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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Use Technology to Save

Use Technology to Save You Time and Money

Technology and automation have had a huge impact on business in the 21st century. All brokers are required to have, at minimum, automated systems that exchange shipment data with U.S. and Canada Customs.

Many brokers offer additional technology tools and/or use specific systems in-house that can help you increase your efficiency, control your costs, and reduce your risk of non-compliance. These include proprietary imaging solutions, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions, e-billing options, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) tools and more.

These solutions can reduce paperwork, simplify your accounting and help keep your business in good standing with Customs. Check with your broker about the technology offerings they have at hand and how they can help you improve efficiency and reduce costs.

4. Provide Personalized Service

Your business needs are unique, and your broker should be flexible and responsive to those needs. Particularly as a small business with a low volume of imports or exports, you need a broker that’s going to pay attention to the details and take a deep interest in the success of your business.

Your broker should provide you with a dedicated contact, one who’s easy to reach and who can develop a real sense of your business and your needs. This dedicated representative can become an extension of your business, someone who can anticipate your needs and help expedite any concerns or issues you might have. The flexibility to solve problems quickly can keep your shipments moving and your costs low.

When you work with a customs broker that’s invested in your success, it can help your business reach new markets while keeping costs and compliance risks low. Talk to your broker today to ensure your small business needs are being met.

Review Your Broker’s Performance

Annual performance reviews are a great way to ensure the level of service you receive from your broker remains high. A performance review is a natural next step in your communication efforts; in fact, if you’ve established consistent and effective communication, the review stage should be quick and painless – but beneficial nevertheless.

A review is a great way to evaluate your broker’s overall performance, not just their response to a specific issue or concern; it’s also a great way for you to update your broker on the goals you’ve shared with them in the past, on any changes in your corporate direction, and the ways your broker can support you short- and long-term.

Establishing communication and building trust are the cornerstones of any relationship, personal or business. It’s important to remember them when working with your customs broker.

Ultimately, having a good relationship with your customs broker will ensure your goods are cleared safely and efficiently, which in turns help ensure that you maintain a good relationship with your clients and vendors.

By outlining your expectations and your goals up front, you give your broker a clear path to meeting and exceeding your requirements, transforming them from just another supplier into a valued business partner.

Establish Two-Way

Establish Two-Way Communication

It’s a cliché to say that communication is one of the most important aspects of a relationship – but it’s true, and broker/client relationships are no exception. Communication breakdowns are one of the main reasons broker/client relationships fail – and as with any relationship, both sides share the responsibility to keep the lines of communication open.

It’s important to let your provider know what is and isn’t working. Let them know when you’re pleased with an outcome, so they can repeat their success next time – and let them know when you’re not happy so the issue can be resolved and not repeated in the future. Chances are, when you make the effort to tell your broker what you think, you’ll find your broker that much more likely to respond in kind. It’s also important to consider the best way to communicate with your broker. If an issue can be resolved faster one-on-one, consider picking up the phone rather than e-mailing.

And if the communication isn’t what you anticipate, or need – if you feel that your broker isn’t making you feel important – by all means let them know.

Step 3: Be Clear on What You Want – A Partner

If you see your customs provider as a partner, there’s a good chance your broker will reciprocate. After all, success is mutually beneficial – just as you want your clients to be pleased with the products and services you provide, your customs broker feels the same. When you succeed, they succeed, and vice versa. As such, it can help to tell your broker your corporate vision and goals – where you are in the marketplace and where you’re planning to go – so they can understand their role in helping you reach your goals.

Furthermore, as your partnership develops, the level of trust between you and your broker also develops. This can be even more beneficial to you, as your broker can be a valuable resource; their experience can be a great source of insight and advice on reducing risk, improving your bottom line and streamlining your business processes.

MAKE THE MOST

Efficient, compliant customs processes are the key to getting your goods across the border – and into the hands of your vendors and clients – as quickly as possible. That’s why it’s critical to establish and maintain a strong relationship with your customs broker – your broker has the knowledge, experience and expertise to ensure your goods clear customs without delay.

But how do you make most out of your relationship with a broker? How do you ensure you’re not just another account number on a ledger?

As a small business, where your margins and your resources are tight, it’s especially important to understand where you stand as a client in your broker’s eyes. With any service provider, you want to work with someone who makes you feel like you’re a valued part of their business; someone who understands your unique requirements, and delivers the level of service you need to succeed in your marketplace.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can help ensure your relationship with your broker is a long and successful one. Below are four of the relationship-building steps Livingston suggests you take when entering into a service agreement with a broker.

Step 1: Start with a Well-Defined Service Level Agreement

As with any business relationship, particularly one that you plan to keep long-term, a clearly defined service level agreement (SLA) is critical to ensuring you receive the type of service you expect and require. With customs brokerage, where timeliness and documentation accuracy are critical to your shipments clearing the border, getting your criteria for success on paper, and mutually agreed upon by your broker, can make all the difference in keeping your relationship strong.

Consider including the following items in your service level agreement:

24/7 support: You need to know your broker is going to be there when you need them. In addition, ensure your broker has the tools in place to capture, track and monitor any issues that might arise.
Minimum response times/levels: Establish how long it should take your broker to respond to questions and concerns.
A single point of contact: Getting to know someone one-on-one is a much better way to build a relationship than jumping around from person to person each time you call.
Access to imaging/records: Customs brokerage involves a lot of paperwork; it’s important that you have access to all the documentation your broker prepares on your behalf.

Of course, before you sign your SLA you need to find a broker that fits your needs. If you’re still in the process of finding a customs broker, or you’re thinking of making a change, here are seven questions you should ask a customs broker to make sure they’re the right broker for you.

Use Technology to Save

Use Technology to Save You Time and Money

4. Provide Personalized Service

FOUR THINGS YOUR CUSTOMS BROKER CAN DO FOR YOU

As with any service, when it comes to customs brokerage you always want to make sure you’re getting the most for your money. Customs brokers can offer a variety of import and export services for small businesses; understanding those services, and what they can do for your business, can go a long way towards ensuring your relationship with your broker is profitable and successful.

Here are four things your broker can do for you do to help your business reach new markets and keep costs low. And if your broker doesn’t provide the following services, it might be time to look for one that does!

1. Reach New Markets

A successful small business needs to put its product in front of customers. But what if those customers are across the border? A customs broker that provides North American coverage – with a presence on both sides of the border – is imperative to helping your goods reach those customers quickly and efficiently.

And if you’re importing parts and components, a broker with locations at all major ports and border crossings can help ensure your goods get to you in timely manner. Ask your broker about their coverage and what services they can offer to help you reach new markets.

2. Provide Expert Advice

While you keep your efforts focused on your business, you can look to your broker for expert advice on moving goods across the border. Your broker should be able to offer guidance on customs regulations, tariffs, valuation, classification and more – advice that can help you reduce shipping times and save money.

To provide this advice, your broker must have licensed or certified customs professionals available who can answer questions about the customs process – all you need to do is ask. Don’t hesitate to inquire and take advantage of any guidance or services your broker provides that can improve your processes, help with your recordkeeping and prepare you for customs audits.

When I first started s

When I first started building a fragrance community around my video blog, FragranceTalk.com, I didn’t have a single member, follower, or fan. It was hard trying to create a community from nothing, and at times I felt really lost. However, along the way I managed to connect with likeminded individuals and build a strong community to support my business.

Once my community was established, it was amazing how they were there to support my brand, becoming ambassadors and helping my business to grow. Members of my community are always the first to comment on my videos and blog posts and they’re always supporting me when I need it the most. Building a loyal community takes time and effort, but it’s definitely worth it! Here are some tips to help you get your community started.

Decide who you want to be a part of your community

Knowing your community members is like knowing your target market; you want to make sure that you have the right people supporting you. Ask yourself these questions: Where do they spend their time online? What do they care about? What is their character? Where do they want to be in the future?

Decide the focus of your community

Will it be your brand, a topic, or a social movement? If it’s revolving around your brand, it’s a bit harder, because the community isn’t surrounded by a specific hobby or interest that draws your members in. My community members were interested in fragrance and that was all I needed to focus on – great fragrances that are unique and of high quality; fragrance lovers noticed and followed.

Building a community around your brand can be challenging, but doable – especially if you’re confident about your product or service and how it adds value. Focus on how your product or service benefits your customer. Perhaps you can relate it to something that your target market is interested in. For example, if you’re building a community around your maternity store, build a community of new mothers so they have a place to discuss and share pointers. You could even focus it more, by building a community around eco-moms (mothers who buy and use only natural, eco-friendly baby products). Your options are endless as long as it relates to your business in a way that logically and effortlessly brings your brand to top of mind.