The period from 2000 to 2018 has seen a 93% increase in shipping volume, followed by a 65% increase in World GDP. Parallelly, there has been a subsequent rise in the shipping emissions as well (~39%), which has proved quite counteractive for the shipping industry’s growth. With the latest buzz around environmental protection and all industries gearing up to do their bit, the shipping industry has also formulated its strategy to reduce greenhouse emissions by 50% within the year 2050. This is a much-needed effort on the industry’s part, considering its stake (almost 2.4%) in the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This decision is also in keeping with the Sustainable Developmental Goals (Goal 13).
However, reducing carbon or greenhouse gas emissions requires decarbonizing of all ships on the deck and is a mammoth task in itself. With the shipping industry forming the backbone of trade in the world economy, how easy would it be to bring about this radical change? Industries that rely on the shipping sector have their concerns regarding the impact of this change. Many questions are going around concerning this change:
The ownership of short sea vessels lies with small to medium-sized companies who usually do not have the resources to spend additionally on technology. However, with government subsidies, even they can adopt new technology quite well. The short sea vessels have a fixed route for travel and have access to frequent refueling. Thus, it would be much easier for them to comply with the new norms and reduce carbon emissions. Deep-sea vessels, on the other hand, are built specifically for a particular function (such as a single cargo). They are in use for intercontinental trade and have to comply with strict global regulations. Going for a paradigm shift, such as decarbonizing or changing fuels, in such a scenario would not only be cost-intensive but will also pose critical supply chain challenges. Thus, owners of deep-sea vessels are a little skeptical about adopting new technology. Contrary to short sea vessels, deep-sea vessels cannot be customized with new technology so easily. A holistic approach is required to redesign these vessels to come up with energy-saving and sustainable operations. As is evident, reducing emissions for the shipping industry has a plethora of challenges and can be more time taking than it seems.
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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! The international shipping industry is a mammoth one, forming the lifeline of the global economy. As per the International Chamber of Shipping, the international shipping industry accounts for about 90% of the world’s trade. Shipping has led to the evolution of the global economy, contributing to the growth of all sectors, industries, and nations. Intercontinental trade and transportation have become the norm now, courtesy of the shipping industry. Also, the import and export of affordable food items, manufactured goods, and essential commodities like medicines and health equipment have all become possible due to the advancements in the shipping industry. Apart from trade and commerce, our daily lives have benefitted much from the growth in this industry. Thus, if you want to post a package overseas or transport your belongings from one country to another, you will find dozens of service providers at your disposal for the job. Courier company giants like FedEx USA have expanded their business by leveraging the international shipping industry.
The international shipping industry is heavily regulated. With ships crossing the international borders, the industry falls under the governance of various United Nations agencies. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulates the industry, with universal maritime safety rules and a comprehensive regulatory framework. Owing to its international stature, it complies with all safety rules and regulations across the globe. Moreover, the shipping industry was one of the first forms of commercial transport to implement international safety standards. From an environmental perspective, the shipping industry wins hands down when compared to the other forms of transport. It causes the least environmental damage and has always taken care that the rise in maritime trade does not happen at the cost of marine pollution. It might be astonishing to note that human activities cause more damage to our seas than the shipping industry. International shipping is one of the most affordable ways to transport cargo. Thus, it explains the USA to China cheap shipping options. Be it adjacent countries or continents on two sides of the globe, the industry never fails. Probably, the only thing they are looking for is the solution to their communication challenges while in the open sea. The shipping industry is massive but difficult to value as there are mismatches in reporting standards and fluctuations in currency values. However, certain indexes help to track the fortune and worth of the shipping companies and industry in general. These are The Baltic Dirty Tanker Index (BIDY), The Baltic Dry Shipping Index (BDIY), and The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI). To understand what it is worth, one should know that the industry generated $380 billion in freight charges in the recession year 2008. Thus, oblivious to all this information, many investors might have missed out on capitalizing on the international shipping industry. However, it is still not late, and the industry promises a bright future. The shipping lines transport a large volume of cargo every day. It involves large containers, petroleum goods, and commodities as well.
Shipping is a highly reliant industry with major interdependencies. One single delivery needs various organizations communicating for operations. Just after the consignment is collected on a shipping carrier, it passes through multiple agencies involving discounted Shipping to China, changes hands, and eventually gets delivered. Various operations during the discounted Shipping to China shipping method generate a large amount of data. This data holds details of a parameter like the volume of goods, shipping time, and cost. Apart from this, additional data of vessels such as fuel expenditure, optimal route, and discovering the right ship for cargo are recorded and play a vital role in decision making. There are infinite probabilities and applications of Analytics in the shipping industry. An easy way to the above-given data and data analytics on it is by producing new insights. Valuable insights are improving shipping companies in improving asset utilization and degrading the cost and time during discounted shipping to Asia. Data analytics is also encouraging businesses to increase the process of organizing, vetting, and voyage processes. How analytics helps the shipping industry? Some years ago, the process of assembling suppliers’ delivery data was much difficult and time-consuming for logistics firms. Due to that, real-time clarity was not achievable. In recent years, the business has overcome such problems with the help of Big Data. Modern-day analytics is growing immensely precious. It is helping business enterprises to decrease freight costs across the supply units followed by discounted shipping to Asia. Automatic data visualization tools are practicing data analytics and pre-configured links to carriers’ data portals to give insights into areas for optimization and cost gains. The latest period shipping and transportation-focused data policies are serving the shipping organization to identify major saving opportunities. Increasing fuel prices and raised taxes and freight rates are creating a negative impact on revenue and profits of shipping businesses as in posting a package overseas. Additional overhead is added by rising agreement regulations. Business in shipping trades is finding innovative and effective ways to reduce costs as much as feasible with the help of more current technologies. As the shipping industry and logistics industry, it is growing more difficult to keep making progress in their business processes. Investigating new technologies sounds good to defeat this issue. However, large-scale implementation, selection, and onboarding can grow overwhelming. However, the industry has begun understanding the privilege of implementing newer technologies that guarantee to develop the business processes. However, they are still uncertain in measuring the impact made. Analytics is supporting the businesses to perform real-time route optimization, quicker shipments based on traffic or weather statuses, tracking, and prediction of disruptive shifts in the supply chain. Big data in the supply chain also enables businesses to better serve while posting a package overseas, customers with complete and real-time delivery analytics. Data analytics tools show data such as seasons, weather, and financial conditions. This assists warehouse and fulfillment companies’ in overcoming shipping costs and circumstances when posting a package overseas by optimizing inventory and procurement processes. You will be astounded to know that 90% of all globally traded goods are being transported via maritime logistics. Due to this fact, maritime shipping companies are essential to the global economy. With the progress achieved by data analytics, companies make better-informed decisions, as it saves time and money and reduces business risks. Let us have a look at some startups which produce products and services such as AI-powered shipment tracking, satellite-based marine vessel tracking to help businesses who trade in shipping and logistics. With access to accurate data and analytics on the head of the data, businesses are getting an improvement in decision making. Modern-day analytics is growing immensely precious and it is promoting the businesses to gain significant insights and predictions into multiple areas. It is happening in cost savings as various business processes have grown effective. Over the last two decades, technological improvements have decreased the cost of transactions while enhancing competition and clarity. Similar technological advancements have created other industries such as insurance, healthcare, transportation, and retail more competitive. But, shipping has not yet seen such large-scale alteration, which has resulted in an immensely antiquated and burdensome decision-making process. Discovering the right ship for cargo at the most reasonable price is an important function performed by charterers. However, the charterers’ entrance to this report is limited to what is provided by enduring brokers and craft owners. Since the information is shared “selectively,” it may or may not be most efficient. Charterers who have built connections with many brokers will most likely be able to find a proper ship to transport cargo but, this is equivalent is not valid for small ship owners and charterers who lack access to timely information. In such a circumstance, how can charterers guarantee they have made the right decision if the information provided is incomplete or suspect? Shipping analytics services should see a broad change in the way the shipping activity has successfully evolved. This achievement is made possible by integrating Automatic Identification System (AIS) information, evaluation reports, estimated times of entries, vessel specifications (such as size), and market information into a switch portal used to discover all available alternatives, as well as the freight estimation. This type of portal can give charterers, and ship owners access to more options thus, advancing transparency and competitiveness. The charterers can further improve decision making by combining vessel availability data with their internal or outside vetting information. If a vessel does not reach the required standards and has sub-par feedback, then the ship can be excluded from the selection process early on. This process will also help protect time by selecting only the best available vessel for the cargo. Shipping analytics and shipping recording services are different due to the visibility across orders from all of your selling channels. It’s typically the most holistic view accessible, and in many cases, it is more powerful than even your accounting system. Shipping analytics services and platform analytics services can render relevant insights into many aspects of customer behavior and the performance of your shipping process. Shipping analytics: A boon
Conclusion: Nevertheless, analytics in shipping is to be frequently managed to advance up several steps in the supply chain. From a shipping view, certain ports are commencing to finance in predictive discernibility projects as a method of keeping cargo leading when ships come in to dock. Although there are flaws in predictive analytics, the value added by analytics far exceeds any flaws. Predictive analytics is obtaining momentum with the rapid addition of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. These media embed sensors in devices to monitor and broadcast data continuously to IoT platforms. Twenty billion units are expected to be deployed by 2020. With this introduction of technology, analytics is more efficient than ever. Analytics also enables organizations to: 1. Compare earlier data to improve performance 2. Streamline overall equipment string methods 3. The track also optimize important performance symbol 4. Recognize optimal shipment routes 5. Develop and examine new business models 6. Obtain targeted and better-informed choices 7. Optimize return(s) AI has much beyond boundaries from being a promising future technology to proving its value. It is now an important part of many industries and has many use cases. AI gives industries a huge boost in production with less energy consumption.
AI offers tremendous operational insight with more efficient, flexible and realistic services to the transport and cargo industries as well, including cheap shipping to all Asian countries. More digitised age of Shipping industries: If you are looking for a one-stop solution to all your cargo and international shipping needs, then we’ve spotted for you. It uses artificial intelligence in its services. Allocating the benefits of artificial intelligence in the shipping industry is not limited and the adoption of AI continues to increase with a good generation of returns. It expresses a package overseas according to your needs and requirements. Express courier service provides posting a package overseas, shipping to Asian countries at a cheap rate. It holds shipping to all Asian countries including discounted shipping to China,Pakistan, India, etc. Artificial intelligence: A driving force of industries
Crisply: You can stay focused with your business while experiencing ship Asia express without any hassle.You can enjoy shipping service from anywhere in the Asian country at a cheaper rate along with safety while posting a package overseas. Needless to say, more and more people are using courier services now than ever before. You can also use a postal service for all packages relevant to your company, or you can send a wedding present to the other side of the world. In fact, the postal service company will help ensure that the shipments arrive efficiently and safely at their expected destinations while transporting sensitive documents and goods. While you will find, among others, a multitude of courier companies providing courier services, choosing the right one isn't easy as it sounds.
In addition, certain pitfalls ought to be avoided whilst choosing a courier service provider. Read on to find out about errors to avoid when selecting a post a package overseas. 1. Choosing a new and inexperienced courier company - Selecting a novice courier company is by far, without a doubt a notable mistake people make when choosing a courier service. In addition, relatively new delivery firms lack the expertise and facilities to deliver parcels to their expected destination in a reliable and safe manner. Hiring a professional courier service provider would ultimately be your best choice for ensuring that your parcels are delivered on time. 2. Selecting a price-based courier service- Let us just face it, while choosing a price-based courier service alone may be enticing, more often than not they won't deliver the best overall value. In fact, the best delivery providers would deliver both highly competitive prices and value-added services. No one wants to pay a high price for a service they don't get. You have to find the right balance between inexpensive and excessively expensive. If you choose an alternative that's too cheap, there's a chance you may get poor service. That doesn't say, however, that the most expensive alternative is the best for your company either. One smart way to stop spending too much on a service you're never going to use is to search for couriers providing tailor-made solutions. This helps you to customize the service to your particular needs so you don't waste money. strive to provide a fair quote from each of them while speaking to prospective couriers. 3. Professionalism - One of the common errors people make is not testing their professionalism when selecting a courier service. Moreover, when it comes to interacting with the prospect, the firm should have a great reputation and also believes in punctuality and timeliness. One good way to find out how professional the personnel of the courier firm can be is by speaking to the executive of the customer service. 4. Not verifying the location of your courier service - A common error people make when it comes to selecting a courier company is not verifying the location of the courier business. Although many courier support providers claim to deliver anywhere around the world, they often lack the requisite facilities outside major urban centers, such as an office in the specific area. Most individuals and companies sometimes ignore this point and believe the courier company will deliver anywhere around the world. 5. Not reviewing the policies and rules of the firm - Another common mistake people make when selecting a courier service is not reviewing the policies, rules, and regulations of the company until the contract is signed. It is very important for the company’s morals to align with yours for trust to be built over a long period of time, and future business. That is when you are satisfied with the service and know that your important package is in good hands. 6. Late Deliveries - Late deliveries are an issue for the receiver and the sender alike. The recipient does not wish to wait for their shipment longer than they really need and you don't want your firm to get a bad reputation for not being capable of delivering on time. customers might make plans around the period your courier has indicated delivery, and if the deadline is exceeded they will be disappointed and inconvenienced. One way to tackle this is via thorough research into the reputation of a courier. Take their reviews and testimonials for example, before you make a choice. When a courier receives plenty of 5-star ratings for timely delivery, you'll know you can trust them to bring your items to their destination on time. 7. Goods Delivered in an Unacceptable Condition - You would like to get your goods there in the condition you first shipped them in. What you would not like is a call from your recipients, claiming things are damaged or unfit for use. When this happens, you're going to have to give replacement stock and it'll be your company losing out. Your courier must ensure that your items are shipped safely to the best of their capacity. To prevent your goods from arriving in an unacceptable condition at their destination, the best thing you can do is to work with a reputable courier who will be able to offer dependable advice on the safe packaging of your products. Each item should be safely and reliably packaged so that nothing will be damaged or lost throughout delivery. 8. Customs clearance delay - Often customs issues may cause delays. As we have already mentioned, late deliveries lead to unhappy customers. Your package will have to have all the required documents to pass through customs with no trouble. Late deliveries can damage your reputation. We will suggest that you select a cheap shipping to all Asian countries which is well known for having strong customs expertise and experience to get around this. It means they are more likely to note any possible issues associated with shipments lacking the right documentation. Before products are shipped, the right courier will work with you to get a solution, which in effect will prevent any shipping issues before they are even sent out. 9. Poor support service - Unkind, unfriendly, and ineffective customer service are three characteristics you definitely don't want your courier to encounter. Polite customer support can go a long way in every industry including logistics. Unfortunately, if anything goes awry, you don't want your company or your customers on the other end of the line to be interacting with a bad-mannered guy. In general, people are much more forgiving when treated with respect. One thing to remember is the extent of assistance to be given by customer care should anything go wrong, they should be compassionate and understand your situation. The last thing a business wants is something to happen to one’s delivery and not be cared about by the courier service as it is not their goods which are delivered. You will be able to determine whether their customer service is decent or bad at the first touchpoints with a courier. They are polite? A friendly manner is critical as you don't want to work with someone who's rude and unhelpful. Did they seem polite and eager to help? Great, if they are. But if not, that's not a company in which you would be looking to partner. 10. Frequent problems relating to service - From issues such as receiving a quote inaccurately, not taking the pickup as planned, or sending the delivery to the wrong address, service issues can trigger process problems. Frequent issues can lead to frequent problems throughout your business which will definitely taint your reputation. Couriers who are up to date with the latest technologies, i.e. smart route planning, are typically the ones that experience the fewest problems. Not only does their innovative program help them handle their day-to-day activities effectively but it also helps them to adopt a proactive approach that ensures they can deal with issues before they become too severe. 11. Wrong courier information - This aspect should go without saying that all communication details and addresses should be accurate on the parcel. But, if you give wrong delivery information, it can be a major challenge for the service company to complete delivery on time without the right details, and also a burden for you. 12. Using the wrong Packing materials - Some of the greatest errors is that people use the wrong packaging too often. They sometimes chuck their packages into the first box that they see, no matter how good the contents fit. How is that so important? The type of packaging you select will greatly affect the shipping costs. You should make sure to use a box or envelope that is not too large for your delivery because it will cost extra, needless money for you and the courier service. If your box is too large for your order, you'll have to attach additional materials and padding to keep it secure, which you'll also have to pay for — and you're only paying for an empty room if you could only use a smaller box. Planning your deliveries upfront can help to solve this issue. When you know that you will need to ship such items, be on the search for boxes or envelopes of the correct size. You can also check out your local store and buy boxes and envelopes in different sizes to find the right match. 13. Attention to Detail - Beware, accuracy is important when shipping packages. You should never suppose you can estimate the weight, size , type of item, or cost. You should then check those information before shipping off your order. only if the weight you told the courier is wrong, and differs from the package 's real weight, you will be charged for it. You can potentially prevent these additional costs by correctly assembling your kit when it's all in your hands. Another very critical aspect for shipping packets is to ensure that the address of the recipient is right. Be sure to double-check your package to make sure every part of the address, including the zip code, is right. Mileage is also important to remember when planning to ship packages. If your delivery is beyond the wide distribution area , please notice and be informed of the potential additional charges. 14. Unclear instructions for delivery - Have particular delivery instructions that the team at the Courier service needs to follow to effectively deliver your package? Be sure to inform them in advance so they can make sure delivery is safe and on time. Delivery directions might include items like where you want your package placed, if a specific person needs to sign for delivery, any "dirty" or hidden passages the team members might have to go through to reach the destination, etc. Please ensure that all directions are clearly specified, so that the team members can work as efficiently as possible to ensure that your shipment reaches its destination on time. 15. Wrong Will Call or buy order - When you use a courier service to pick up a call or buy order and then send it to the end-customer, you need to make sure you have the right number to the courier service. don't just use the same request for an order you used earlier. Make sure you check and write the right order will call or buy on the courier request. It will allow the courier to make sure they pick up the correct order which will allow the courier company to provide better service to you. When asking a courier to pick a call or purchase order, still double-check the number to make sure you give them the exact information. Although these were some of the errors you need to avoid when selecting a courier service, there are many others, including failing to shop around, not testing the courier service provider's liability, weight, and height limitations among many others. In addition, while you can find various courier companies providing courier service on the same day, ensure you research the above-mentioned tips before deciding which courier service provider should you choose. Whether you want to Post a package overseas or looking for discounted shipping to Asia, looking for express courier services to Asia that fulfill the above criteria will be a good choice. Selecting a courier service to deliver your products is not a decision you should take lightly. You need to be confident, as a firm, placing your trust in a courier service to collect and deliver your goods in proper condition and in a timely manner. Differentiating between competitions can be difficult, particularly when there is so much out there within the industry.
The pros and cons of small courier services Pros: Potential to provide personalized service – In general, small couriers can provide a more personalized service than big couriers. Smaller couriers are more likely to become acquainted with your company because of their close-knit teams, and may theoretically deliver a more tailor-made service. Strengthened ties with the rest of the Courier unit – The smaller the team of the courier is, the more likely you can get acquainted with others. It is a huge asset to have if the account manager is out of the office and you have a question that needs to be addressed. Regularity will be regarded highly – The more orders you put with a smaller courier, the greater will they regard you. This can be helpful because if you really wanted a last-minute delivery, they are more likely to be able to handle it because they have the infrastructure and network to support it. Increased probability of flexibility – Couriers may even have the ability to be more flexible with their clients as they are not bound to static systems, which prevents you from being bound to a one-size-fits-all operation. Small couriers are also less likely to have call centers, giving you the opportunity to talk with a friendly voice who knows your business and understands it. Cons: Possibility of not being as stable as big companies – Smaller couriers tend to not have better courier stability like the larger ones. Most of this boils down to financial support, and there might be issues that you don’t realize when you first work with a smaller business. It is important that you consider these possible problems beforehand with this responsibility on your shoulders. Limited supplies and the network supply chain can lead to limitations in service – Smaller couriers do not have the same supply chain or the network or as many resources as large couriers do. Consequently, there could be fewer choices to take advantage of if possible issues occur. Therefore, the next time you want to post a package overseas, rather than opting for DHL USA or FedEx USA, consider small couriers for personalized service. With more than 400 significant couriers operating around the world, understanding which ones to use for your eCommerce business or personal needs can be overwhelming. However, if you become aware of the different types of couriers that are available and the services that they offer, it will be much easier to determine which shipping services best suit your needs.
In the courier industry, there is a need for flexibility and variety when it comes to courier services, and that is why a service provider would have to offer more than one form of service. With so many private courier services entering the eCommerce market starting in Southeast Asia or offering express courier services to Asia and national service providers, online merchants are being spoiled for choice. Selecting the right service can also give you an edge over the competition by enjoying efficient delivery speeds for your customers while keeping shipping costs down. But what separates Courier service providers from postal service providers? What is a courier service, and why should you use it? A courier service is a business, usually, a private company that facilitates the shipping of packages and sensitive documents. Courier companies may either specialize in a specific form of shipping within those destinations (for example, local shipping on the same day or national shipping) or provide a variety of shipping services with destinations around the world. Courier Service Types include: Time-sensitive shipping: There are delivery services aimed at distributing goods worldwide within fixed timescales (such as 1-3 business days) and within specific hours of the day (such as 8-10 AM).Examples of courier companies with these goals are DHL Shipping and FedEx USA Courier services. Regional shipping: Some courier services focus on delivering parcels and important papers within the boundaries of a major urban town on a speedy, same-day basis. Breakaway Courier in New York City is one such example. Global shipping: Courier services can also be found with overseas networks to help you transport your goods to foreign destinations. They can also provide services such as regular monitoring or tax and duty processing at an extra cost to ensure that your shipment is delivered safely and can pass through customs without any problems. In this example, China EMS, DTDC, and Aramex are the couriers that fit. Because these are privately controlled, courier services have the benefit of being faster than postal services. Courier companies with end-to-end strategies benefit from the implementation of international logistics infrastructures to provide more reliable delivery. What is a postal service, and why should you use it?A postal service is a delivery company that is operated normally by national governments. Postal services can be used to distribute the parcels and essential documents, but many organizations tend to use them to send regular, non-urgent messages to business partners and clients. U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Hong Kong Post, SingPost, Australia Post, and China Post are some examples of postal services. Sending parcels via postal service providers by regular mail would not have extensive tracking of the packages. They also typically reach customers at a slower pace, and to arrive at the address, you will be given an estimated delivery date rather than a hard deadline for the parcel. In the sense of international shipping, the postal service monitors only the package within the country before it crosses the borders of the country. National postal service for the country of origin will send it off to the national postal service for the country of destination. How does a courier service differ from a postal service?The key distinctions between postal and courier services can be broken down into the following parts: Pricing If it comes to cost, the postal service providers have a significant advantage over courier service providers. National postal services offer each other heavily discounted rates on foreign mail, thanks to the Universal Postal Union Treaty, and they include all ASEAN member states. That makes postal service a cheaper choice for overseas shipping. Like the old saying, “you get what you pay for,” you may run into difficulties like lost packages and a slow delivery schedule, which will drive away customers and affect your brand. By comparison, courier services have a premium price for end-to-end functionality by international shipping. They may have surcharges in unusual cases that require you to be prepared to cover the costs. The distribution to rural areas, for example, would cost more because of their inaccessibility. Delivery Time Packages sent through postal services are given only an approximate period when your customer may expect to receive the package. This implies that time-sensitive packages may not be able to arrive on time for their special day at the doorstep of your customer, putting a damper on the consumer’s mood and thus impacting your brand identity. On the other hand, courier services can give customers the option to specify the timing they would like to receive the package. You can instead, as a seller, check with the service to make sure everyone has already signed and received the order. Tracking Another aspect of courier services is their ability to provide real-time monitoring and how they vary from postal services. This is not to suggest that postal companies do not offer tracking apps, but they appear to be more basic, such as the shipment location and the day it will arrive. However, courier companies offer you real-time monitoring, so you know exactly where your packages are. What makes courier services more interesting is that you can also ask for updates by contacting the courier company you are dealing with. A dedicated customer support department handles all of your deliveries proactively. You will now think less about shipments and then concentrate on key business activities. With dedicated customer support staff on the other end of the line, you’re far more likely to get accurate notifications on your shipments. It is crucial that you still have excellent visibility when shipping goods internationally to know where the products you are sending are at. The best way to do so is by international monitoring, but this again varies between postal and courier services. When you choose a postal service, it’s important to note that they only provide the most basic monitoring when posting internationally (such as departure and arrival). The only way you can get this added functionality is by selecting a mail service that explicitly provides monitoring. The courier services, on the other hand, also provide international monitoring. Of course, some are better than others depending on the service you select, but you can be sure you’re using some or the other international tracking method. Customer Service It goes without saying that the service quality of private couriers, particularly end-to-end ones, will be better than postal services. An in-house customer service staff will be more aware of what is happening on the ground. In contrast, consumer postal service teams may be outsourced and would not have on-the-ground details to respond to individual customer inquiries. Network Growth Network coverage may also help or hurt the standard of service. In some instances, even if private courier services don’t have an established local network, postal services can deliver efficiently in hard to reach rural areas. And when it comes to dealing with cross-border delivery, courier companies have an advantage over postal services. Private couriers may have their fleets or advantageous connections with air freight companies to cover international shipping from one country to another, making it cheaper than postal services that rely on national carriers to carry packages to countries of destination. Lost / Damaged Goods cases Ordinary postal services typically do not offer reimbursement for items that have been lost or damaged. For paid add-ons, however, missing or damaged packages have a claimable sum that is capped. Therefore, if you ship an expensive piece of equipment like a smartphone, the add-ons may not be worth it. In the case of SingPost, their claims for SpeedPost priority are up to $150. At every step of the way, end-to-end courier services are kept responsible for the delivery. They typically have a claims department to manage cases that range from missing or defective goods to late delivery. Such firms allow merchants to provide a few documents to facilitate the claims process, such as a proof of payment, photographic documentation from your customers, and shipping materials such as the waybill. Fewer limits on the size What sets apart courier services from standard postal services is that when it comes to the delivery of items, they have less weight and size constraints. It’s normal to see the size, weight, and product constraints when using a postal service that can stop you from actually delivering items to their destination. It is something that substantially tips the balance in favor of courier services as opposed to postal alternatives because you can quickly ship items with fewer constraints. Efficient packaging Although the packaging may seem like a minor problem, when it comes to courier services, there is still a significant difference between packaging and what makes them different from postal services. The type of service you select, you must ensure that your products are packaged correctly and that they meet the necessary requirements. It is in the interest of both you and the courier to ensure that your items are properly packed. This ensures that the shipments arrive safely at the destination. In comparison, they may provide incomparable advice through a delivery service through their customer support teams who are on hand to provide expert advice. It can include providing them with helpful information to ensure the shipments are delivered safely and securely. Couriers such as DHL USA or FedEx USA can arrange, on request, for your goods to be professionally packed before departure, making sure that any fragile goods arrive in perfect condition at their destination. Standard postal service will also refuse to dispatch any of your goods that appear to be unpacked inappropriately. That’s where a successful delivery company can make a vital difference because they can offer a beneficial add-on company that others can not. Taxes and Duties When shipping goods overseas, problems will occur concerning duties and taxes, and whether or not these apply to your package. When delivering items by postal services, the recipient is likely to be charged for any duties or taxes and payments that must be made before a shipment is handed over to the recipient that may prove disruptive. They prefer to sell something called ‘deliver duty paid (DDP),’ depending on the courier service you want. This makes the delivery process much smoother. This sees the shipper telling a courier service that they will pay the duties so that the receiver will not need to, which will be able to minimize delays when waiting for the recipient’s payment at the destination. By comparison, postal services will still charge your recipients any duties and taxes that may be due, no matter what. Speed and Effectiveness We’re not suggesting, to preface this argument, that postal services are sluggish and by any means inefficient. It’s also a safe idea when you consider the quantities of parcels and letters they manage and how they process all of the mail. Nevertheless, the speed and reliability of which they typically distribute shipments are a significant feature of the courier services. So, if your business revolves around shipping globally and time is limited, then the more practical option may be a courier service. A distinction between the two services, for example, is that courier companies prefer to offer next day specialist delivery. Not only that, but courier companies may also provide more precise delivery times the next day and are typically much more accurate than postal alternatives that do not offer a premium international delivery service. You may typically note that, as opposed to a fixed period, postal services tend to approximate delivery by a specified date. While that’s appropriate, and there’s nothing wrong with it, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to work for your company. However, the courier services will have an approximate time slot, which is much more convenient in most situations. For certain situations, couriers might also be able to offer same-day delivery service to a time-critical business. When shipping a package, choose a service that best suits your needs and gets the job done! For a long time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a popular topic for any tech-related discussion. However, off late AI has transcended boundaries from being a promising future technology to actually proving its worth. It has become an integral part of many industries and has many use cases. The latest McKinsey Global AI survey showed that the use of AI technology is showing a 25% Y-o-Y increase with applications in all areas of businesses.
The Shipping industry uses AI as its prime technology. Global cyber threats and the pressure to comply with environmental laws and norms have necessitated digitization in the shipping industry. Thus, AI has the potential to enhance the shipping industry in terms of its service quality and speed of delivery. It has many use cases that help in eliminating routine tasks and driving up productivity. AI improves the predictive capability of the shipping industry. It helps in accurately predicting shipping time, weather patterns, the optimal location for warehouses, and congestion in shipping lanes. These forecasts are made based on historical data, and it prepares the industry to take decisions faster. AI synthesizes an enormous amount of data almost instantly and helps to detect problems beforehand. Thus, it makes the job much easier for supply chain managers. AI has improved shipping speed. It has optimized warehouse operations, terminal operations, and made truck yards more efficient. Further, AI technology helps in coming up with the optimum route to reduce delivery time. Thus, it has facilitated the express courier services to Asia and other countries. AI helps in mitigating inefficiencies and optimizing the maintenance of shipping equipment. AI technology helps in designing the shipping containers or vessels, keeping in mind the environmental regulations. Thus, the shipping company can bring down unnecessary fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, along with maintaining environmental regulations, shippers can also cut down on fuel costs. Thus, many shipping companies are offering discounted shipping to China, Asia, and other countries. The shipping industry has extensive applications for autonomous vehicles. The use of AI in these vehicles enables them to mimic human perceptions and make correct decisions. Be it responding to a visual stimulus and sounds, or reading and interpreting data from sensors, AI can make these vehicles replace any logistics worker and ramp-up the process efficiency. Another application of AI is the use of drones in the shipping carriers. It helps in detecting accidents and makes the shipping process safer. Thus, the use of AI is bringing a revolution in the shipping industry. Be it post a package overseas, or making express deliveries, the shipping industry is using AI in all aspects of their business. There is no denying the central role that courier services play in the seamless operation of various economic activities. Courier services aren’t just an intermediary for a particular sector or business, but they serve an essential part in the functioning of the entire global economy. The use of courier services has increased phenomenally over the last few years and keeps on rising. The boom of e-commerce channels has further fueled the usage of courier services.
The number of packages that were delivered globally by courier companies in the year 2018 was 87 billion, a sharp increase of 10.8% from the previous year. The United States holds the record for generating the highest revenue from shipping packages, somewhere close to $119 billion. A survey conducted in America for understanding the attributes sought after by customers in courier service revealed that speed of delivery is the most vital factor while opting for courier services. 61% of the respondents want fast delivery, and 63% of them perceive standard delivery to be within three days. The study revealed that B2C businesses utilize the same-day delivery services of the courier companies the most. However, the courier industry was never this fast-paced or prompt in delivering packages. The courier service’s business models and their modes of delivery have evolved over the years. History of Evolution of Courier Services The earliest way of transporting messages from one place to another was through human messengers. They walked on foot for miles to deliver confidential documents and personal messages. This type of courier service has its origin all the way back to 2400 BC in Egypt. Then came the era of delivery using animals. Homing pigeons flew from one destination to another, delivering parcels and handwritten letters. Some other animals that served as bearers of messages and packages were camels, dogs, and horses. Courier service saw a paradigm shift in terms of operations and the business model in the year 1907, when Jim Cassey launched a courier service in Seattle, later to be known as UPS. This company brought in the concept of daily pick-ups, conveyor belt mechanism for managing packages and also started offering everyday pick-up services. Slowly, it started growing its operations and moved beyond the USA. Post the mid-1900s, other courier service giants like DHL, USA and FedEx USA also started coming up. As technology started advancing, the courier companies also adapted themselves. They started going online and dove deeply into the use of technology. By the 1990s, all the major courier companies had their website. All the courier service companies started the tracking service of parcels through web and mobile phones. Thus, the growth trajectory of the courier industry has been exemplary, and it is still innovating and redefining itself. Factors necessitating the remodeling of courier companies The changing times have altered the courier service industry and are continuing to do so. The following factors have made it mandatory for courier companies to re-invent themselves or change their business model:
Shorter Delivery Times Fast Delivery is the most basic yet significant feature expected from courier companies. People with their packed schedules can’t afford to wait the whole day for the packages to arrive. At times, especially in businesses, timely delivery of consignments is linked to profits. Also, in the case of delivering medical supplies, fast delivery is absolutely essential. Today, companies offering express courier services to Asia or the USA are the ones in demand. To ensure timely delivery, courier companies are adopting the following practices:
Technology today has enhanced the transparency level in all services. No matter what field it is, consumers no longer want to be in the dark and expect to receive real-time notifications about the service they are availing. Thus, when it comes to courier service, consumers want to track their packages on a real-time and regular basis. They need to know its current location and estimated arrival date. GPS tracking services are really beneficial in this regard. Owing to its web-based technology, companies & consumers can monitor the vehicles carrying consignments as well as the packages, even if they are out of the country. Using the package’s GPS coordinates, consumers can track the packages from pick up till delivery. Many a time, courier delivery personnel misses the customer and is unable to deliver the package on time. It not only hampers the customer experience but also adds to the transportation & human resource cost of the courier companies. An accurate package tracking service will help consumers to schedule their day and prioritize their activities. Thus, it’s a win-win situation for both courier companies and their customers. Drone Delivery The use of drones has revolutionized the courier delivery service. The drone service integrated with the cloud platform has given way to a plethora of opportunities for the application of drones in the courier industry. These drones, guided by the software, are in use by many corporate giants like Amazon and UPS. With companies and consumers becoming more and more tech-savvy, the future of drone delivery seems very bright. Streamlined Operational Procedures Technological advancements have helped in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the courier delivery system. The process of courier delivery includes the following stages:
The GPS tools and tracking systems help in accurately monitoring the consignment and the employees carrying the package. It ensures that the courier personnel pick the shipment from the correct location and also deliver it to the right address. The use of handheld devices such as barcode scanners is helping in streamlining the sorting process of packages in the courier companies. It reduces unnecessary manual labor and leaves minimal scope for error. Also, it speeds up the entire process, driving up productivity. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is another innovative technology that can further reduce human intervention and the chances of error. Many courier companies like DHL USA are using robots for activities that are redundant and time consuming. The payment system has also gone online for the majority of the courier companies. The introduction of e-signatures has brought down the risk of unauthorized delivery. The data processing is faster with e- signatures. Also, it helps in eliminating the use of paper and its subsequent processing & transportation. Thus, all courier companies are digitizing their business processes in a bid to lower costs and ramp up productivity & efficiency. They are continuously innovating and bringing changes in their business model to thrive in this competitive scenario. |