Fashion retailers and manufacturers face a variety of issues with international shipping. These include early cut-off times, non-guaranteed transit times, and poor customer service. These issues disrupt supply chains and frustrate end-consumers, causing sales stagnation.
Logistics companies must streamline international shipping to ensure that retailers receive their products from the manufacturers quickly, efficiently, and in a trackable manner. These are the three main challenges facing manufacturers and retailers and possible solutions.
Cut-Off Times
The early cut-off time is a major problem for international shipping. To get approval from retailers, manufacturers must send samples as soon as possible. Pre-production is more difficult when samples are sent to retailers before the cut-off time. This reduces preparation time and increases the chance of making mistakes.
International shipping is essential to ensuring that cut-off times are met. Most retail businesses have a cut-off time between 5 and 7 pm. To ensure their package arrives on the day they requested, the shipper must prepare their shipment and notify the courier company at least one hour before the cut-off time. The package will be picked up the next working day if the order is placed after the cut-off time. The earlier the cut-off time is, the more flexibility and time manufacturers have to produce samples.
Contrary to popular belief, manufacturers will need more time to prepare and deliver goods overnight if they have to cut off deadlines later. These are the benefits of overnight deliveries:
- Businesses can maximize efficiency
- Maintaining supply chains and ensuring that business activities run smoothly
- Reduce the possibility of goods being overloaded in the warehouse
- Follow market trends and accelerate the pre-production process
Non-Guaranteed Transit Time
Non-guaranteed transit times are another challenge in international shipping. Transit time can vary depending on the location of the products. Other reasons that transit time cannot be guaranteed include:
- Port delays
- Customs clearance delays
- Airline traffic jam
- Human errors
- Technology issues
- Weather conditions
- Ship malfunction
Courier companies must be prepared for all eventualities and plans. Providers should be alert to the possibility of delays in shipment delivery and be able to respond quickly.
If the transit time is delayed by 2 hours because of customs clearance issues, logistics service providers must contact the Customs Authorities immediately. They will investigate why the items are stuck at the transit point and implement corrective policies or arrange another way to deliver the goods.
Poor Customer Service
Retailers and manufacturers are also affected by poor customer service when shipping internationally. For business shipments, customer service is an interaction between the retailer and the representative of the logistics company.
Good customer service is a key factor in increasing retailers’ trust, confidence, and satisfaction. 76% of respondents stated that customer service shows how much they value them. Further, customers have positive associations and perceptions of logistics companies.
What are customers most interested in from customer service staff?
- Professionalism The representatives of the logistic company are highly skilled and understand clients’ needs. They also provide quick solutions. They are also familiar with the details of each client’s shipment, such as
- The delivery time, the shipment content and weight, sender and recipient addresses, transit location, customs procedures, etc.
- Attitude: The logistics company representatives treat their clients with respect. They can anticipate and meet clients’ needs and have a positive attitude that will help them with delivery services.
- Response: The representatives of the logistics company respond quickly to questions and solve problems in a timely, efficient manner.
- Empathy: The logistics company representatives show empathy when they assist customers. They are attentive to clients’ needs and remain positive and patient.
Retailers and manufacturers may encounter issues when shipping internationally. These include early cut-offs, unguaranteed transit times and poor customer service. The best courier companies can fully understand their customers and have strategies to address these issues.
