Monday, July 19, 2010

Why a Logistics Directory Is an Indispensable Part of Shipping Companies

If you belong to the shipping industry or you’re an avid follower, you must have heard about logistics management. But what about those who are unaware of this term. Well logistics management is the smooth flow of goods and services from its source to the location of consumption. Well, in other words, logistics management’s main aim is to meet end consumers’ requirements. But do you know logistics aptly involves not only integration of information and transportation but also inventory, warehousing, material handling and even packaging. However, more recently, security has been added too.


This is when the role of logistics directory comes. There’s no denying that logistics directory helps in better management of the supply chain which also includes planning, implementation, and controlling the movement and storage of goods and products. The most amazing fact is that it’s the logistics directory that provides and generates businesses in the field of transportation, logistics, and supply chain management. Moreover, it also creates shipping professionals by providing them the opportunity to enter their business information in the logistics directory.


Talking in the broader terms, logistics directory provides updated and creative corporate profiles of freight forwarders and logistics companies. Those profiles carry information such as their detailed contact details, contact name, services, experience, activities, and more. In fact some of the logistics directories also allow free space to all freight and shipping companies leading them to the maximization of content. With the changing trend nowadays, logistics directories also provide updated information to those who are interested in the Freight, Logistics, and their related industry worldwide.


The latest logistics directory also lists international trades and manufacturing companies helping them to develop global sales and enjoying maximum popularity. This directory no doubt is an easy access to critical global trade information. With the bursting of the Internet contemporary logistics directories are available in easy formats to assist easy and every search. They host a long list of worldwide importers for products or services. This means browsing through a logistics directory will certainly save your time, energy, and money.


Even though they are carefully planned and created still some professionals doubt its credibility. For them all we can add that majority of the logistics directories are complied by using a comprehensive questionnaire, the annual mailing strategies, extensive research, past records, and meticulous planning. The mentioned names and contact details of shipping companies are also accompanied with the name of primary contact person, telephone and fax numbers, toll-free number, a list of products they import, email addresses, and web addresses. In other words, we can say that a logistics directory can help you in getting a bigger share of the increasingly profitable international trade market.


Some of the logistics directories also cater to different types of businesses apart from shipping and freight. Using them is not wrong; however, try to be more specific when it comes to the selection of logistics directories. You have to believe that a big chunk of world trade is dependent upon the shipping industry and half of them constantly look for logistics directories. So, if you’re a shipping company, it is wise to release an updated version of logistics directory to help your clients and visitors.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Choosing a Shipping Company- Go to the Right Player

How businesses try to overcome the barriers of land to carve a niche for their products is not disclosed. Companies try hard to make sure that their products reach the customers and clients at the specified time that they have committed. Shipping your products to varied locations can be an appalling experience if not taken care properly. It not only affects with monetary losses but also endangers the name of the company and its service. What can be done to overcome these intricacies of business? The answer lies in choosing the right shipping company for your goods.

Shipping companies across the globe go with their own operations, policies, and pricing. Your ultimate aim should be the safe delivery of your goods, without affecting the time you have committed to the client along with saving you from high monetary costs. Here are a few tips that should be of help while choosing the right shipping company. The most obvious but important thing that comes with choosing the right shipping company would be whether they are licensed or not. Licensed companies have clearance from the government and follow the rules set by them. This not only adds credibility to their integrity but also promises you with a good service and procedural performance. Companies with a sound history are the ones you should go for.

Mostly, shipping companies have the reputation of using similar typed containers. The amount and the type of cargo that you wish to send would decide the size of containers used for shipping. This will ultimately determine the price of shipping your goods. If you require more space and your items are more fragile, then it is to be held with surety that prices will vary with the amount and size.

Choose a shipping company, which holds a good reputation both locally and on an international basis. This ensures their capability to manage the shipping laws of different countries and their ability to perform even with national barriers and languages. Ensure that shipping companies you are considering as your option are flexible with providing any documents that hold true for their rapport and credibility. You can ask them for their testimonials from prior clients to generalise your option. Another feature that you should check with the company would be their insurance documents.

Shipping companies, which have established themselves in this industry, would be the right choice because they have stood the test of times and that naturally offers them an upper hand with the new ones. Having decided upon them it must be ensured that these companies have employed state of the art techniques to ease the shipping processes. Online updates about the status of your goods and their locations come with the latest technology.

Lastly, if you have been a loyal client to a particular company and have been using their services for quite some time now, you can check for the discounts that the company can offer you. Shipping products to far off locations can levy a huge constraint monetarily and it is always better to ask for discounts.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Vacations on Ocean Liners, Sea Liners or Ship Liners

Any liner operates on a regular schedule of designated ports, carrying whatever cargo and passengers are available on the date of sailing. The first liners were operated in the North Atlantic. In the early 20th century, steam-powered ocean liners were already in use and transpacific travel, although still arduous, was fairly common.

Sea liners and ocean liners are not the usual preferences when one thinks of cruising around the globe. Travelling through sea liners is a fantastic way to try different ships and meet some fellow ship lovers. Vacations aboard a sea liner is a tad bit diverse than a usual trip. It is more different and appealing to an adventurous spirits. Whether the interest lies in the liners of yesteryear, the cruise ships or ferries, the fun of the trip lies within the sea. Even today, an ocean voyage still retains an air of mystery and prestige about it.

There are luxury ocean liners that come equipped with interactive TVs with multi-language film and music channels and other comforts of home, with most featuring balconies where guests can relax and enjoy the view. New I-Pod docking stations have been placed in the rooms with flat-screen TV's and when you add the element of historical significance to your stay, it all adds-up to a memorable, comfortable visit.These vessels are elegant, provide excellent food and amenities and offer extensive award-winning shore excursions. They all feature a country club-casual ambience.

To increase the profits to be gained by ship, ocean and sea liners, owners started manipulating the fuel and its usage. Some groups that represents mostly operators of small ship liners, call for a sweeping review of local maritime regulations to help minimise maritime shipping disasters.

Since 2001, surveyors have dealt with at least 30 instances of engine damage caused by fuel problems related to catalytic fines. This problem is increasing and is likely to get worse with the additional demands for low sulphur fuels. Each of these casualties required a complete renewal of pistons, liners and injectors, at a cost of $1 million to $3 million each to these ocean and sea liners. To comply with the regulations, a ship's officer will have to demonstrate in the record-keeping that fuel has been changed in sufficient time before crossing into a control area. The changeover can be done in approximately one hour, but if it is done too quickly "there is a danger you can gas up the engine." A rapid change of temperature can also cause thermal shock or seizure of the fuel pumps.

Strict controls by ship liners over their use of fuel and institution or improved fuel management programs will ensure safe and cost effective sails.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Shipping directory, Logistics directory, Trading directory.

These directories are normally meant for wholesale business and the suppliers listed in them are also wholesale suppliers. The good thing about such directories is that you save all the mess of individually ordering and procuring the product. You can easily fill in your requirement, place the order and finish all the formalities online just at the comfort of your own home or office. These directories can be your ultimate aid for getting the right exposure and boost for your business.
A well worked Logistics Directory serves all of the major markets for warehousing and transportation services. While a good number of the logistics companies listed have a national presence it continues to be valuable to be able to drill down. As global and multi national providers enter the game, things change, but its core is fundamentally the same. There is certainly an emerging field of logistics providers that oversee and manage a portfolio of warehousing and transportation providers from a higher level.
From business development standpoint, a highly effective way to do deeper research into companies you want to work with and to provide insight into their experience, the directory should be well managed. Trading Directory list the industry's top prime brokerages, description of the services provided by each firm and highlights details such as the trading platforms offered, the products covered, reporting capabilities, risk management tools, available rebates and more. The directory includes of the systems, their client types and their future plans, a detailed description of the execution management systems, the order-management functionality they offer, and details on the products and instruments traded, and for what size and type of firm the systems are ideally suited. It provides a description of each service, explains how data is collected, how frequently the data is distributed, and more.
A trade directory is just that- an online assemblage of suppliers of different products arranged in an alphabetical manner. It is meant to serve the various trade purposes and is a handy tool in finding out a number of suppliers of the required product all at one central place. An online trade directory is, if not a real advertisement, at least as good as it.
The best drop shipping directories are often the most reliable ones. The size of the supplier database possessed by the website is a factor that should be considered when choosing an online shipping directory. The database is big enough to allow a variety of choices when it comes to selecting the kinds of suppliers to work with and the kinds of products to sell. It is always empowering to work with many choices because it helps to make better business decisions. The quality of the listings also matters when evaluating a shipping directory. The products carried by the suppliers should have well-known brand names with high quality, not just obscure ones from some third-world country. The suppliers should be reputable and reliable, pre-verified by the directory before they are included in the list. This should lessen the risk to face whenever you do business with these suppliers.
The directory should also have market research tools that will allow you to make more intelligent and profitable choices. They should also provide learning resources, that could come in the form of articles, podcasts, e-books, radio transcripts, video courses and other such materials. It would even be better if you can access these materials for free.
There are plenty of websites offering supposedly comprehensive lists and you may feel the job will be easy. Someone in the list has to suit your needs, right? Again, not necessarily. There are plenty of scams out there and you’d better beware.