Save up to 19 hours per month using a 3PL partner for freight forwarding for your D2C brand

If you have tried to sort out your own freight forwarding, you will know how time-consuming and complex it can be. Comparing providers, figuring out customs, and communicating between multiple parties can be a major headache.

For brands with manufacturers abroad, having reliable freight forwarding is a vital component to a scalable supply chain.

There are many different freight forwarders and freight brokers operating globally, and it can be hard to know what the best option is, as well as what each company does specifically. As a general rule, a freight broker acts as an intermediary between the forwarding company and your company, and the freight forwarding company is responsible for the shipment of goods. However, there can be some overlap between them.

By organizing freight through the right Third Party Logistics Partner (3PL) you could be saving up to 20 hours per month of research and negotiation time, and guarantee you are getting the best deal possible, tailored to your brand.

Here is what you will learn in this blog post:

• How to save money by finding the best rates for freight forwarding services
• Saving time and effort on inbound and outbound freight
• How the right 3PL partner can provide peace of mind when using freight forwarding
• How to set up freight forwarding services with Hive

• Setting up inbound forwarding with Hive in 3 simple steps
• Setting up outbound forwarding with Hive

• Why set up freight forwarding with Hive

How to save money by finding the best rates for freight forwarding services

Finding the best rates for freight forwarding can be extremely time-consuming. You will need to find the right providers that offer a good quality service, request prices for each shipment with multiple forwarders, review and negotiate the final offer. Even after doing all of this, it can be difficult to know if your deal is the best value for money and fit for your business.

Using a 3PL partner that is experienced in offering freight forwarding can mean you get a better deal. Rather than approaching forwarders as an individual and one-time request, a 3PL partner can build beneficial relationships with freight forwarding companies through higher freight volumes. This means there is more leverage to get the best possible deals and negotiate lower prices.

At Hive we can organize freight forwarding for you and save you the stress. We compare rates from leading freight forwarders in the market to make sure you receive the best deal according to your individual needs.

Saving time and effort on inbound and outbound freight forwarding

Importing your products from the supplier to your fulfillment center can be complicated and take up valuable time that you could be investing elsewhere. If you are not a logistics expert, it can seem overwhelming.

Requesting quotes and communicating with forwarders for ongoing shipments can take up a lot of your time, especially when there are disruptions in the supply chain. On top of this, figuring out which paperwork you need for customs can be tedious and stressful.

Working with the right 3PL partner means that this stress is taken care of, saving you hours of time per month. When working with Hive, you can request freight quotes quickly and easily via the Hive app, and we do the rest. Our team of freight specialists will get back to you with the best offer, take over communications between your supplier and the forwarder, and support you along the way with status updates, problem-solving, and other related tasks such as customs declarations for imports and exports.

How the right 3PL partner can provide peace of mind when using freight forwarding

It can happen – the supply chain is disrupted through man-made or natural causes (let’s not even think about the Suez Canal). This can cause a significant amount of stress if you are shipping your stock across the globe.

Working with a 3PL partner means you have a team of freight experts to turn to when times get tough. The right 3PL partner can advise you on what to do next and work as an intermediary between your business and forwarding partner. At Hive, our freight team is ready to help out if anything goes wrong. We can also arrange for insurance for your shipment against damages or lost goods.

This saves you heaps of time and leaves you free to focus on other topics. For example, if a shipment is lost or damaged, you can focus on adjusting your strategy or customer care, rather than chasing up forwarders.

How to set up freight forwarding services with Hive

Hive can take care of the entire freight forwarding process: at origin, during transport, and at the destination. We have multiple partnerships with freight forwarders and logistics companies. Hive is experienced with established brands and organizing freight forwarding from locations across the globe such as China.

Setting up inbound forwarding with Hive in 3 simple steps

Requesting inbound forwarding with Hive is simple as one, two, three:

1. Request your shipment via the Hive App
2. Hive compares and negotiates conditions with forwarders to find the best offers for you
3. We coordinate the rest with your supplier and the forwarder and will keep you updated along the way

Setting up outbound forwarding with Hive

Requesting outbound forwarding can also be done in our App:

1. Create a B2B order in the Hive App in the order view and let us know your specific requirements
2. We pick and pack the order in the most cost-efficient way
3. We select the best delivery option for you: regular parcel delivery or pallet delivery or a customized freight offer
4. We coordinate the rest with your supplier and the forwarder and will keep you updated along the way

Why set up freight forwarding with Hive

Organizing freight forwarding can cost valuable time and money. Using a 3PL partner experienced in handling freight forwarding can save you all the stress of organizing it yourself. With Hive, we can negotiate the best deal for you and our team of freight experts is always on hand to help out with any questions or problems you may encounter.

Save yourself the headache and leave freight forwarding to the experts – use your time for what you do best.

‍

Interested in Hive as your operations partner? Find out more about our all-in-one solution here.

‍