How you approach your shipping strategy will depend on:
- The kinds of products you are shipping, and if special handling is required
- The volume of goods being shipped
- The customer's requested delivery date
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Look at the major players
The major international shippers have online centers with rates, tools, even financing tailored to small business.I recommend: Compare the deals at the small-business sites of DHL, FedEx, U.S. Postal Service and UPS. Find tools like rate calculators from DHL and USPS. UPS provides small-business loans and FedEx allows you to reorder office supplies.
For big loads, find a specialist
If your shipping needs go beyond small volume pick-ups, talk to specialists in truckload and cargo container shipments.I recommend: The Shipping International directory lists specialist shippers.
Shop around
Get an idea of how much services will cost and request a competitive quote from several vendors. This is especially handy if your shipping needs are changing.I recommend: OneEntry has an easy Web interface that can run different shipping scenarios and generate quotes for small-volume shipments, parcels and commercial freight. Quotes are emailed or faxed back to you.
Use your connections
You may be able to get group discounts from shippers through business organizations you join.I recommend: The National Business Association teamed with DHL to offer a group rate.
Consolidate services
If you have multiple types of documents, boxes, special-handling requests and delivery locations, you may want to think about consolidating everything through a clearinghouse type of provider.I recommend: With Unishippers, for example, you get one invoice, for multiple carriers for domestic or international mail, expedited delivery or freight shipments.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Be flexible, and make sure you can quickly tweak your shipping strategy as customer needs evolve and supply and demand fluctuates.
- Monitor your shipping activity in three- or six-month time blocks; as your shipping volumes change, renegotiate shipping prices and service level agreements. As you better at understand your shipping needs, hammer out longer-term pricing agreements.
- Evaluate shipping and logistics software tools that can link into finance, inventory and manufacturing systems. Analyzing combined data points may improve customer service, time-to-market opportunities and competitive advantage.
Premier Pick and Pack Services in Canada
Premier Distribution Group is a full service distribution center offering pick and pack, warehousing, cross docking and assembly with great rates.
www.premierdistributiongroup.com
Premier Distribution Group is a full service distribution center offering pick and pack, warehousing, cross docking and assembly with great rates.
www.premierdistributiongroup.com
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