Five signs that you need a freight forwarder

18 November 2019

Bringing in an experienced freight forwarder to handle your shipping needs might seem like a daunting task, however using a freight forwarder can prove to be more time and cost efficient, and it ensures that this aspect of your business operates as effectively as possible.

There are a few tell-tale signs that now is the time for you to bring in a freight forwarder if you’re still on the fence:

1. You have a tight deadline

An experienced freight forwarder will advise you on the quickest shipping methods and with have a network in place to action them. Usually, air freight is the fastest way of getting cargo from A to B, however if your business has only ever shipped via sea freight, this can be a learning curve, and if you’ve got a tight deadline you might not have the opportunity to learn.
Freight forwarders will be able to advise you on the shortest/quickest routes, the costs that are involved and any additional requirements there may be, so you can make the decision that best meets your needs.

 2. You’re experiencing issues with your shipping

Importing and exporting requires many different arrangements which can involve many in-depth processes. 

If you’re regularly having issues when it comes to shipping, whether it’s lost or delayed shipments, issues with documentation or country regulations, or difficulty clearing customs, it’s a sign that things aren’t running as smoothly as they could be. It’s probably time to bring in an experienced freight forwarder. Obviously, even award winning freight forwarders can occasionally have issues with shipments – the difference is that the freight forwarder is likely to have the experience, knowledge and network to correct any issues, quickly.

 3. Customer service isn’t quite up to scratch

Whether you export to customers, import to sell-on or import a product that is important for the day-to-day running of your business, if there are problems with your shipping, you may also be experiencing a knock-on effect to your customers or service users. 

If you’re possibly experiencing a sudden influx of complaints about delivery times, delays or shipment issues, you would benefit from using a freight forwarder to ensure that your shipping times are realistic and abided by as strictly as possible.

 4. You need a one stop shop for your shipping service

Streamlining your supply chain has multiple benefits, from lowering costs to improving efficiency, so choosing a freight forwarder that offers end-to-end shipping services could help your business streamline. At Allseas, we are committed to making logistics simple and straight-forward for our customers.

5. You need a hassle-free shipping solution

Shipping can be less than straight-forward for the most part, ensuring that documentation is all in place and correct, getting through customs, and if you happen to have cargo that doesn’t fit in a standard container, there’s the risk of being fined.

Using a freight forwarder, especially a multi-model forwarder such as Allseas Global, can help make sure things are much simpler and easier for you.

There are a lot of pitfalls you can tumble down without professional support when it comes to shipping your goods overseas. Allseas are here to help. Read our related blog on the benefits of using a freight forwarder for international shipping to find out more.

If you have an upcoming shipment and want to explore the option of freight forwarding, get in touch with Allseas today to request a quote. Our team will be happy to answer any questions you might have.