. These checks and balances can cause a delay in delivery, which will annoy the customers. A prep center will need to pack quickly with precision. If you are relying on a prep center to make checks on your behalf, you will need to check their expertise double. Any product that returns will be your loss and not the centers. Moreover, if the delivery is late due to any reason, it will result in a loss of business. Source 3. Level of Expertise: A prep center carries out the scrutiny of consignments to certify that they are Amazon compliant. If there are some discrepancies, they will let you know immediately. You may not be an expert on the product that you are selling, but a prep center has such people. They employ experts in different fields to safeguard your transaction for you. Furthermore, you may not be completely aware of the proper procedures for packing. A prep center will label and sort them for you. Mostly you get a package which is ready for delivery without you having to lift a finger. If you are not an expert than the chances are that Amazon will return your package to you. You will have to start the whole procedure from the start. 4. Service Cost: Source A prep center will have to pick up, check, pack and photograph your product. All of these services will come at a cost. You have to make sure that you are not paying too much. If you happen to be paying beyond a specific limit then you will end in loss, even you make a profit. Thus all the money that you earn from the sales will be spent on a prep center. If you try to pack yourself initially, then it will also prove to be costly. So it will be better to rely on a prep center that will reduce the cost. Since they are in business longer, and they have the means to provide you with discounted services. Even if they are not, economical, still it will be much less expensive than what you will pay on your own. One thing to keep in the notice is that a service cost for packing one product will be different from others. If you are packing a toy than it will cost less than say a computer. So you will have to keep checking the prices to ensure that the company is not deceiving you out of cash. 5. Photography and Finishing: Source A client expects there product to be fully ready to be delivered to their customers when it reaches the warehouse. A prep center will require photographs of the products. Moreover, they will need to have the merchandise packed so that they can market it. It can be difficult if you are far away. A prep center with a good reputation will pack your items in an attractive package. It will be accessible to the market. It will help you in sales since when people use your product over the internet, they will feel it be legit. Professionally photographed items will show your customer how much you are investing in your product. 6. Invoice: A quality prep company will keep a proper record of all the products. They will prepare invoices for your delivery. It will save you the difficulty of adequately managing your items. You can keep track of every sale. Any discrepancy will not be left out. It can even be problems with Amazon delivery system. This way, you will have papers to back your claim if a customer returns the product. The vendor company will have no difficulty in confirming their request. Source: wired2golf.com Conclusion: FBA business has the potential to produce billionaires for any nation. You will have to check the location of your prep center to make sure it is near your warehouse. This is to make sure that your product is sent straight away without postponement. Therefore, it is crucial that you have to choose the quality prep center for your FBA business. They will ultimately affect your transactions. Read Also: Your Review Of Amazon’s FBA Wholesale Marketing Course How To Select A New Shopping Center Site How To Stand Out In The Competitive Corporate World The Rapid Growth In The Global Industrial Automation Market And Its Career Opportunities

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

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.

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Related

Top 5 Mistakes B2B Businesses Should Stop Making Right Away

5 Ways To Reduce The Packaging Cost In Your Business

Choosing a Quality Prep Center For Your FBA Business

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

Share this Article

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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

Related