With the growing interconnectedness and globalization, every country is connected with the larger world. Goods and services move in and out of India every second in a day. It is mainly because the International shipping of products to India has become quick and easy. However, it is accessible only when the right procedures and steps are taken.
The question here is, Are you aware of the steps and procedures to be followed while dealing with international shipping to India? If yes, you can easily have an online selling site, a functioning warehouse, and a picking, packaging, shipping service, and you are good to go. In case you need to be thorough with the entire process and are unaware of the details, we are here to provide you with all the information.
Moreover, international shipping is a lucrative option for any company looking to expand its reach beyond a particular country. So it can be useful for you if the growing customer base of the company is in your mind. Now without any delay, let us dive into this comprehensive guide, which will help you know about international shipping to India.
Interface Platform
Any company or enterprise looking to sell their products overseas needs to have an interface that helps them connect the right customers. As physical contact and offline selling is a rare possibility due to long-distance, online selling sites come to the rescue.
Online selling sites help companies showcase their products to people living on different continents through websites, social media platforms, and so on. Hence, building an online interface platform becomes necessary for companies to ship to India.
Prepare an accurate database
To ensure your goods reach their desired customers without any obstacles, you need to prepare a database. The database should accurately explain the name of the customer, contact address, and phone number. Thus, the delivery agencies can pick the product from the right place and deliver it to the customer. Moreover, customs officers can assign them to the designated offices. Hence, a little preparation can go a long way if you plan to ship items overseas.
Packaging the products
In international shipping, a product travels long distances and faces varied weather conditions. So the companies must pack the product safely and soundly to avoid any damage to it in the transit. Various fleet management systems help companies in doing so. By resorting to these services, the companies can find a solution to the fear of damage to the product and shift the responsibility to fleet management service providers.
Custom clearance and paperwork
Before shipping any product to India, you need to ensure that it is not on the restricted list. So it is a safe idea to check with the Indian Central Board of Excise and Customs and then proceed.
After checking, warehousing companies need to have a full-proof custom shield that consists of custom documents. These documents clearly and accurately state the name of the goods shipped and its total value. It then helps the custom officers to decide the tax and duty on the product.
Rules for shipping food items
Food is a perishable item, hence the rules for shipping it is precise and different from other things. Under these rules, you need to take extra efforts in its packaging and shipping to India.
Some of the rules for shipping food items are:
- The food should be in its original packaging.
- The packaging should be sealed properly to avoid leakage.
- The food packed should have a shelf life of at least six months.
These rules are in place so that the companies can pack, ship, and deliver these perishable commodities without any hassle.
Arrange and plan the logistics:
It is always a good idea to chart down the logistics strategy and the plan ahead. You should find the costs involved in shipping to India and analyze if the benefits outweigh the costs.
Secondly, a company needs to search varied delivery options that can pick, pack, and ship items to India. Ideally, it would help if you looked for a fleet management service that can do all the above three jobs conveniently. Hence, the workload and cost will come down significantly.
Errors to avoid
A tiny mistake in the entire chain of international shipping to India can cost a lot of money. Some of the errors that are commonly committed and can be easily avoided are:
- Incorrect spelling and contact address of the receiver.
- Incomplete custom papers and inaccuracy in the details.
- Not hiring a professional fulfillment service or fleet management service provider with a dedicated warehouse and a functioning supply chain.
- Not working with a technologically advanced shipping company.
It is wise to hire a professional shipping and fleet management company as they can help in the complicated procedures of shipping.
Through this comprehensive and lucid guide, we hope you will sail through the international shipping process to India and take your business to great heights.