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Shipping is a part of logistics services. It delivers goods in varied quantities from one place to another.
Shipping, derived from “ship,” is often associated with transporting goods by sea using cargo ships.
However, it also utilizes a wider range of transportation methods, from cargo vans, trucks, freight trains, and cargo ships to cargo aircraft.
It entails several steps, ranging from packaging, packing, pick-ups from the place of origin, transporting goods through the specified routes, and delivery to the destination.
Shipping requires some paperworks, such as invoices, customs documents, and shipment contracts. In an e-commerce setting, shipments may involve additional steps, such as order processing, shipping tracking, and return handling.
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Shipping services commonly provide an online tracking system to allow real-time tracking for shippers and recipients.
Within the international trade system, the shipping process must adhere to the established international regulations and requirements, such as customs and cross-border transportation.
Shipping usually utilizes 3 transportation modes, road, ocean, and air.
Road Shipping
Road shipping uses trains or cargo trucks. This method is suitable for short-distance delivery between two locations.
Ocean Shipping
Ocean shipping uses cargo ships to send goods. The delivery spans between countries and continents.
Air Shipping
Air shipping commonly uses aircraft to deliver exported and imported products.
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Air shipping is ideal for facilitating efficient and fast delivery between countries. This mode suits the delivery of medicine, important documents, and food and beverages with short expiry periods.
Shipping is divided into 4 services: express shipping, LTL, FTL, and drop shipping.
Express Shipping
Express shipping is an efficient and punctual delivery method. This express service involves a global network to provide fast delivery.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) Shipping
This option accommodates a delivery with smaller quantities. To maintain cost efficiency, goods from multiple shippers are consolidated onto a single truck for delivery.
FTL (Full Truckload) Shipping
Shippers can exclusively book a full truckload to reduce the risk of damage to goods and improve time efficiency.
FTL shipping allows the shipment of large quantities, such as raw materials, consumer goods, electronics, and industrial equipment.
Drop shipping
Drop shipping moves goods from the retailers directly to the customers. Retailers are collaborating with manufacturers and distributors before shipping the goods to the end user.
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Consider these tips before using a shipping service to ensure that the goods are carefully transferred and maintained. They’re good for preventing the recipients’ dissatisfaction and complaints.
Apply proper packing techniques to wrap your goods. Use protective materials, such as bubble wrap, to protect the products from impact.
Choose trustworthy shipping services. A reputable and reliable shipping service provides a streamlined delivery process.
Prepare the required documents, which may include invoices, receipts, and customs documents if necessary.
Prepare the costs. Shipping costs are subject to the goods’ weight and size, shipping distance, and additional services that you choose. Compare the shipping costs of various shipping services before deciding the most cost-effective one for your needs.
Use shipping insurance, especially for delivering valuable goods, to enable risk protection.
Track the delivery status. A reputable shipping service usually allows its customers to track shipping progress through an application.
Choosing a credible shipping or logistics service, such as SELOG, is essential to ensure a smooth delivery process.
SELOG serves the needs of customers in end-to-end logistics through a series of diverse services. They include Contract Logistics, Shipping Services, Shipping Agencies, Forwarding Agencies, Warehouse and Yard Management, and Courier Services.
See also: Things to Keep in Mind When Using a Shipping Agency
Driven by the latest digital technologies, SELOG’s services bring greater convenience, effectiveness, and efficiency to your business.
With its Astra Fleet Management Solution (Astra FMS), SELOG offers an IT-backed, all-in-one solution for vehicle management.