There are many ways of shipping a product from point A to point B. You can ship it by cargo trucks, air, sea/ocean, railroad, or any combination of these modes of transport, which would be called intermodal transportation. The deciding factors are the distance between the two places, and the infrastructure that connects them. These deciding factors underline the work of logistics, and the time-frame it involves. Farther the distance with more obstacles in the way, like the lack of infrastructure, the more complicated are the routes, resulting in delays, and higher costs for international shipping. In this case, air freight would be an optimal solution.
In the past few years the volumes of air cargo being exported out of the US through international air freight channels has been growing significantly due to the increasing customer interest in online shopping. Nowadays, customers expect to buy anything, anywhere, and anytime they want, and online shopping seems to be the answer. More, and more wholesale & retail businesses are forced to display their products on the internet to stay competitive. However majority of the companies are facing challenges, trying to adapt new supply chain technologies, and thus fulfilling the growing global consumer demand.
As air freight shipping practice for 2014 shows, shippers lack in expertise that's similar to what international shipping companies would rely on when handling their air cargo. This led to multiple errors, including inaccurate cargo data submissions with international airlines.
Although China pushed the US to the second place as the world's biggest manufacturer, American businesses strive to meet expectations of international shoppers. To do so, they would have to redesign their operational flow - how they handle incoming online orders, and the distribution part. Industry experts predict it might take a decade for the changes to be fully implemented.
When shipping by air, every minute counts, so there are few rules you have to be aware of beforehand. First of all, you need to determine whether acquiring air cargo services is the most effective way for your products.
These are main reasons why customers choose air freight. When the products is:
- small in volume
- high in value
- time-sensitive
- requires special handling (fragile, temperature control, and more)
- shipped frequently
Make sure to keep your packages small, as every airline has specific restrictions for dimensions. If multiple packages need bundling, you need to determine what airline you are going to use on what date, what type of aircraft, and its loading capacity, or we can do it for you. For those of you, who need to restock your merchandise regularly, we suggest that you submit your monthly plan of purchasing, so we can input Pre Bookings for the whole month upfront to reserve the space you need.
Also, keep in mind, air freight rates fluctuate very often. Now, to get an idea, think of how often the price of gas (petrol) goes up and down.
With the wide range of products available online, customers demand to shop from multiple online retailers is rapidly growing. It's best if you have all your orders shipped to a US address, where a third-party logistics, freight forwarding company can accept various packages and, bring them to a conformity, suitable for international shipping.
Many wholesalers & retailers are not set up to process orders, coming from international buyers, and they do not accept foreign credit cards. We offer US credit card transaction services. Export Bundle provides a unique, and complex set of services, so our customers experience seamless deliveries. We are a partner that's determined to help you gain competitive advantage in your industry, no matter what size of a business you are, or even an individual following the latest fashion trends.
Find out how My Shopper program can help you purchase products in the U.S. that are limited to the local Americans only.