Common Overseas Shipment Delays and How To Avoid Costly Mistakes
When it comes to shipping outside of the country, there are a variety of rules and regulations that have to be followed in order to be successful. As your business grows, you may want to increase your use of commercial shipping services.
Still, there are many common overseas shipment delays. Below, we will discuss a few of those delays and the mistakes that can contribute to them.
Visibility in the Chain of Custody
A common reason for shipment delays is a lack of visibility in the custody chain. To avoid having this delay happen with your shipment, it is important to make sure that you have the proper visibility throughout the process. You can also avoid inefficiencies throughout the process.
An option is to use software that includes features to showcase transparency throughout the delivery process, including digital waybills, signature capture, and item level scanning.
Verifying Country Regulations
If you are exporting from a new country, then it is easy to make mistakes that can delay your shipping. One of the biggest is not verifying the regulations of that particular country. Working with a customs broker is a way to address that issue, since it can be difficult to know every regulation or rule that could impact your shipments.
A customs broker can assist you in working through all regulations, as well as legal requirements and paperwork submission.
Lack of Description or Incomplete Paperwork
Depending on what you are shipping, it can be easy to be vague in your descriptions. Therefore, it is important to not make this mistake, because this information needs to be accurate for both customs and the customer, as well as for the carrier. A customs brokers and shipping firm is a great way to make sure that all your paperwork and descriptions are completed properly.
Increasing Costs from Delays
Finally, it is important to note that anytime you have a delay, it can cause your costs to dramatically increase. Additionally, if you are shipping perishable goods, lost time due to delays can mean goods that you cannot sell.
If you are shipping in raw materials, delays can force a halt to production, which means you are losing money in the lack of raw materials, as well as meeting the needs of your customers.
There is a lot riding on getting your shipments through the customs process in a timely manner. Working with a customs broker is not a legal requirement, but it can definitely give you a hand in speeding up the process, due to their connections with the customs data exchange systems.
If you are looking to increasing your shipping from overseas, contact us to learn how we can assist you throughout the process.
Atlanta Customs Brokers is one of the oldest and most trusted customs brokerage and shipping firms in Atlanta. Established in 1985, our company has been a fixture in and around the Atlanta airport and Savannah port for more than 31 years. We enjoy working with our international partners and enjoy what we do. If you are a first-time importer or exporter or a large corporation, we can handle your needs.