E-commerce success in today’s highly competitive and highly global shipping landscape demands shippers engage head-on with cross-border trade. For businesses prioritizing growth, international shipping can expand their customer reach—and increase revenue—by tapping into new markets that competitors may not be utilizing.
When ramping up cross-border trade, there are a litany of considerations shippers should be aware of—from ways to comply with international shipping regulations to strategies for managing global supply chain risk. But it can be especially difficult for firms lacking international commerce experience to facilitate global trade in the fastest, most cost-effective ways possible. A transportation management system (TMS) can help, offering shippers valuable insights and automation to optimize global logistics and net complete visibility into supply chain management—all with an eye to savings, speed, and compliance.
Identify and select the right carriers
With so many international carriers out there, each with their own pricing models, it can be time-consuming to find a cost-efficient carrier willing to meet a shipper’s exact delivery needs and build a strong relationship.
A third-party logistics partner can leverage close relationships with thousands of global carriers—or source and individually vet new ones—to match shippers with the carrier that best fits their high-level cross-border trade goals and per-delivery needs. Along the way, that logistics provider’s TMS platform can help shippers better manage carrier relationships through easy contract storage and deliver real-time insights into logistics developments.
Optimize international shipping loads
Factors like international tariffs on goods and unfavorable foreign exchange rates can drive up shippers’ cross-border trade costs. As such, it’s crucial that firms optimize the composition of every load intended for global shipping to reduce high costs.
For example, when shipping large but lightweight packages, shippers may be charged additional fees, such as:
- Balloon prices
- Oversize prices
- Dimensional weight prices
In this instance, a TMS could help shippers determine whether it would be more cost-effective to bundle their goods in fewer large packages or multiple small ones, allowing them to mitigate unnecessary sizing costs and reduce packing resources to improve their environmental footprint.
Track global shipment activity
A TMS can integrate with shippers’ other transportation platforms to offer a simpler logistics management experience and pre-, in-, and post-transit visibility into every shipment. From there, shippers can take steps to address active issues and preempt potential ones.
For example, at a moment’s notice, shippers can use their TMS to answer customer inquiries about delivery ETAs—and with CTSI-Global, they can even automate routine carrier communications to save time for high-level business. In the event of a delivery exception forcing the carrier to change a shipment’s delivery date, TMSs can automatically notify shippers and their customers of the new date to mitigate frustrations and promote peace of mind.
Streamline international claims management
Delivery issues like losses and damage are often outside of shippers’ control. But when they occur, shippers still need to file a freight claim, so they can recover the maximum savings possible and hold the correct party accountable.
In the event of an overcharge, loss, or damaged shipment, CTSI-Global’s Honeybee TMS automatically notifies the shipper, so they can file the appropriate claim directly from their portal. Through Honeybee TMS, shippers will receive updates on their claim status and can keep customers informed about the latest delivery activity. And with a customized management service that includes a managed TMS, CTSI-Global can step in as a partner to directly handle every aspect of the carrier claims process on the shipper’s behalf, helping to prevent unnecessary fees.
Enhance cross-border trade with CTSI-Global
As shippers venture into cross-border trade markets, a third-party logistics provider can lend a major advantage. From sophisticated logistics technology to a global carrier network and international logistics expertise, CTSI-Global connects shippers with the tools and insights they need to:
- Maximize revenue across global markets
- Anticipate and mitigate unnecessary international shipping fees
- Comply with stringent trade requirements from regulators around the world
With Honeybee TMS, shippers gain a window into their entire international logistics operations, including a document center housing all their agreements across disparate enterprise systems and transportation service providers. This advanced platform provides the agency and oversight firms need to select the best carrier for every job, optimize load volumes, track trade events, and handle the entire claims process if issues arise. Plus, with CTSI-Global as their logistics partner and technology provider, shippers can gain access to a dedicated 24/7 account team ready to address all their delivery questions and challenges.
Ship products internationally with greater confidence. Contact CTSI-Global to facilitate cross-border trade with the power of a robust TMS and a trusted partner.
