2020 was a topsy-turvy year for international freight forwarding – and in the world in general – but there are few things you can always rely on.
For example, peak season.
If you are a small e-commerce business, getting ahead of peak season in2021 can significantly impact your bottom line.
We had some tips from industry professionals to get the best information and tips for making the most out of peak season every year while saving money and hassle.
What is peak season?
In International freight forwarding, peak season is the busiest time of the year for shippers and freight forwarders in Dubai when soaring demand for the coming holidays tightens capacity, increases freight rates, and raises competition. This time usually falls between mid-August and the end of October and offers many opportunities for those prepared.
It's not too late for freight forwarders in Dubai to jump into action and prevent shipment delays from creating havoc on their customer's costs. To keep up with peak season volumes and secure capacity for the customers wherever you can, we provide you with eight tips that you can do to keep on working during the peak season.
What are the eight things you can do to move freight during peak season?
Let your customer know.
Don't keep your clients in the dark about what the next few months will look like. Let shippers know how tight capacity will be and advise them to manage their shipments at least three weeks earlier than they usually would to capitalize on the limited capacity. When you communicate to the customers, it allows them to speed up their production, creating more lead time.
Be on time
Timeliness matters, but it is especially essential during Peak months when so much freight is being moved around to meet the holiday schedules. When you meet delivery deadlines consistently, you position yourself as a reliable shipper and a crucial link in their supply chain.
As a precaution, ensure that you have enough time to meet pick-up anddelivery windows or appointment times. While timetables can sometimes be tight, safety is always first. It's essential to comply with all applicable regulations, including traffic laws and hours of service.
Communicate
During the peak season, International freight forwarders should let their customer know about the load deliveries because your customers should understand that you will not always be able to deliver on time, especially when it comes to holiday traffic.
Properly insure cargo
Peak season is not the time to sleep on insurance. Accidents may happen regardless of the time of the year it is, but as demand and volumes increase, so does risk. That doesn't mean you will have just to cut the losses and leave yourself vulnerable to threats such as cargo theft.
Split shipments
During peak seasons, transport what you can when you can be a suitable method of getting shipments to their destinations faster. Splitting stock will help to make sure that your products will be available at all times.
Secure drivers
The absence of drivers during peak season leads to decreased transportation capacity and longer transit times. Working with a third-party logistics partner can assist you in taking advantage of their shipping networks, which can help your company avoid the market's volatility.
Use advanced technology
Today's logistics technology for freight forwarding companies has a lot to offer. By embracing advanced systems into the operations, you can effectively manage shipments and make well-informed decisions based on essential business intelligence.
Avoid Transshipments
Transshipments involve making multiple stops, which means carriers are a lot more likely to delay your cargo twice as much during peak season as it moves along through each stint of the transit.
