Along with paying the relevant fees, shippers and carriers need to provide the information customs authorities require about each shipment, accurately and completely. “It’s a matter of resolving the whole loop ef ciently,” says Adam Langston, chief commercial of cer with Passport Global. “Technology is the only way to do it.” Generally, logistics providers
or partners can provide cross-border compliance solutions that manage customs data and handle duty or tax calculations, among other features. Crossing Oceans Moving shipments quickly across oceans can mean turning to the air. However, air shipments are expensive and thus, generally reserved for high-value items
quick as next- ight-out, but it is speedier than an ocean vessel can offer. Just as customers expect real-time delivery updates for domestic deliveries, many expect the same when shipments are moving across borders. One way to handle this is through a scannable label Whether a package needs to speed across town or around the world, a rst step to moving it quickly and cost-effectively is visibility. “The more visibility you have into your supply chain, the less you need to rely on last-minute, high-cost expedited options,” Shastri says. Visibility helps shippers pinpoint the location of their inventory, so they can reserve expediting for times when it’s truly the best option to meet a delivery requirement. that allows for traceability. Expediting Success While ensuring that all paperwork required on expedited shipments is in order may seem like a bureaucratic technicality, it’s also critical. Mistakes can leave parcels, including expedited ones, on hold before they reach their destinations. Given the importance of accurate information, shippers that work with logistics providers should ask how they will move both their products and information, and the steps required for this to happen. “The devil is in the details,” Langston says. This is especially true when it’s necessary to engage multiple transportation providers, as the ability to track data becomes more dif cult with more parties involved. Successful logistics providers should be able to assemble multiple sources of data into one seamless ow of information. Inventory placement—or locating inventory so orders can be delivered as quickly as possible—plays an increasingly important role in expediting decisions. That’s especially true for retailers that have brick-and-mortar stores from which they can ful ll online orders, Binkis says. Shippers that lack physical stores need to weigh the cost and complexity
such as critical machine parts and pharmaceutical products, says Tim Binkis, chief client success of cer with ICC Logistics Services. For many other products, the cost of air delivery is prohibitive. However, some carriers have begun offering a service that consolidates multiple shipments into one shipment for air delivery to the destination country, where each shipment is then delivered locally by an integrated carrier or the postal service, Binkis says. Often, the delivery time frame is approximately one week, which isn’t as Passport Global handles the complexities of duties, taxes, and customs clearance to help expedited shippers avoid border delays and ensure faster delivery to customers (top). Understanding the rules of cross-border commerce into Canada is key to keeping expedited packages moving smoothly ( left ).
November 2025 • Inbound Logistics 35
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