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There are some industries in which the benefits of third party logistics services are quite obvious, and then there are those companies where the opportunities may not be quite so apparent.  We've compiled a list of some of the obvious and some of the not-so-obvious industries that can benefit from third party logistics services. Home Improvement:  There is a lot of money that exchanges hands where home improvement is concerned, and a third party logistics company can help you maintain a cost effective and efficient project while overseeing distribution, installation, debris removal and disposal, and other functions related to the home improvement process.  Third party logistics services can help suppliers, homeowners, retailers, general contractors, installers, and everybody involved in the home improvement process stay efficient. Construction:  Proper workflow is essential for any business, but in construction, this can mean the difference between breaking ground and breaking the bank. Our third party logistics services can help you find equipment and source raw materials, pool materials for delivery, and assist you with order management.  Materials logistics can be a lot to keep track of, and a third party logistics company can help you stay focused on your projects at hand while ensuring that the materials travel safely and are stored in a secure place until they're ready to be used in the process. Food and Dairy:  The food industry ranges from farm to table these days, and third party logistics can help you consolidate loads so your delivery is efficient.  We work with regional temperature controlled distribution centers to ensure that your products make it from start to finish with optimal quality. Hi-Tech:  Electronics, computers, and office equipment require their own special attention.  Our third party logistics firm combines the ability to understand warehousing, re-packing, inbound, and outbound logistics to ensure that the entire life cycle of the product is overseen. Retail:  Competition and the need for profitability are constant concerns in the retail industry.  Our third party logistics firm can help you reduce inventory by consolidating your storage facilities.  We are also skilled in working with break-bulk and cross-dock facilities. Forest Industry:  This is a specialized field that requires skills that industry professionals understand.  Our system gives you the visibility to account for the entire chain of logistics, from beginning to end.  We can help you manage your bottom line by helping you better understand and pay attention to your production and logistical costs. Hotels:  If taking care of people is what you do, then you already know how important it is to have the things in place that bring your operating supplies and equipment inventory management systems to their optimal potential.  Furniture, fixtures, and equipment costs are easily conquered with our third party logistics system. Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare:  Fewer industries have such a strict set of regulations! With standards that require such constant attention, your third party logistics team needs to have the experience to understand the needs of your industry.  Pick-and-pack warehousing can help you keep control of your inventory and costs.  We understand the importance of the medicines and equipment that are involved in your industry, and we offer temperature controlled logistics that enable you to keep control of your supply chain from product to market. If you're looking for a quality logistics company that works as a partner with you to ensure that your business needs are met and efficiency is optimized, we'd love to talk to you!   Contact our team at 3PL Links today!

The ability to track your shipments puts you in control of your business. Since you are always updated on the status of the shipment, you can effectively make important business decisions in advance.  The receiver is traditionally also updated on the status of the shipment so he or she can make special arrangements to receive the consignment as soon as it arrives. Shipment tracking is the surest way of knowing how safe the consignment is. Online shipment tracking is therefore a critical component of supply chain management. Most businesses invest in supply chain management for three main reasons; To minimize delays To enhance collaboration To reduce cost of operation Online shipment tracking contributes to this bottom line in 5 main ways: Online shipment tracking contributes to this bottom line in 5 main ways: 1. Using one Resource to Manage all Shipping Needs Popular as one-stop discount shipping, handling multiple shipping services in one place is a great way for business to cut on costs. By working with a single online shipment tracking provider, you also save on time that would have otherwise been spent moving from one provider to another. You’ll be given one number for all your shipping activities; a consolidated bill; and one shipping system. 2. Instant Comparison of Courier Rates from the Best Couriers Shipping being so sensitive has often forced business to spend a lot of time online trying to compare courier rates. They want to find out the best destinations and are also keen on any deals. Fortunately, most shipment trackers offer these services. This will save you valuable time in the shipment process. Furthermore, moving from one website to another, comparing rates is never a good idea because it exposes you to the malice that exists on the internet. 3. Tracking is Done in Real Time One of the major advantages of online shipment tracking is the real-time feature. You will be updated as frequently as you wish, of course at an increased cost. This is different from traditional shipment tracking systems where you are only updated when the consignment reaches selected points. This will help you on all levels of the planning process. You will even have enough data to analyze results beforehand. 4. Building Mutual Trust The integrity of the supply chain depends on supplier relationships. Can you trust your suppliers? Can they trust you? Through online shipment tracking you get to forge a thriving working relationship with the supplier. If your supplier is always updated on shipment status, and in real-time, it can only benefit your relationship. 5: Creation of Unique Passwords that can Only be Changed at the Customers Discretion Online shipment tracking offers very high levels of security. Customers are usually given auto-generated passwords, specific to their consignments, and which can only be altered if they wish so. Now, even if there were to be confusion, since every customer only has a password to his or her consignment, the risk of loss is greatly reduced. Summary - Online Shipment Tracking Summary - Online Shipment Tracking There are several other benefits of online shipment tracking services. In most cases, all you have to do is enter a container name and number to view the status of your shipment. Some systems will also require that you enter origin and destination of shipment before you can access the shipment status. If the goods are being transported by van, there will always be constant communication to ensure that the consignment is secure. And when you are certain that the shipment is safe on its way, you can concentrate on income generating aspects of the business.

Logistics (and the costs therein) is a necessary part of the productivity of your business. However, you should not simply accept your company's logistics costs for what they are. You can greatly increase your bottom line by optimizing your company's logistics costs. The best way that you can accomplish this goal without sacrificing the efficiency of your logistics operations is to source the benefits of a third party logistics provider (3PL). What is a Third Party Logistic Provider? A 3PL is an entity whose team of logistics experts use their knowledge and logistics industry network to reduce the supply chain and logistics costs of their client companies. Working with a 3PL company allows an organization to divert its focus to other business activities while optimizing the costs and efficiency of their logistics operations. How Using the Services of a Third Party Logistics Provider Can Help You A 3PL has experience and knowledge with everything related to logistics, so they can give you the tools necessary to streamline every aspect of your logistical operations. For example, the top 3PL organizations know how to do the following: When a 3PL finds out where you can consolidate shipments, this not only reduces your logistics costs by cutting back on the number of shipments, but it also increases the overall expediency of your shipments. Many companies make the mistake of sticking with a shipping method (vehicle, plane, train or water), simply because it is what they have become familiar with. However, they all have their pros and cons. For example, air is the fastest long range shipment method, but it is also the most likely to be delayed by poor travel conditions and it also usually bears the highest cost; a train, on the other hand, is usually the least expensive way to ship (and the fastest via ground), but it is not as fast as air; for both of these options, products must still be shipped via vehicle to the final destination. Vehicle and water shipping solutions face a similar number of pros and cons. A 3PL can determine the best solution for each shipping situation that you face so that you will reap the best possible cost and efficiency outcomes One of the greatest wastes related to your logistics costs is the dedication of an exorbitant number of man hours to related tasks. When working with a 3PL, they will figure out where you can automate any logistics operations and help you implement the best solutions therein. This allows your company's team to dedicate man hours to critical elements of your business outside of logistics that need more attention. You will find that a great deal of waste can come from improper inventory decisions. Simply put, excess shippments increases inventory (or poor storage methods) increase your storage costs; and too little inventory will increase shipping costs. A 3PL can help reduce your logistics costs by analyzing your business's inventory needs and storage methods and upgrading how you handle your inventory. An important part of your logistics operations is having the equipment to get things done. However, owning this equipment will increase logistics costs. A 3PL already has this equipment, so you don't have to pay for it. To learn more about how to reduce your logistics costs, contact 3PL Links today!

Auditing reassures organizations regarding financial controls. Audited accounts guarantee you that access to financial documents at the vendor’s desk are tightly controlled. Every company wants its customer data secured; you want to make sure that the vendor is complying with contractual obligations. The need for exhaustive auditing becomes even greater considering the ever evolving quality control market. In the current industry, quality products are no longer a luxury, they are a necessity. Vendor Audit Vendor Audit So Why would you Need Vendor Audit and Payment Services? Vendor audit and payment services are a critical component of ensuring the integrity of the supply chain, this has been the case for many years. But if you look around, you realize that supply chains are evolving, actually outpacing traditional audit program methods. To be effective, these programs need to reevaluate the processes, technologies and even the people involved. Medical Device suppliers in particular have always struggled with supplier controls. Indeed, one out every five manufacturers report shortages in this area. This has been a cause for concern for both manufacturers and the suppliers. If the supplier audit program can be improved, the supply chain integrity will be greatly enhanced which in turn helps companies improve their supplier controls. Quality of supplies and supplier relations will also improve. At the end of the day, companies can talk of reduced costs and risks. Recent statistics indicate that most companies are continually reporting an increasing global supply chain. Suppliers are no longer at your door step; they may as well be a world away. Auditing from such a distance is not easy. There is cost of travel, cultural differences and language barriers to contend with…   hiccups but which have an impact on the results of the audit and even the success of follow-up. You can definitely eliminate these problems if you make use of vendor audit and payment services. You are quite aware of the need to control supplier numbers. If your suppliers are handful, that doesn’t become a problem. However, as already mentioned, the supplier base is growing. This comes with changes in locations and addresses. If you are handling a few thousand suppliers, the challenge becomes enormous. In some cases companies can’t even quote a fair estimate of their suppliers. A chunk of the audit team’s time is therefore wasted on finding out which suppliers are still active in the supply chain. Having vendor audits and supplier services done for you will allow you to divert these resources to income generating areas of the business. The risk posed by a more diverse supply chain is evident. Companies are struggling to cope. Many have tried to increase the number or frequency of audits performed every year and it just doesn’t add up. Even if you increase the duration of the audits with the scope of audit function remaining unchanged, the natural growth and the rate of diversification of the supplier base will easily outpace the resources and structures of most traditional supplier audit programs. To stay on the safe side, you need to work with a reliable vendor audit and payment services provider. Summary - Vendor Audit Summary - Vendor Audit Companies are realizing the importance of vendor audit and payment services. With such services, you get to avoid several possible mistakes such as duplicate billing, overcharges and unwarranted accessorial charges. Every business exists to make a profit. Having the peace of mind and time to work on more important matters knowing well that your vendor audit and payment services are in safe hands can only enhance your bottom line.

There are many factors that have driven and continue to drive companies to source operations to Mexico. This increase in trading operations involves an increase in shipping from Canada to Mexico. While the process itself is not as challenging as you may think, there are several key factors to be considered for successful cross-border shipping to Mexico : Contingency Plans - It is important to understand that trading in Mexico might be influenced by social, economic, as well as environmental issues, including natural disasters. As a result, it is important that you work with a shipping company that has the ability to create multiple emergency plans so that you can conquer all unfortunate events that may interfere with your shipping from Canada to Mexico. Visibility Tools - It is also vital that you seek a provider that features a transparent transportation service so you don’t lose track of your shipment. Losing track of freight at the border is a common risk that results from too many hand-offs and parties involved in the shipping process. You can integrate where possible so that you limit the number of hand-offs and streamline freight location and accountability issues. Customs Broker - The customs broker plays an essential role when shipping from Canada to Mexico. It is crucial that you understand the implications of any mistakes that can occur in importing merchandise, as well as other shipping and import-related issues. A long-term, stable, and strong relationship with your customs broker can spare you a lot of time and money. Diversified Carrier Base - It may not be wise to rely solely on a single carrier asset to satisfy your shipping needs to Mexico. Equipment availability throughout the year is essential if you want your business to grow. The solution is a diversified carrier base, which allows you to take the edge off this issue and benefit from additional equipment. Avoid LTL - LTL shipments have a different regimen in Mexico. Not only are they more expensive because they are regionalized in Mexico, but shipping from Canada to Mexico may involve longer transits. That happens because LTL shipments cross the border separately. So it is advisable that you avoid longer transit times and expensive shipments by avoiding LTL altogether. Insurance - One other thing that is different is carrier insurance. Unlike other countries, carrier insurance is not automatically incorporated in transportation rates. The carrier liability would basically mean nothing and collecting on the liability is not a common occurrence. The cheapest way is to buy insurance though your global policy and therefore have the coverage you need in Mexico.

There is no doubt that the world of supply chain management is becoming increasingly complex. Supply chain executives have revealed five global supply chain management challenges that will define this industry over the next few years. Reports say that the ability to manage these five challenges successfully will eventually determine the success or mediocrity of a business. Here are some expected challenges in Global Supply Chain Management: 1. Improved Customer Access and Accuracy of Supply Chain Planning - In order to achieve improved customer access and accuracy of supply chain planning, companies require improved point of sale and partnering concepts, real time demand and supply planning, end-to-end supply cooperation and optimization and reduction of supply chain response time. This challenge arises because of increased supply chain volatility and uncertainty resulting from market transparency, greater price sensitivity, reduced customer loyalty and product commoditization 2. Enhanced Supply Chain Plasticity across the Entire Process - Global supply chain management organizations must concentrate their efforts on boosting the flexibility of their upstream and downstream supply chain through adjustments of the overall network design and improvements to their supply chain flexibility. In addition, management of the process and product complexity is necessary to complement late-stage customizations. Securing growth requires global suppliers and customer networks, as well as customized products, which is why the complexity and globalization of supply chains needs to be managed effectively. 3. Engineering Total Cost of Supply Chain - Global supply chain management operators can surpass this third challenge by outsourcing non-core functions, implementing regionally- configured supply chains, optimizing total supply chain costs and processes and low-cost country utilization. This challenge comes up because customer requirements and competition entail tailored supply chains and product offerings at a regional level. Subsequently, optimizing end-to-end supply chain cost is critical. 4. Implement end-to-end Supply Chain Risk Management - It is one of the greatest challenges for global supply chain organizations but it can be conquered as well with adequate strategies. This is where companies must optimize demand and supply risk, manage supplier risk, and optimize working capital and asset, as well as key partner supply chain risks. The point is that risk and opportunity management should span the entire supply chain, from demand planning to expansion of manufacturing capacity and should also include the supply chains of key partners. 5. Integration of Supply Chain Organization - In order to integrate and empower supply chain organizations, you need to perform integration across all functions not just particular functions. In addition, the ability to deploy the right skill sets and expertise is just as important as empowered decision making with clarity, when it comes to global versus local responsibilities and functional decisions. Global supply chain organizations should be perceived and treated as a single integrated organization. Effectiveness and improved outcomes result from supporting all functions of the supply chain.

Today"s businesses are under increasing pressure to go green. One way you can contribute to a greener environment is by adopting an eco-friendly supply chain strategy. Since supply chain management is such an important part of business and is also directly concerned with people and physical goods (raw materials and finished products), any step you take will have profound impact on your work environment and on the way people will perceive the image of your company. Here are some tips for making your supply chain more "green": Switch to Green Equipment: A variety of equipment types are used in different of stages of the supply chain. For example, trucks and ships are used to transport goods, and air conditioners are used in storage facilities. Many of these types of equipment make harmful emissions and pollute the atmosphere.  In order to make you supply chain eco-friendly, start by switching to greener equipment wherever possible. For example, you could choose to use electrical equipment instead of those that run on gas or petrol. Calibrate Existing Equipment: If replacing all your old equipment is costly, then calibrate them to work more efficiently so that they will consume less fuel and release less pollutants in the environment. Although this solution may not completely eliminate emission, it does make a significant reduction, which is a step forward. Partner with "Green" Suppliers: In the last two or three decades, a large number of companies have gone green either out of choice or compulsion. Many of these companies have a made a name for themselves as green suppliers and are trusted by their customers industries, who in turn are trusted by consumers.  As a part of your supply chain strategy, seek out these suppliers and partner with them. Make sure that you get your supplies from them as far as practicable. Recycle Raw Materials: Recycling is the key to an eco-friendly lifestyle. It minimizes wastage and prevents pollution at the source. Make it a company policy to reuse all waste products (where possible), and reclaim as many of your products as possible at the end of their lifecycle. Besides helping keep the environment clean, recycling also provides a cheaper source of raw materials for your company. Proper Waste Management: Waste products are unavoidable, but you can help create a greener company and a better world for everyone to live in by managing your wastes in an eco-friendly way. Separate all recyclable from the non-recyclable wastes. Reuse the recyclable products to create new products. Destroy the non-recyclable wastes without polluting the environment. Waste management is an important part of going green. Use Renewable Energy: Much of today"s manufacturing still relies on fossil fuels or energy produced using fossil fuels. Even non-manufacturing industries use vehicles and equipment that are driven by fossil fuel. This is doing unimaginable harm to the eco-system. So make the use of renewable energy the focus of your supply chain strategy. Wherever possible, use energy generated by clean and renewable sources such as solar power, wind power and thermal energy.

The food and dairy industry depends on the smooth and timely supply of raw materials. Since the ingredients required by food industries come from many different geographical locations, sometimes halfway around the world, transportation and logistics play an important role in ensuring the success of the industry. Because of the short term nature of raw materials and finished products, the food and dairy industry faces many unique challenges that are not found in any other industries. Speedy Delivery to Avoid Deterioration : Many of the raw materials go bad quickly. For example, vegetables like tomatoes and cucumber and fruits like bananas and grapes do not last long even if stored in climate controlled facilities. Therefore, they need to be delivered quickly. The same applies to finished products. Most processed foods have an expiry date after which they cannot be consumed. Especially susceptible to rotting and putrefaction are foods like pizza, bread and milk products that can go bad within a few days. Preservation of Quality : Of all the industries, food and dairy industry is one that can never compromise on quality because when a product is substandard, no one needs to be told by an expert that it is substandard. While the quality of the food depends upon the manufacturer/producer, logistics has an equally important role in preserving that quality. Foods and dairy products need to be stored in certain climactic conditions when transporting and can quickly deteriorate in quality if those standards are not met. Risk of Contamination : Since foods are a magnet for all like of life forms, including bacteria and fungi, they can be quickly become contaminated. Since food contamination is a serious health hazard that can even lead death of the consumer, ensuring high standards of hygiene and cleanliness is one of the chief transportation and logistics consideration of the food industry. Businesses must follows best safety practices and hire staff trained in food safety. Without such a consideration, the industry can quickly lose customers and go out of business. Risk of Breakages and Damages : Because of their soft and delicate nature, food and dairy products have a high risk of breakages and damages during transportation. For example, eggs and ice-cream cones can break on slight impact, making them completely useless. Breakages and damages during transportation results in huge losses to food industries every year. Therefore, special care must be given during packaging, loading, unloading and transporting to ensure that no damages and breakages occur. Climate Controlled Facilities : Since both raw and prepared foods can go bad quickly in the outdoor environment, they need to be stored in climate controlled facilities before, during and after transportation. In order to preserve freshness, avoid contamination and maintain quality, each food product must be stored at an optimum temperature. Most foods do quite well from 34 o - 40 o F (1.11 o C - 4.44 o C), but deteriorate rapidly above 40 o F (4.44 o C). Ensuring proper climate controlled facilities is an integral part of transportation and logistics consideration of the food and dairy industry.

One of the most important parts of running a business that deals with physical goods is inventory management. Having a critical role in the supply chain, it determines the overall costs, losses and profit margins. A well-managed inventory ensures the smooth inflow of raw material and outflow of finished products, which is essential for the success of any business. But when inventory becomes too large or complicated and starts taking a huge amount of time and resources, many businesses turn to supply chain consultants for help. A supply chain consultant is an expert in inventory and vendor management. He may provide advice to your business or take over the entire management of your inventory and vendors, depending upon how badly you need help. He usually has many years of experience in analyzing your supply chain and implementing solutions. He is an expert in managing inventory, dealing with vendors, handling domestic and international freight and procuring goods. He may also have a degree in logistics or supply chain management and one or more certifications in his field of work. Supply chain consultants analyse the supply chain Supply chain consultants analyse the supply chain The most desirable skill of a supply chain consultant is his ability to analyse the supply chain, develop a solution and implement the same. They can immediately assess the inventory costs, find strengths and weaknesses of current practices, pinpoint bottlenecks in the supply chain, and offer customized solutions aimed at reducing operational costs. The solutions might involve taking actions such as reducing the number of vendors or changing suppliers to lower the cost of raw materials. Supply chain consultants are also experts in vendor consolidation, which involves using only one vendor for one product to reduce the need to deal with several vendors. They also have the ability (acquired through education and years of experience) to point out which inventory management practice best suits your company's requirements. The end result is an efficient vendor and inventory management system that eliminates bottlenecks and oversupply, cuts costs, reduces losses and increases profit. A supply chain consultant takes care of your inventory and vendor management A supply chain consultant takes care of your inventory and vendor management The old practice of keeping supplies to last for months as it is too costly. Therefore, businesses want to maintain a small inventory where supplies keep coming in and flowing out as needed. This approach to inventory management is especially beneficial to small businesses that do not have their own storage facilities. But it also has its pitfalls. For example, if your supplies are delayed, you may have to shut down your business until they arrive. These wouldn't be an issue with a supply chain consultant in charge of your inventory and vendor management. Another critical area where a supply chain consultant can help your company is cash flow. By ensuring the smooth delivery of your products to your customers, he makes sure that you get paid on time so that you can continue to buy your supplies on time, which is essential for any business. In the lack of an efficient cash flow, many companies with good sales have been forced to shut down. A supply chain consultant makes sure that won't happen to you. Supply chain consultants have access to the right resources Supply chain consultants have access to the right resources Finally, when choosing supply chain consultants, it is important to ensure that they have access to the right network, people and resources. Third party logistics providers are often best suited to provide you with the best services. 3PL Links is a Toronto-based company has a long and successful track record of providing supply chain consultancy and reducing the operational of costs of customer businesses.

Order fulfilment is a very important part of supply chain management. The success of your business depends on how quickly and efficiently you can process customer orders. The more order you can process, the faster you will be able to ship. This increases customer satisfaction and gives you a competitive edge over your competitors. Here are some tips for improving your order fulfilment process Choose a Suitable Method to Pick Order: A business can pick order from its customers in several different ways. Some of the most popular methods are discrete order picking (one item at a time, good for low volume), pick and pass order picking (orders are grouped into zones to minimize the walking distance), and batch picking (multiple orders are picked and processed at a time, good for large volumes). As each method has its own plus and minus points, you should choose one that is suitable for your business. Increase Customer Accessibility: Your customers are the ones who place the orders; so in order to get more orders, it is important to make the order fulfilment process easier, faster and more accessible. The forms must be easily available (whether online or printed), short and easy to understand, and requiring minimum information to be entered. Customers usually do not bother with difficult-to-find, hard to understand and lengthy order forms, preferring to go to another supplier/vendor instead. Use Autofills and Multiple Choices on your Forms: One thing all customers unanimously detest is having to fill out long and detailed order forms. To make the order fulfilment process faster and easier for your customers, use autofills, pull down menus and multiple choices on your forms. The less the customers are required to write or type, the more likely they are to place orders. Keep your Inventory up-to-date: Customers find few things more frustrating that having to wait for items that are out-of-stock. Since out-of-stock situations are unavoidable, make sure that you do not offer items that are not in the inventory or are not likely to arrive by the offer date. This requires updating your inventory records continuously and ensuring that all the data entered are correct. Keep the Communication Channels Open: Don"t make forms (whether online or printed) the only way for your customers to reach out to you. Never forget that it"s you needs them and not the other way round. Keep all the communication channels opens, including face-to-face meeting, telephone, e-mail and online chat. Communication is the key to building trust, which is the key to increasing orders. Maintain a Good Return Policy: Return policy is an essential part of order fulfilment process. Your customers are more likely to place an order if you have is a good return policy in place. With so many suppliers/vendors they can go to, they don"t want to buy from one who won"t give a refund or exchange for goods that turn out to be defective. To make sure that your customers know your return policy and understand it, mention it clearly and unambiguously on your website and receipts.

Freight forwarders are people or companies that organize the shipment of goods on behalf of their customers (individuals or businesses).  They play an important role in logistics by helping manufacturers acquire the raw materials they need and distribute the finished products to customers through the various stages of the supply chain. Since a lot of businesses depend on a global supply chain these days, they use international freight forwarders to streamline their shipping process. Freight forwarders do not move the good themselves, but fulfil the role of experts in the supply chain management. They do not own equipment, trucks and storage facilities. They contract with carriers to move cargo from one geographical location to another and may use a variety of shipping providers, including trucks, railroads, ships and airline. International freight forwarders handle international shipments and are experts in preparing documentation and providing services pertaining to international shipments. International freight forwarders help streamline the shipping process by preparing and reviewing the following documents without which goods cannot be shipped. Commercial invoice : A commercial invoice is a document used by companies involved in foreign trade. It serves as the customs declaration provided by the individual or business that is exporting the goods across international borders, and is used to calculate tariffs. There is no standard format for the invoice; however, it must contain specific information such as the goods being shipped, the country of manufacture, parties involved in the transaction, the harmonized system codes for the goods, and a statement certifying that the invoice is true. Shipper's Export Declaration : A shipper's export declaration (SED) is a document that serves as a census record of exports and as a regulatory document. In the USA, the SED is mandatory for shipments of goods whose value exceeds $2,500 per Schedule B number and $500 for postal shipments. This document is necessary for the shipment of goods from the USA to Canada, but is not required for shipment from Canada to the USA. Bill of Lading : A bill of lading (abbreviated as a BOL or B/L) is an important document required for the shipment of goods. It is generated by the individual or company exporting the goods. It contains details of the goods of merchandise and gives 'title' to the carrier with specific instructions to release the goods to a named party at the destination. The bill serves as a receipt, which can be used a proof of shipment for customers and insurance purposes, as a title conferring title to the goods to the consignee noted on the bill, and as a negotiating document that may be traded in the same way as the goods. NAFTA Certificate of Origin : The NAFTA Certificate of Origin is a document required to be filled by the exporter for goods that qualify for reduced or duty-free entry as a product of one of the three member nations: Canada, USA and Mexico. Every country has its own rules and requirements on the import and export of goods. International freight forwarders have good knowledge of the rules and are able to expertly prepare the above-mentioned and other documents to make the movement of merchandise across international borders fast, smooth and hassle-free. If you're looking for cross-border shipping and logistics services to and from Mexico , give 3PL Links a call.

A growing number of businesses and organizations are outsourcing their logistics to third party logistics providers (also called 3PL or TPL) to save time and money. 3PL companies typically offer warehousing, transportation and integrated operation services that can be tailored to the customers` needs based on market conditions. These services often go beyond logistics and include value-added services that are integral to the supply chain. The outsourcing of logistics to 3PL providers allows you to focus on your core competencies of your business. They can help your business save money in the following ways: Expertise and Experience: 3PL companies have the expertise and experience to package, transport and store goods in an organized and cost-effective manner. They employ practices to make sure that the goods are shipped/transported to their right destination within given time frame. The When you handle these parts of logistics yourself, there`s the chances of delays, damages and losses are greater due to the inexperience of your employees. A 3PL company helps save money by minimizing risks and ensuring fast and timely service. Access to Resource Networks: 3PL companies usually belong to a large network that gives them access to many different carriers. As members of the resource network, they are able to negotiate volume discounts. This can result in a considerably lower overhead and faster service. A 3PL gives your company access to benefits from many resources that you cannot get on your own. Thus, using a 3PL eliminates the need to find your own carrier and negotiate with them, saving you time and money. Automated Processing: Third party logistics providers use advanced logistics management software programs to determine the fastest and the most economical route to transport goods and track their progress. The programs are capable of inventory management, advanced reporting and monitoring. This ensures faster delivery, minimized loss and damages, and less money spent on logistic solutions. Flexibility and Scalability: 3PL providers have the ability to scale transportation, labour and space - three key features of logistics - according to your needs. Companies with seasonal variations in their inventory can benefit greatly from this scalability. When your inventory is low, you can scale down the services to cut costs and when it is high, you can take advantage of the resources available without any significant rise in costs. Analysis and Planning: One big advantage of using 3PL providers is that they are experts in technical analysis and planning to manage the flow of goods and information through the various stages of the supply chain. They analyze and review each stage in the process to minimize delays and losses and to maximize the return on value. This enables them to create the fastest and the most cost-effective logistics solutions. Measuring Results: Third party logistics providers constantly monitor logistics performance to make sure that bottlenecks are being eliminated, risk of damages and loss are minimized and the targets are being met. Results are based on the analysis of budgeting techniques, cost estimating methods, quality of service and customer satisfaction. This results in a much reduced logistics costs for your business.