There are lots of important things to consider when choosing an LCL shipping company. In this blog, we are going to outline what we think are essential attributes of a freight forwarder. Read on to find out more!
Make The Right Decision When Choosing An LCL Shipping Company
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the e-commerce market has boomed. Consequently, global shipping demands are on the rise, and more businesses are looking for economically viable shipping methods.
Small businesses are not intending to miss out on the opportunity to ship their products globally. LCL shipping has been accoladed as the preferred method for small businesses to ship their goods, as it reduces shipping costs and meets individual requirements.
However, where there is a surge in demand for a service, that usually means that there are also a lot of providers to choose from. Choosing an LCL shipping company you can trust is paramount for your shipment’s success.
Your shipping partner should provide timely and secure transportation of your goods at a competitive price. They should also have a strong global network and offer connectivity.
Our 4 Top Considerations When Choosing An LCL Shipping Company
We know it can be overwhelming when choosing an LCL shipping company. At the end of the day, you’re trusting them with your business. The success of your business can be seriously impacted if your shipment is left in the wrong hands.
As scary as that sounds, we want to take the pressure off! Here are 4 essential considerations to weigh up when choosing an LCL shipping company.
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Reputation
Opting for an LCL shipping company with a strong reputation means they will have an established global network. This enhances their capability to provide the best service to you and your shipment.
By forming close connections with partners in key shipping locations, they can oversee the shipping process from start to finish. They’ll also receive resourceful intel that impacts your shipment.
A good reputation also reflects the LCL shipping company’s track record in successful shipments. Being assured of a company’s service quality, trustworthiness and reliability is paramount. Otherwise, your shipment could be at risk as the company handling is lack in thorough care and integrity.
2. Communication
You can tell by the services provided by a freight company how willing they are to go the extra mile and the standard of their expertise. When trusting an LCL shipping service, you want to know they are easy to contact and are hands-on.
Also, when choosing an LCL shipping company, it is good practice to find responsive and accessible customer service teams who can assure you and answer your queries throughout the process. Effective communication throughout the shipping process is conducive to a smooth, stress-free experience.
3. Transit Times
Due to the nature of the LCL shipments being handled more than other shipping methods, it can generally take more time. If you think, for an FCL shipment, each step in the shipping process must be completed once. For LCL, it must be completed for every shipment in the container, allowing for more errors and hold-ups.
Companies that plan strategic shipping routes and prioritise timely transits generally have a greater customer satisfaction rate. Controlled transit times also minimize the holding costs of your shipment.
LCL shipping companies who have warehouse facilities, like Shippo, are generally more economical from a business standpoint and ensure the safety of your cargo. This also improves the ease of delivery.
4. Cost And Transparency
Freight companies who are transparent about the costs accrued throughout the shipping process allow for accurate budget management. Often, there are ‘hidden’ or ‘surprise’ shipping costs throughout the process. These expenses will directly impact your revenue and the ‘cost of goods sold’.
Transparency allows for realistic budget forecasting. When choosing an LCL shipping company, you are essentially making an investment decision. It is valuable for your business to have all the facts before doing so.
How Shippo Delivers LCL Shipping Services
As a shipping company, we go above and beyond for our customers. While we cannot speak for other companies, here is a step-by-step breakdown of our role in the LCL shipping process:
- Preparing your quote
- Establish the most cost-effective shipping method for your goods using our network of quality overseas agents
- Construct a realistic and honest price of shipping, with any foreseeable charges included (we also have an online calculator for this)
- Answer any queries at the start of the shipping process
2. Organise your shipment
- Arrange booking your shipment with your supplier
- Manage the booking process so that goods are shipped with the earliest arrival date possible
3. Manage your shipment
- Ensure goods are cleared through the country of origin’s customs and load the container
- While in transit, we ensure that UK customs clearance is in place such as an EORI application
- Clear goods through UK customers with the lowest possible duty rating and cover HMRC costs
- Send a fully inclusive invoice, covering the Freight fee, UK duty and VAT
4. Deliver the shipment
- Unpack the goods to a nearby warehouse where the shipment is made ready for delivery
- Arrange a date for the delivery
- Safely deliver your goods to the kerbside
Trusting Shippo With Your LCL Shipment
Ahead of finding the LCL shipping company you’d like to work with, you should consider these four points- reputation, communication, transit times and cost and transparency.
When choosing to trust Shippo with your LCL shipment, you can be assured that we will always go the extra mile, so your goods are protected and arrive on time.
If you are interested in getting an accurate and transparent quote, then you can do so through our website. Alternatively, you can get in touch by emailing info@shippo.co.uk or calling us on 0203 384 0498.