How COVID-19 Helped Freight Forwarders
How freight forwarders have benefited from the pandemic
It’s been a tough year for most industries, and the shipping trade has certainly not been exempt. As a full-service maritime and offshore procurement company that offers quality service to all South African ports, Link Ship Chandlers have been in the front lines, watching our industry take big knocks as the shipping trade was disrupted for a large part of the year – first due to a lack of supply in the East, and then due to a lack of demand in the West.
However, there is a silver lining to be found. Throughout this turbulent time, the importance of freight forwarders has once again been highlighted, based on three important factors. This includes:
More Shipping Options
When the rate of supply and demand is steady, working with a few dedicated ocean carriers has its benefits, but it also limits your company’s operations accessibility. This wouldn’t normally be an issue when space and equipment are abundant, but carriers have had to learn how to manage supply, and blank sailings are here to stay.
As such, it won’t be as easy as choosing the exact date and time that you want to ship your cargo any longer, and companies need to increase their cooperation with freight forwarders to find space at affordable rates.
Interaction With Real Humans
Carriers have been downsizing their ‘human’ employee base for years now, instead opting to depend on technology to deal with customer interaction in order to keep their overheads low. While this is understandable, it can be frustrating to get answers to your questions when you’re being met with automated responses. Freight forwarders offer a welcome human go-between for clients who prefer to have a dedicated point of contact.
Enough Leeway To Adapt
When you partner with the right freight forwarder you have the option of working together to solve issues that may arise in the course of a shipping transaction, whether it pertains to pricing or something else. Because they have the lay of the land, they are often able to offer creative solutions that clients may otherwise have overlooked.
There you have it – the short of the long on how the pandemic has smoothed the way for more lucrative operations of freight forwarders around the world. Check back soon for more interesting insights from the fascinating world of shipping. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with a member of the Link Ship Chandlers team if you would like to learn more about the services we provide from South African ports.
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