Growing a business with the goal of reaching an international market means allowing the addition of new technologies and other improvements in your shipping process. With fast and efficient delivery, not only will your business revenue increase but also your consumers’ happiness.
Identifying which areas require improvement and taking the necessary steps to make these changes is the only thing you need to do to push your business to the next level. Now, we understand that starting is the hardest part, so allow us to guide you in this new chapter of discovering how to improve your shipping process.
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How does the shipping process work?
Shipping can be very complicated if you’re not familiar with the overall process, especially international shipping. A few steps are necessary to guarantee a smooth operation without-trouble:
- Order processing
- Inventory management
- Picking and packaging
- Labelling
- Choosing a transportation company
- Loading
- Tracking
- Customs clearance
- Customers service
- Delivery
Between those steps, additional activities may occur. For example, when exporting products, you will need to compile and fill out a series of shipping documents like commercial invoices, certificates of origin, bills of lading, and more depending on the country’s restrictions.
Seeking the help of a mexican custom broker will make this step easier, just as the following improvements will help you optimize other areas relevant for shipping development.
Guidelines to improve your shipping process
As you can see, the shipping process refers to all the steps involved in making this journey possible, from the receipt of an order to its delivery to the customer’s doorstep. Each one requires continuous enhancements to perform at its best.
1.- Apply shipping analytics
Shipping analytics is a solution that allows businesses to collect, organize and analyze their buyer’s shopping behavior, based on their interactions with your platform.
Applying these solutions to improving your shipping process means gaining enhanced decision-making capabilities through data-driven insights, enabling the optimization of shipping routes to reduce delivery times and transportation costs.
If you know your customer’s buying patterns, you can anticipate the number of products you need to ship and, in turn, calculate the type of transportation you should hire to ensure the timely delivery of your goods
This is also valuable information for your custom brokers in manzanillo, who will need to prepare all the necessary paperwork to pass through customs without any issues
2.- Upgrade your platform
It’s important for your customers to know, at the moment of purchasing, the exact shipping terms of your business. If this means clarifying that their package will arrive in a week or if there is an additional fee for fast delivery, then you need to communicate this information upfront by upgrading a section of your platform, creating banners or even placing a pop-up.
These improvements will prevent any confusion that could result in customer disappointment, package returns or any situation that could disrupt your shipping process.
3.- Run a warehouse management system
Controlling the daily activities of a warehouse can be exhausting, no matter the size of the company. This is because many areas coexist in a single space, from the receiving area, storage, picking, packing, administration office, and carrier pickup center.
Each one fulfils a specific need. If only one is delayed, it can cause a ripple effect throughout the entire operation. For example, if items are delayed in the picking area, it means that by the time they reach the packing and shipping areas, valuable time may have already passed, which will likely result in your customer receiving their package late.
To prevent this from happening, consider the installation of a warehouse management system (WMS), a software that can help you and your team streamline the order fulfillment process until the load cargo, by having control over every task and schedule; and also having protocols to execute in case of delays.
4.- Build strong relationships with your suppliers
Having reliable service suppliers, like a good transportation company, is essential to improve your shipping process because it ensures smooth operations and timely delivery of goods to customers.
If you don’t have this kind of support, we encourage you to find a solution to this problem. Seek the advice of your custom brokers in nuevo laredo or another business partner with more experience and connections with trusted transport companies.
But if you already have a solid team, you must prioritize this relationship and work towards better deals that benefit all parties involved. This means using open lines of communication to negotiate favorable rates and improve service agreements. By fostering strong and long-term partnerships, you can achieve more efficient and cost-effective shipping solutions.
5.- Customize packaging
The goal of improving your shipping process is to ensure that your goods arrive on time at their destination. However, none of this matters if your products don’t withstand the journey and are broken or damaged before even reaching customs.
Surely, your business’s reputation will be severely damaged, not to mention the number of returns you would have to manage. Avoid this problem from the start, and make sure that your packing design can protect your products while also reflecting your brand.
6.- Hire a professional custom broker
Getting your products through customs is easier said than done, especially if you don’t have the proper help of a mexican custom broker who can guide you through every requirement and regulation.
Hiring their expertise is invaluable in navigating the complexities of international and national trade. Ensuring that your products reach their destination efficiently and without unnecessary complications
7.- Use real-time tracking
It’s important that throughout the entire shipping process, you don’t lose sight of your products’ whereabouts. A real-time tracking system would help find the exact location of your cargo.
This would allow you to calculate an estimated arrival time and, in the case of lost packages, accidents, or delays, apply protocols to resolve the situation. This transparency also enhances trust and satisfaction, as customers appreciate being informed about their shipments.
Any action that can benefit the efficiency of the supply chain will be a shipping process improvement, whether this be hiring the services of a custom broker or customizing your packaging for the protection of your goods, every effort counts.
Find more information about other import and export developments in our blog. If you have a specific question you would like to explore, feel free to contact us.
