There is a lot that goes into international shipping. Whether you are a small company or a massive conglomerate, knowing the ins and outs of international shipping is a must. Here are a few of the most important factors to consider.
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Understand the Shipping Flow
The first step is to understand the shipping flow and how it fits into your overall supply chain and business operations. Shipping internationally requires new processes, paperwork, and licenses.
Whether you are doing international shipping from Australia, or anywhere else in the world, be sure to take the time to find out exactly what it involves and how it can be paid for, done, etc.
Restricted Items
The next thing you need to understand is what is and isn’t restricted when shipping internationally. The sticking point is that there isn’t always a blanket rule; this can vary by country.
Be sure to understand what restrictions exist before you start shipping. The punishments can range from massive fines, to being outright banned from shipping to and selling your product in a country.
Paperwork
Paperwork is another crucial part of shipping internationally. There is far more involved than shipping locally, and you will also need to complete additional paperwork and insurance forms.
Once again, paperwork can and does vary by country, with some requiring more, some requiring less, and some requiring forms that aren’t applicable in any other country. Knowing what you need and when you need it is an important part of the shipping process.
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Costs
Another factor that can take some companies by surprise is the cost of shipping overseas. Unlike local shipping, which typically requires only a few trucks, international shipping requires trucks, vans, ships, or aircraft.
The most important part is to shop around and find a shipping company that offers the best deal. These exist across the planet, and more often than not, using the same shipping company can save you a ton of money in the long run.
Research Shipping Companies
Speaking of shipping companies, they will be the spine of your shipping process. Researching your options is one of the most important parts of this process, and it is not something you should take lightly.
You may find yourself using multiple shipping companies depending on your products' destinations. For instance, one company may offer superior shipping options and speeds, while another may have a much larger truck fleet, resulting in faster delivery times. There is no need to use one shipping company for the entire process, and knowing when to use which company can be a make-or-break decision.
Methods
Shipping methods vary by destination country. For instance, shipping to the US can be done by ship or air freight, but some countries lack the infrastructure to support this.
What matters is identifying which methods will work best for each destination. As mentioned previously, a company may be known for its large trucking fleet overall, but some countries may have fewer trucks than others; therefore, shipping times will vary.
Time of Transit
Always understand the time it takes for goods to be moved from point A to point B. While there are obvious differences, such as shipping to Japan will be quicker than shipping to South Africa from Australia, there are other factors to consider.
Another example is shipping to a coastal city versus a more inland city. Clearly, shipping to a port city would be quicker, but you also need to consider the time it would take for your goods to get from there to somewhere inland or landlocked.
Customer Experience
Never forget that shipping internationally isn’t just about getting products to a different country; it is about getting them into the hands of your customers. The customer experience is another aspect that needs attention.
This includes determining which costs you will cover and which your customer will cover, the shipping time, express shipping options, etc. Never forget that shipping times and costs can be the reason your customer buys your product, and be the reason the customer moves on to a company that offers better rates and times.
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Prepare for Returns
Finally, you also need to be prepared for returns. This is part of selling a product that costs far more than many realise, regardless of the product's cost or size. Your company needs to be prepared to receive and process returns promptly.
The last thing you want is to be known as a company that takes weeks, or even months, to process a return and withhold the money from your customers.
In conclusion, this is a brief overview of international shipping, and there is much more to learn. However, these are some of the most important factors to consider first, and then build on from there.
