What services do shipping companies offer? Depending on their expertise and how customer-centric they are, that question can be a tricky one to answer. For example, at Shippo, our customers are at the core of everything we do. Read on to learn about the services a shipping company offers when they put customers first.
1. LCL Shipping
What Is LCL Shipping?
LCL shipping services, which stands for less-than-container-load, are an ideal solution for smaller businesses who struggle to fill a full container with their goods.
As opposed to filling the container with your own goods, the container is shared with other importers. Therefore, you are only paying for the space that you need and don’t need to bulk import large quantities of stock to fill a container. Costs are determined per cubic meter.
When To Ship Via LCL
If your imports are low volume, or you only need to ship a small number of goods, then it’s likely you would benefit from LCL shipping. For a lot of smaller businesses, or start-ups, importing enough goods to fill a container is an inherent risk.
Supply and demand are rarely easy to determine, and a lot of the time are impacted by seasonality. Having the option to only import what you need and not have excess inventory will improve the profitability and value of your business.
Our LCL Shipping Process Overview
- Our overseas agent will contact your supplier to determine the readiness of goods and which container ship to catch.
- Goods are then collected and delivered to a warehouse located by the port of origin.
- Your goods are then loaded into a shared container, along with the goods from other importers. This is securely sealed and taken to port where it will be loaded onto the ship.
- Once the ship has arrived at the port of destination, the container is cleared through customs and transferred from the ship to a local warehouse.
- At the warehouse, the goods will be unpacked and prepared for delivery. For more information on how to achieve swift customs clearance, check out our Essential Guide To Clearing Goods Through UK Customs.
- Once your goods are cleared, we will contact you to arrange a direct delivery to your premises. They will then be unloaded for you at your desired destination.
2. FCL Shipping
What Is FCL Shipping?
FCL shipping stands for full container load shipping. In this instance, large quantities of goods from a single importer and shipped in its own container. This solution is ideal for businesses who need to ship large volumes of goods, or goods that take up significant space.
Generally, there are fewer risks associated with FCL shipping, as you and the supplier are the only ones to handle your goods. While marine insurance is still strongly advised for any cargo travelling via sea freight, FCL shipping offers more security for your goods.
When To Ship Via FCL
When it comes to the cost of FCL shipping, importers are charged per container, as opposed to per cubic meter. This can work out to be more cost-effective for large-scale imports.
FCL shipping tends to be slightly quicker than LCL shipping, as there is less handling which will save you a few days if you’re in a time crunch.
Our FCL Shipping Overview
- A local overseas agent will contact your supplier to arrange which ship to catch and when the goods will be ready for shipping.
- The container is then taken to your supplier’s factory, where they will load it on-site. It is then securely sealed and taken to the shipping port.
- Once it has been cleared through local export customs the container is loaded onto the ship and is sent on its way.
- When the ship arrives in the UK, the container is off-loaded onto the quay. It then has 7 days of free rent, allowing time for customs clearance.
- Once your goods have been cleared, they will be delivered to your premises. It is then the importers’ responsibility to access their goods from the container and unload them within a 3-hour window.
3. Store & Replenish Solutions
Store & replenishment requires accurate forecasting, resources, and a lot of multi-tasking. As we said before, sometimes demand can be difficult to gauge. If you have found yourself in a bit of a muddle, and don’t have the space to allocate your inventory, then you can rely on the services of a shipping company (like us!). When it comes to what services do shipping companies offer, this is going the extra mile for our customers!
It is also a regular occurrence that Amazon has not allocated enough storage space for seller’s goods. We will also extend our services to sellers in those compromised positions. Where others fall flat on their services, we ensure that your business is not affected, and your customer receives a timely delivery.
For more details on our storage & replenishment solutions, follow this link.
4. Marine Insurance
No matter the quality or experience of the shipping company, marine insurance is always something importers must consider. If the unthinkable was to happen (boat sinking, loss of cargo, etc.), then at least you know you are covered.
Firstly, it is important that before attempting to ship via sea freight, you are aware of the possible risks and strategize how you wish to minimise those risks.
Risks Of Shipping
- Damage to goods due to poor packing
- Incompatible cargo
- LCL shipping- increased handling
- Cargo not cleared from customs
- Environmental disasters
- Theft
- Limited control over handling and storage of goods
You can read our blog Insurance & Risk Management For Your LCL Shipment here.
In terms of ‘What services do shipping companies offer?’, at Shippo, we will organise marine insurance for your shipment through our broker, upon your request. This is so our customers are always prepared for all possible outcomes when it comes to shipping. You can use our marine insurance calculator on our website to estimate the insurance cost for your shipment.
What Services Does Shippo Offer?
When it comes to ‘What services do shipping companies offer?’, at Shippo, we make it our mission to cover all grounds. That’s why we offer two sea freight services (LCL & FCL), store & replenish solutions, and organising marine insurance.
We know that navigating sea freight can at times seem confusing, with all the legislation and hidden costs. At Shippo, we aim to make it as straightforward as possible. We’ll quite literally take on the load. All you need to do is be there ready to unload your goods when we drop off your shipment!
If you would like to know more about our shipping process or have any questions, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.