{"id":10726,"date":"2023-01-17T09:04:12","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T17:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qad.com\/blog\/?p=10726"},"modified":"2023-01-17T09:06:22","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T17:06:22","slug":"4-steps-to-streamline-global-shipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qad.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/4-steps-to-streamline-global-shipping","title":{"rendered":"4 Steps to Streamline Global Shipping"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10727″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]For global manufacturers, managing logistics across various locations, countries and regions, as well as carriers, is no easy task. Add to that the fact that disruption has been ever present the past two years and global trade is getting even more complex.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a July 2022 World Trade Organization report, <\/span>the global economic outlook has deteriorated since February as a result of the war in Ukraine. This has resulted in the WTO reducing its forecasts for world trade over the next two years from 4.7% to 3.0%. <\/span>With other economic indicators showing low global growth, the WTO may need to revise this already low forecast should trade tensions between the world\u2019s largest economies persist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Geopolitical maneuvering is beyond the control of global shippers. What they can do, however, is to standardize global trade operations across all their sites. When you have multiple manufacturing locations across the world, it can feel as though your enterprise is not one organization, but a number of different companies, all using different guidelines. With a standardized global shipping solution, all sites operate and adhere to the same procedures, workflows and processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a significant differentiator when building relationships with customers and partners. It bolsters trust because they know that no matter where they engage with your enterprise, they can expect consistent service. Additionally, global shipping is further complicated with fluctuating fuel costs, increasing customer expectations, soaring parcel shipments and other factors. Following are four steps for standardizing shipping across your manufacturing enterprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1: Automate Compliance<\/span><\/h2>\n

Global manufacturing and shipping involves an increasing and ever changing number of compliance regulations. Whether you ship containers or parcels, you must ensure every shipment adheres to global trade policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Done manually, compliance would require spending hours of manual labor, sifting through regulatory reports, denied party lists, licensing agencies and other critical information. Automated trade compliance streamlines this process and ensures a reliable approach to avoiding compliance missteps. An automated compliance solution that is integrated with your transportation execution solution speeds up processing time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, by automating compliance your company is not relying upon the knowledge of a few specialists to handle day-to-day operations. Instead, global trade professionals and logistics managers are free to concentrate on long term planning and strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2: Automate Documentation and Reporting<\/span><\/h2>\n

Global shipping involves a ton of customs and export reporting. Manually creating all the documents needed to complete a shipment is time-consuming. These may include accredited carrier labels, general purpose shipping labels, address labels, packing lists, bills of lading, dangerous goods notes, driver manifests and commercial invoices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Incomplete documentation or license requirement errors will lead to delayed shipments. Recurring delays lead to damaged customer relations, and possibly canceled orders. Automating documentation and customs reporting streamlines the international shipping process and reduces the possibility of hold-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 3: Leverage a Global Multi-Carrier Solution<\/span><\/h2>\n

Global manufacturers have highly complicated, intertwined transportation needs. In this case, they may decide it best to rely on a few known and trusted carriers. Trust is of course critical. But when you rely heavily on a handful of carriers, you are vulnerable to higher pricing as a result of not taking advantage of all shipping options.<\/span><\/p>\n

A global multi carrier shipping solution could include local and regional carriers as well as global ones. Some regions \u2014 such as Europe and Asia \u2014 have numerous regional carriers. It makes sense to include the ones that offer the routes and services you most need. By leveraging a multi-carrier shipping solution, companies can seamlessly switch between carriers while still maintaining standardized shipping processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

A multi carrier shipping solution should allow logistics managers to:<\/span><\/p>\n