Tag: Air Freight

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Sourcing Agent vs Sourcing Company? Make Your Decision Wisely | BlinkGlobal

So you have decided to source from overseas. When companies and businesses decide to source from overseas, their only objective is to benefit from the competitive markets existing in other parts of the world.  As per the findings of Harvard Business Review and other research publications, certain countries have an inherent advantage in succeeding in particular industries. This is because their home environment favors those industries. However, international sourcing is also a risky maneuver as a lot of your money is at stake. You are not physically present at the location and your money is in a foreign land so you do not have full control over the process. Sourcing agents or sourcing companies deal and communicate with suppliers on your behalf. They are supposed to ensure transparency and make decisions that are right for you. You can either partner up with a sourcing agent or get onboard with a full-fledged sourcing agency. The choice is yours but we want to give a holistic view of how sourcing agents and sourcing companies operate so you can make your decision more wisely.

Sourcing Agents

In a nutshell, a sourcing agent is a freelancer hired on a fixed fee or commission to source products for you. Since they are typically freelancers, they can be found through sites like Upwork and Elance, referrals, or they may approach you via cold contact through email or social media, such as Facebook/LinkedIn. Sourcing agents are present in the country where you want to source from, meaning you can meet them virtually. A sourcing agent will get you quotes from different factories and suppliers, establish a deal, and ship products to your home. The problem with sourcing agents is that they have no reputation to uphold. If things go wrong, it’s very hard to hold them accountable. They are in another country and you cannot just walk into their office and give them tough looks.

Sourcing Companies

Sourcing companies have a vast network and global diaspora of agents with specialized backgrounds in various industries and extensive experience in global trade. The procurement officers have forged long-term relationships with reliable sellers to get the best products at an excellent market price. Here are some benefits of sourcing companies:

Global Reach & Limitless Industries

Sourcing companies have global reach and they have agents around the world. They have connections with manufacturers across various industries.

They Provide Complete 360° Sourcing Solutions

They provide 360-degree services that include:
  •         Supplier Research & Factory Audits
  •         Contract Negotiations & Verifications with Analysis
  •         Order Monitoring, Product Development & Dispute Management
  •         Quality Control, Inspection & Reporting
  •         Logistics, Shipping Consultancy & Payment Management

Quality Assurance

As opposed to sourcing agents, sourcing companies have a reputation to uphold. They ensure high-quality products and monitor the production process while also running quality assurance tests. Reliable sourcing companies such as Blink Global, offer clients a fair comparison of different vendors based on their terms of production, quality, and pricing.
Any questions? Get in touch with us today!
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4 Things You Should Know About Air Freight | BlinkGlobal

90% of the world trade is carried by sea. Maritime transport is the most cost-effective way to mobilize goods and raw materials around the world. However, maritime transportation of goods takes a lot of time and if you want to get your goods shipped ASAP, air freight seems like the obvious choice.

Despite how appealing it seems, air shipping is not always that convenient. We are listing four important things that you must know about air freight.


  1.   Air Freight May Not Always Get Goods Delivered ASAP

Time is the most important factor why many businesses decide to choose air freight over sea freight. However, air transport is not always reliable as the air traffic is very vulnerable to weather conditions. Flights get delayed when the weather is not certain. Since air traffic can be affected by adverse weather conditions, you must always be prepared for unexpected delays.


  1.   It Can Get More Costly Than You Think

Many business owners realize that air transport is costly but often find themselves asking, “How costly can it really be?” Well, it turns out that it’s very expensive and can get 10 times to 100 times more expensive than maritime transport. Airfreight is regarded as the most expensive mode of shipping. Air freight rates are so high that it usually isn’t practical for transporting low-value products.


  1.   Be Careful With the Packaging

If you are shipping internationally, your cargo is going to have to be properly packed for the long, arduous journey. Many business professionals believe that air shipping is totally safe for the cargo but it’s important to remember that just like ocean shipping, your cargo is going to be handled by different people multiple times during transloading and other operations. So it’s imperative that you put in the time and money to make sure that it’s packaged properly. It is wise to apply ample amounts of padding and add more protective layers to give your cargo the extra cushioning it needs.


  1. Air Freight Isn’t Very Eco-friendly

Lately, we have seen large corporations taking on “green” initiatives as there has been a great deal of scrutiny on businesses to pledge to sustainability with more eco-friendly operations. While major environmental risks such as oil spills are also associated with oceanic transport, the carbon emissions in air freight are guaranteed. Air transportation poses a more consistent threat to the environment so if your business has or wants to create an impression of eco-friendliness, air freight is certainly not a wise choice. 

About Blink Global

BlinkGlobal is your next Global Sourcing Partner. We excel at B2B industrial and consumer products with centralized procurement and precise delivery. We are ready to help you make the right decision, get in touch with us today!