Maintaining a solid relationship with both manufacturers and wholesalers is crucial in your role as a distributor. To ensure that you fulfill your obligations in your critical position in the supply chain, it’s vital that you have the right systems and protocols in place in your business. Using the most up-to-date technologies, tools, and tactics, you can ensure that you can expand your operations beyond the local market.
Entering the world of international exports is a big step for any distributor. However, with the right setup, equipment, and staff in place, you can be sure that your business will succeed on the international scene. Take the time to equip your premises with adequate lifting equipment to load your trucks quickly and utilize modern technology to keep your operations running smoothly.
Let’s take a few things you need to focus on when dealing with international exports as a distributor.
Consider Your Logistics Chain
You might work with reliable logistic companies that have helped you grow your business successfully. However, to elevate your offerings to include international exporting, you need to bolster your logistics chain and ensure that you work with the best providers possible.
Depending on what goods you will be exporting, the quantities, and their destinations, you will need to choose between air and sea freight. You will also need to have arrangements in place at either end to transport the goods from the manufacturer to the port and from the port to the wholesaler at the other end. A logistics company that has warehouse services in a strategic location near ports and airports like the city of Miami for example, is a great advantage to the business. Take the tie to figure everything out ahead of time and speak to some different providers to find the right solution for your needs.
Payment Options
Dealing with international customers means that you will need to consider the different payment methods you offer and the currencies you will accept. There is a range of different solutions available from traditional banks to online financial providers and platforms like PayPal.
When you are selling internationally, you will be more susceptible to fraud. Due to the overlap of rules and regulations between different nations, online fraud is more prevalent than in the domestic market. Ask buyers to pay upfront to reduce the risk of becoming a fraud victim and put protocols in place to keep your business protected.
Allow For Customs
Shipping internationally means that your shipments could be subject to customs duty. Failing to understand any charges or payments that your shipment might incur could slow down shipping speeds, causing issues for wholesalers receiving their products. Errors like this can affect your business’s credibility moving forward and should be avoided at all costs.
Spend some time researching the different countries that you are exporting to so that you have a firm grasp of any fees or customs duties that your shipment might be subject to. Understanding these charges ahead of time will help you plan your finances with more confidence and control your business budget.
Ensure Your International Exports Go Smoothly
To succeed as an international distributor, you need to ensure that your organization operates like a well-oiled machine. With the right procedures, workflows, and policies in place, you can be sure that your shipments will reach their destinations on time, keeping both manufacturers and wholesalers satisfied. Being organized, having the right systems in place, and utilizing the right tools will help you deliver a better service and stand out from your competitors. Over time, you can build on this foundation to establish yourself as a leader in the world of distribution on the international stage.
Featured Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
