How To Improve Your Supply Chain Strategy With Efficient Logistics
The market today is fast-paced and highly competitive. For a business to keep up and be successful, it’s vital for them to have an efficient supply chain. One of the most effective ways to improve supply chain efficiency is by partnering with a trusted and valuable freight forwarding company. Doing so gives businesses access to unparalleled expertise of the logistics industry, access to extensive networks of carriers and reduces overall costs to improve bottom line profits.
Whether you’re a small business looking to expand your operations or a larger enterprise looking to optimise efficiency, understanding the benefits of good freight forwarding is essential for improving your supply chain strategy.
What is a supply chain?
To put it simply, a supply chain is a network of organisations that are required to produce and deliver goods or services. There are many stakeholders involved in the supply chain including the producers of the raw materials for goods, the manufacturers, logistics providers and retailers, all the way down to the consumer.
By effectively managing a supply chain, this results in lower costs for a business and a faster production cycle. That’s why it’s important to review every aspect of a supply chain and make optimisations where necessary.
What is freight forwarding?
Freight forwarding companies oversee the movement of goods worldwide, serving as an intermediary that connects the shipper with various transportation services. This can range from air freight to sea freight to road freight services.
For a successful supply chain, a business needs to understand the role a freight forwarder plays and how they can optimise their logistics. A freight forwarder can handle shipping large volumes of cargo from one international location to another, including any specialised or unique shipments. They will also look to optimise shipment routes, manage custom regulations and help to streamline overall logistics operations.
How can I optimise my supply chain with freight forwarding?
Imagine a freight forwarding company as a bridge that connects all of the stakeholders involved in the transportation of goods. This includes the shippers, carriers and customs authorities. A trusted freight forwarding company acts as a central point of contact, coordinating and managing the movement of goods from A to B efficiently. By utilising freight forwarding services, businesses can streamline and optimise their supply chain in various ways.
Find the optimal method and routes
One of their primary duties that a freight forwarder can assist in is finding optimal transport methods and routes for cargo. Taking into account factors such as size, weight, the actual contents of the shipment and the urgency of the delivery, will allow them to find the best solution for businesses. Usually this will be the most efficient and cost effective option.
Receive guidance on customs clearance
When shipping goods internationally and across borders, the likelihood is lots of various documentation is going to be involved to comply with international trade regulations. Understanding customs clearance can be highly complex and overwhelming, but with a trusted freight forwarder at a business’ side, they’ll handle everything for them. They will oversee all of the customs documentation and ensure that everything is correct the first time, preventing any mistakes and delays to the shipping process.
Benefit from valuable expertise
Freight forwarders will always be up to date with the latest news, trends and regulations in the logistics industry, allowing them to provide the best expertise and valuable advice to their clients. By working with a knowledgeable freight forwarder, a business can ensure that they receive the most current and effective solutions to enhance overall supply chain performance.
Gain access to a network of partners
By working with their established network of partners, a freight forwarder can improve a business’ supply chain by securing competitive pricing. They can negotiate better rates on shipping services, streamline the transportation process and ensure that goods are delivered swiftly and efficiently. Leveraging their relationships with carriers, customs agents and other service providers allows a freight forwarder to help businesses reduce their costs and improve their overall bottom line.
Track shipments step by step
There’s nothing worse than having to chase carriers by phone or email for tracking updates on shipments. But by working with a freight forwarder, this doesn’t need to happen. Freight forwarding companies can provide businesses with the tracking information they need at the touch of their fingertips, allowing them to track cargo step by step and continually monitor its progress in real-time. This gives businesses the
opportunity to solve potential problems before they arise into something more significant and improve efficiencies.
Improve efficiencies and productivity
Managing the logistics of international shipping can be a complex and time consuming task. Freight forwarders play an important role in streamlining the process of international shipping for businesses. By taking care of tasks such as arranging the transportation method, completing customs paperwork and coordinating shipments, they allow businesses to focus their efforts elsewhere. This helps to boost productivity and enhance efficiencies company wide.
How do I choose the right freight forwarder?
If you’ve come to the decision that working with a freight forwarder to improve your supply chain is the right thing for your business, the next step is to find the right company for you. Taking the time to thoroughly research potential freight forwarding companies will help you to choose the right partner. Most importantly, you want to find one who can meet your specific business needs and provide the best solutions for your requirements.
A reputable company should have a demonstrated history of experience and knowledge, showing that they can provide value through their services. Companies that hold accreditations and partnerships with transportation providers and organisations are ideal to team up with. This will offer you access to seamless solutions, competitive prices and a wide global network for your shipping needs.
Additionally, consider partnering with a freight forwarder who offers value added services such as customs brokerage or warehousing. This can be beneficial for your supply chain and can help to accommodate any unique or specialised shipments you may have. Choosing a company who has great customer service is also essential. You’re going to want to work with a team that is going to be responsive during the entire process, handles enquiries with ease and provides personalised support throughout.
Why choose Jenkar for your shipping needs
The good news is that here at Jenkar Shipping, we can do all of the above and more. We have extensive connections across the air, sea and road industries, providing our clients with competitive pricing and bespoke solutions. We also have warehousing facilities on-site at our HQ in Wakefield, Yorkshire, providing clients with flexible solutions that include stock management and nationwide distribution.
No shipment is too big or too small for our friendly team of freight experts. You will be paired up with a dedicated account manager who will handle all of your enquiries and ensure that your shipping process is as smooth as possible.
Do we sound like the team for you? Contact us to find out more about our services or if you know your shipment details, request a quote and a member of our team will be in touch.