Do your mail and logistics providers need to be ‘local’ to your country of business?

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We work in an ever smaller world. The rise of global supply chains means that, whether your new business is involved in retail or manufacturing, the chances are your regular shipments and deliveries will involve products or parts from a number of different countries and probably continents.

If you are starting a new company overseas, then you will be facing some key choices about your logistics suppliers. Whether you are organising container loads or van loads, you may well be considering the best way to get your stock or products to your clients and customers DCs, stores or houses. Do you opt for a parcels or logistics company indigenous to your new chosen country, or use an international organisation?

Local or national

In today’s e-commerce revolution, the fact is there is little point is staying ‘local’. If you are looking to organise shipments within the boundaries of your new chosen country you may see competitive deals and believe there is a value in local knowledge. However, many international companies, such as DHL and UPS, Norbert Dentressangle or Kuehne & Nagle operate in different individual countries on a ‘local’ level, with national and indeed regional expertise; yet shared international company values and standards of service.

My own company, www.ParcelHero.com, delivers into 220 countries across the globe. Yet the chances are it can get you a better deal than a local operator in your chosen country of business, and supply a more reliable service. That’s because we partner with leading parcels companies such as DHL and UPS, obtaining the best possible prices for your shipment. And, reassuringly for some start start-ups taking their first steps into business abroad, our website and support services are in English! Our partner countries can master not only the routes, but also the wealth of paperwork needed for expanding but demanding markets such as Russia and China.

Local independent or 3PL?

The same applies if you are moving up the scale of freight needing sending, companies such as DHL Supply Chain spend considerable time and energy ensuring that their services in Africa or Eastern Europe meet the same KPIs and quality standard as those in the US or Europe, but at the same time do business in a way that is appropriate to a particular location. Visiting the Distribution Centres of an International Third Party Logistics Provider, or 3PL as they are known, across different continents is rather disorientating; it feels different and yet very similar, at the same time!

Remember, companies with international expertise can save you a lot of time. You may well find a local company with vast expertise in its native country, but less knowledge of the best rates in Hong Kong or national holidays in India.

Of course if your idea is to go ‘native’, as part of, perhaps a thriving cottage or niche industry in a particular country, there may well be a local delivery or freight company ideal for your needs and image; but for companies with a market across national borders, there is much to recommend international couriers and 3PL operations.

David Jinks MILT

Head of Publications, ParcelHero.com

Article supplied by www.parcelhero.com