International Shipping Solutions For E-Commerce Businesses
When it comes to international shipping, e-commerce businesses need to be aware of the many factors involved. This includes cost allocation, shipping methods and returns.
DB Schenker is one of the world’s best shipping companies, offering a variety of international air freight and parcel services in 2000+ locations. It also offers complete international return solutions, including an all-in-one software and API solution.
Sea freight
Sea freight is a type of cargo transport that involves the shipment of goods via the ocean. It is one of the most common methods for transporting heavy cargo, and is ideal for businesses that require a large amount of items to ship from one country to another. It is a cost-effective shipping method and offers several advantages, including safety and efficiency.
It also allows you to track your shipment in real time. While it does take more time than air freight, the lower costs make it a good option for businesses with large shipments. However, it’s important to note that the goods will be in transit for a longer period of time, so there is a higher risk of damage.
The biggest advantage of using sea freight is its ability to transport heavier loads over international shipping forwarder long distances. This is because the ships used to carry sea freight are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Additionally, sea freight is a reliable shipping solution for business and individuals who have to transport a lot of goods in bulk.
Another advantage of sea freight is that it is environmentally friendly. For example, air freight produces 350 times more CO2 emissions than sea freight on the Hong Kong to Rotterdam route. This is because ocean freight vessels use diesel fuel to power their engines, whereas air freight uses aviation fuel.
Air freight
Air freight transports high-value goods and time-sensitive freight around the world using commercial passenger or cargo aircraft. It’s a powerful alternative to ocean freight for businesses requiring fast shipping and on-time delivery. As an integral part of global supply chains, it can help companies grow into new markets and ensure they have access to products when their customers need them.
Air cargo shipping is one of the most reliable ways to ship goods, thanks to frequent flights, a large choice of daily departures, and extensive airport security and monitoring systems. It also offers the lowest risk of in-transit damage or theft. In addition, the low density of air freight shipments means less handling and storage, and reduces overall transportation costs.
Whether you’re shipping a small package or a full container, the three primary air freight options are next flight out, consolidated, and deferred. Next flight out delivers your shipment as soon as space is available and is the fastest option outside of charter services. It’s important to work with an experienced provider that has a global network of airports and can locate capacity at the last minute.
Consolidated air freight works on a set schedule and involves combining your cargo with the freight of other shippers. This helps providers secure lower rates and make logistics management easy by handling airport terminal pick-up, customs brokerage, and delivery of your cargo. This type of service is best suited for high-volume shippers that are looking to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Road freight
Road freight is the transport of goods and products from one location to another using roads. It is one of the most common methods for freight transport and is used by many companies, especially small and medium-sized businesses. One of the main benefits of this type of transportation is its flexibility. You can choose your route, mid-way drop offs, and final destinations. This allows you to save time and money on your shipment, as well as reduce the risk of your products getting lost in transit. In addition, it is also more environmentally friendly than air freight, as trucks use less fuel per tonne than airplanes.
While air and ocean freight are ideal for global shipments, road freight can be the best option for a more localized delivery. This type of shipping can also be the most efficient way to ship goods, as it minimizes the number of stops and transfers that are required. In addition, it is easy to track a package from start to finish using this method.
When choosing a carrier for your road freight, it is important to find one that offers a full suite of shipping options. Some carriers may also act as freight forwarders and provide logistical services, such as document processing, warehousing, and consolidation. This can help you save time and money, as you’ll have fewer middlemen to pay.
3PL
A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is an organization that handles all aspects of e-commerce fulfillment and shipping, including warehouse management, inventory management and customer service. By outsourcing these services, a company can avoid the costs associated with setting up and operating its own shipping and warehouses. This allows the business to focus on its core competencies while reducing operational costs.
Choosing the right 3PL partner is an important step in achieving your global expansion goals. The ideal 3PL partner will have a strong network and geographic coverage, understand local regulations, and provide clear pricing structure. In addition, you should be able to assess international shipping forwarder the quality of its services by reviewing service level agreements and performance metrics.
A full-service 3PL can provide a wide range of international shipping solutions, including warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment. It can also help a business minimize shipping surcharges by leveraging its existing network of fulfillment centers and prenegotiated carrier rates. This can result in significant cost savings that can be passed on to consumers.
By using a unified warehouse management system (WMS), a 3PL can manage all fulfillment center locations in one place, allowing businesses to scale their operations internationally with ease. This enables companies to deliver a consistent experience to customers around the world and ensures that their orders are shipped in the most efficient way possible. In addition, it allows companies to access real-time inventory levels across all their warehouses.