The Differences Between Regular Shipping Services and Freight Forwarding

Online businesses need logistics or shipping services to send their products to customers. The logistics service provider will become their main business partner and an integral part of their business continuity. 

There are many kinds of logistics services, such as regular shipping service and freight forwarding service. What are the differences between the two and how can you choose the right logistics services for your online business? 

It will be hard for you to differentiate between the two if you don’t know the ins and outs of logistics services, as both services deal with the delivery of goods. 

Regular shipping service

Regular shipping service providers are logistics companies that deliver goods in both large and small quantities. For this kind of service, the cost of delivery will be determined based on the weight and volume of goods as well as shipping distance. The distribution of goods can be done via land, sea, or air transportation routes.

The regular shipping service can accommodate shipping between cities, regions, islands, or even countries. Goods delivered using the regular shipping service will be sent to the recipient’s address.

Regular shipping service providers generally have branch offices in every region that they cover to facilitate the distribution and receipt of goods.

Freight forwarding

Freight forwarding is more geared towards the delivery of goods for export and import. When using a freight forwarding service, the goods being delivered must be in large quantity, as otherwise it won’t be worth the cost that you must pay. 

Freight forwarding companies have global transportation networks in every country. The companies will also take care of customs procedures, requirements, and documents related to the export and import processes.

The freight forwarding service tends to be used by businesses that need to send goods abroad in large quantities. 

One of the companies providing both types of services is PT Sera Logistik (SELOG), a member of the Astra Group. SELOG provides logistics service solutions such as contract-based logistics service, delivery of goods service, warehouse management, and comprehensive freight forwarding through land, sea, and air transportation routes. 

With the freight forwarding service, SELOG manages the delivery of goods from one location to another using air and sea transportation modes. In certain cases, delivery can also be made using land transportation modes.

In addition, SELOG also provides SELOG Express service for document and package delivery. SELOG currently serves a broad industry segment, namely automotive, consumer goods, heavy equipment, staple commodities, and others.

SELOG specializes in the sector of land logistics transportation and freight forwarding. Currently, SELOG owns 575 trucks. Meanwhile, the sea route is specifically managed by PT Toyofuji Serasi Indonesia that has 5 Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) ships. 

With Astra FMS (fleet management system), a technology-based fleet management solution that helps the management of passenger and logistics transportation, SELOG becomes the best solution for Indonesian consumers.

Currently, SELOG has also implemented Warehouse Management System (WMS) service. The WMS service enables a continuous tracking process related to receipt, pick up, delivery, and confinement of goods, damaged goods, as well as finished orders. Not only that, but WMS also allows the customers to view the stock of goods up to a low stock level in real time. 

SELOG is present to provide various end-to-end logistics services, one of which is courier services. In general, the express courier service is divided into standard service and resolutive service. Standard service covers same-day service, next-day service, and regular service. 

Meanwhile, with resolutive service, there is no need for you to worry if you require a special service such as VPD (Valuable, Perishable, Dangerous Goods) service for documents or delivery of heavy packages and goods that are too large to be delivered with regular cargo service. For further information, you can visit this link.