Tremendous changes in the shipping industry have occurred in recent years that have put immense pressure on ocean freight forwarders and set them to meet never before seen needs, from Covid-19 pandemic and its lock down to shortage of trucks that has also hit companies in major world cities, which have continued working through the lockdown, with chip giants struggling to secure trucks to ship out finished goods, to current regulations, uncertain markets, and changes in supply and demand. Helping independent freight forwarders/brokers better stay in-sync, collaborate, and improve operations with their shippers/clients, the following are tips that they should follow:

1. Obtain All Relevant Shipment Information 

When preparing a quote for customers assure obtaining all relevant shipment information for:

• For ocean freight forwarders, global shipping is complex and has many associated costs that go along with it. 
• Ensuring all relevant information has been obtained before presenting a quote simplifies the shipping process for freight forwarders.
• After gathering all necessary information and documents, be transparent with customers, informing them of all upfront costs and fees.

2. Document Everything

Prior preparing a quote for customers, assure documenting everything and using for that digital document management for:

• Ocean freight forwarders must provide accurate and complete documentation of all information and invoices. 
• Manually tracking everything can be extremely time-consuming and less effective. 
• A platform that digitizes your business and stores all data in a central location will improve the flow of ocean freight forwarding companies. 
• It automatically creates shipping schedules, provides quotes, and automates data input.
• The most effective way to achieve this is by implementing digital document management. 

3. Consider Additional Equipment and Handling Requirements Per Load

Prior preparing a quote for customers, remember to consider additional equipment and handling requirements per load for:

• Ocean freight forwarders must have as much information as possible when carrying heavy equipment to guarantee safe and effective transfer. 
• Each port can accommodate a certain amount of total capacity. 
• In order to improve deliverability and stability, ocean freight forwarders must know each load’s equipment and handling requirements.

4. Gain Visibility into All Costs

Prior preparing a quote for customers, gain visibility into all costs to know where extra spend may occur for:

• When shipping overseas cargo, you may be charged costs that you do not have to pay when shipping domestically. 
• Gaining visibility by knowing your foreign shipping prices upfront will make you prepared for these additional costs. 
• Knowing other expenses associated with overseas shipments, such as documentation and customs fees will make you prepared upfront. 
• Ocean freight forwarding companies must know all costs to maintain profit margins and provide accurate quotes.

5. Integrate Your Tech Stack with OTR Carriers’ Platforms

Prior preparing a quote for customers, integrate your tech stack with OTR carriers’ platforms to manage drayage easier for:

• Technology helps freight forwarders simplify and streamline business.
• Technology helps freight forwarders making transporting freight from the port to its final destination easier. 
• Integrating your current tech stack with OTR platforms allows freight forwarders to take full advantage of these programs’ digital offerings. 
• The ocean freight forwarding industry has often resisted the transition into the digital world. 
• However, with today’s shipping demands and overall climate, the change is necessary to reduce expenses and increase revenue. 

6. Use Automated Alerts 

Prior preparing a quote for customers, use automated alerts to manage the majority of all operations for:

• General administrative tasks are replaced with automated freight forwarding services, saving you multiple work hours. 
• Given the current circumstances, automation is a necessity. 
• Welcoming the use of automation with open arms will make you prepared upfront. 
• Spending your working time productively on back-office tasks that can be replaced will make you prepared upfront. 

7. Centralize Your Communications 

Prior preparing a quote for customers, centralize your communications in a single system of record for:

• Communication is always crucial in running a business. 
• With international ocean freight forwarding companies, there can be multiple streams of incoming and outgoing lines of communication. 
• Centralizing them through one location will enhance the productivity of your workflow. 
• Using a Single System of Record for integrations allows you to integrate all of these lines and put them into one location. 
• All data, communication, and information go in and out of one place. 

8. Tap the Potential of Systemization

Prior preparing a quote for customers, tap the potential of systemization to build a better business as an ocean freight forwarder for:

• Supply and demand and unstable markets are forcing ocean freight forwarders to confront new obstacles in the business. 
• Digitizing and centralizing information and communications will boost efficiency, understanding, and container throughput. 
• Digitization creates better access, more thorough insights, real-time response and communication, and real-time data.
• Instead of being intimidated by ocean freight forwarding’s intricacies; tap into your potential and sign up with a credible system to build a better business today!

9. Gaining Control

Prior preparing a quote for customers, opt to gaining control of the shipping process for:

• More than ever, in this age of disruption, more solutions and tools are needed to remain competitive in this industry. 
• These things sound overwhelming, but digitizing and centralizing information and communications will improve efficiency, comprehension, and container throughput.  
• Don’t be put off by the complexities of ocean freight forwarding, and learn how to take back control. 
• Following the aforementioned tips that forwarders need to know will help them take full advantage of new solutions and technology that will allow ocean freight forwarders to simplify their freight forwarding business.

There are many ways to optimize and improve international shipments from consolidation to arranging cross-docking, but if you plan to utilize all, we DIJLA would be happy to help you choose the right pallets, properly secure your shipment, and handle anything from custom packaging to customs clearance.

That is why DIJLA helps companies manage their shipping logistics so that shipping times can be optimized. We provide shipping solutions at every level of the shipping process so you can get the most out of your shipping budget without needing to deal with the hassle of complex shipping procedures. 

What about allocating the whole process to one of the most well-known shipping companies globally that combines freight shipping, supply chain management, shipment tracking and other services, with a solid understanding of shipping methods and insurance, as well as a good grasp of overseas markets and regulations and equipped with specific qualifications involving the transportation of hazardous materials, oversized cargo or dangerous goods?

Indeed, it relieves you from doing thorough research from the start to see where your international shipping niche might be, paying lump sums when you can manage your budget and spend and the hectic of perceiving this hazardous chain.

DIJLA who is highly regarded for its shipment services to all Iraqi provinces and manages shipping documents for Iraq customs, is ready to provision the whole process for you from freight forwarding to shipping and logistics services, land transporting services, custom clearance services and door to door delivering services with the aforementioned specializations and qualifications and the handling of all these concerns to ensure your goods will reach safe and get imported to the destined customers efficiently.

From a modest beginning in 2011, DIJLA today boasts of working with reputed partnerships, an internationally accredited matrix of agencies that warrant us to extend effective services across the globe. From the list of shipping companies in Dubai, DIJLA Shipping & Freight Forwarding L.L.C is a leading Logistics and Shipping company since 2011. With offices in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, China, Iraq, we provide the art of international Door-to-Door shipping services, Air Freight, Sea Freight, Transportation services and logistics services. We manage and deliver globally different sizes of cargo, from small to standard to big sizes, with effectiveness and accuracy in order to meet the highest levels of Customer satisfaction. Our team comprises the wizards from the logistics industry who possess cognizance, acumen and foresight about this industry.

Source: https://www.cargologik.com/ocean-freight-forwarder-tips-to-improving-container-throughput/