Shipping is one of the most important elements of a successful and effective supply chain. If you want to make the delivery process as fast and convenient as possible, it’s necessary to choose the most appropriate mode of transportation carefully. When it comes to long-distance shipping, there are two possible ways out – ocean or air transportation. Both of the variants have their pluses and minuses. The following information helps you to make the best choice that meets the needs and budget of your business.
Ocean Transportation: Pluses and Minuses
It’s a traditional way to transport goods and products from one place to another. Those business owners who deal with international partners can’t but appreciate the awesome capacities this mode of shipping provides. It’s possible to ship almost any type of item. It’s an ideal solution for non-standard freight. Moreover, prices are quite reasonable and affordable for both large and small companies.
Yet, this type of shipping has some disadvantages you should consider. Thus, it’s not good for time-sensitive products. Then, it’s of prime importance to protect your cargo from excessive moisture. Top-quality packaging is a must. Moreover, losses are quite common. You have to label your shipments and use innovative tracking applications.
Air Transportation: Pros and Cons
Planes are not a technical wonder anymore. They have become an integral part of our lives. Thus, the logistics industry tries to get as much profit as possible from technologies. Planes allow entrepreneurs to meet the needs even of the most demanding clients. With their help, it’s possible to cover thousands of miles per day.
Yet, alongside fantastic speed, there are crucial minuses you have to take into account. They are:
- High prices.
Air logistics is a rather expensive experience. You should be ready to pay significant bills for fast door to door delivery.
- Copious restrictions.
Many logistics brokers joke that the number of products that are prohibited for air transportation is several times larger than the number of products that are allowed. The thing is there are limitations to the nature of goods, their sizes, and weights.
- The necessity of additional services.
After your cargo arrives at the destination point, you have to transport it whether to the warehouse or to the final buyers. It’s extra services you should organize. If you cooperate with a freight forwarding firm, it does everything for you.
So, when it comes to extra fast delivery, you can hardly find a better solution than a plane. This mode allows you to transport goods as quickly as possible. Yet, the number of disadvantages is rather significant. The most common of them include high prices and lots of restrictions. Ocean or sea transportation may take lots of time but it deals with large amounts of goods of various types.
To sum it up, it should be noticed that before you choose one of the described variants, you have to consider the peculiarities of your cargo and plan a budget carefully. It’s a good idea to entrust this task to an experienced and skillful logistics broker. Specialists are to offer you the most profitable and effective solutions.