Strategies to Streamline the Shipping Process

 Effective and fast communication is a critical aspect of all businesses today. Thus, be it a company operating in the logistics sector or a manufacturing company, all of them require their shipping process to be super effective. No one can afford to waste even a single day waiting for a package or document to arrive. Further, there can be nothing more catastrophic than receiving a wrong shipment after a long wait. Delays or faults in shipment can cause irreparable business loss and companies are striving to mend any loopholes in their shipping process.

Shipping or courier companies have a vital role to play in this process of companies trying to improve their shipping process. They are the ones who will execute the entire process and thus, they need to be at the top of their game. Even while companies are choosing their courier service, they usually check for the speed of delivery and capability of the courier service provider. Thus, there are a few foolproof strategies that courier service providers should incorporate to ensure a smoother and faster shipping process.

Improving their communication with warehouses

Courier service providers must work on improving and enhancing the communication channels with their warehouses. Better communication will ensure quick and efficient deliveries. It will also help the company in keeping stock of the inventory in their warehouses and staying proactive. Ideally, the warehouses are well laid out and aided by the best inventory management practices. A specialized storage system and round the clock security are must-haves when it comes to handling bulk shipment and overseas deliveries. However, with all this, the company should have an integrated warehouse management system (WMS) which will lead to better connectivity between the warehouses and the company offices. A modern WMS will provide real-time information to both the courier company as well as the clients regarding their shipments. Thus, it builds the much-needed layer of transparency with clients. Also, it reduces the chances of wrong shipments as it tracks the shipment as it moves through the warehouse. With WMS in place, courier companies save a lot of time and resources, while getting direct access to their warehouses.

Use of the right technology to handle items during shipment

For faster shipments, it is vital to locate items quickly, package them, and send them for shipment. Simultaneously, a record should be kept as the item moves through the warehouse. All of this becomes a cakewalk once we use the appropriate technology. Scanning devices are the best tools to be used in a warehouse for locating or tracking items. Barcode scanners, RFID scanners, or wireless scanners reduce the chances of human error and are highly efficient. An integrated warehouse management system will facilitate the process even further by linking all the data about an item and making it available for perusal. Once the warehouse operator scans an item and dispatches it for loading into the truck for shipping, the WMS updates the database with this data. Thus, there is no data asymmetry and the process turns out to be more efficient.

Building local and international shipping connections

When a courier company deals with international shipments, it becomes even more important on their part to build international relations and leverage this network as needed. Companies providing express courier services to Asia or discounted shipping to China should have legitimate contacts in those regions which can help them to expedite their delivery process. Further, these contacts can provide useful information about which mode of courier service to use and which one to avoid. Thus, it ensures that the packages are delivered safely and on time. Many a time, courier companies, in a bid to gain a competitive advantage, provide shipping services to remote areas or areas where there is a lesser presence of competitor companies. In such a scenario, the company must have a connection in that region which would help it complete its delivery process smoothly. Having international connections increases the ease of doing business as well. And when deliveries happen smoothly and are glitch-free, customer satisfaction automatically improves.

Develop the ability to handle customs clearance

When customers look for a courier service, they are hoping to get end-to-end services, and handling customs clearance also falls under this umbrella. Individuals would never want to deal with the hassles of customer clearance if they have already entrusted the courier company with the shipping responsibility. On the courier company’s part, the entire shipping process would get unnecessarily delayed if they do not prepare in advance to handle the customs clearance process. Thus, be it DHL USA or any other novice in the logistics sector, all companies should have their predefined process for handling the customs clearance. Companies should have all the necessary documents (invoices, certificates, bills) ready with them. It is advisable to declare all the goods online so that the shipments sail through the customs process without any delay. Courier companies should strategically plan their shipping process and address any gaps in it. They can utilize the strategies discussed above and modify them as needed. After all, time is money today, and customers will not tolerate a minute’s delay!