What are the three main roles of air freight forwarding companies?

1, Organizational coordination role
The primary role of air freight forwarding companies lies in their strong organizational and coordination capabilities. In the complex international freight system, there are multiple links and parties involved, including shippers, airlines, customs, inspection, etc. As a professional intermediary agency, air freight forwarders can comprehensively grasp every link of the transportation process, effectively coordinate resources from all parties, and ensure that goods can be transported smoothly and efficiently.
Firstly, air freight forwarders are familiar with various aspects and relevant regulations of air transportation, and can provide accurate transportation advice and solutions to customers. They choose the best flight and route based on the nature, destination, and time requirements of the goods, and negotiate with the airline to ensure that the goods can arrive at the destination on time and safely.
Secondly, air freight forwarders are also responsible for handling various documents and procedures during the transportation process, such as transportation contracts, customs clearance documents, export licenses, etc. They maintain close contact with customs, inspection and other departments to ensure that all documents comply with international trade and transportation regulations, avoiding unnecessary delays and losses.
Finally, air freight forwarders also have strong tracking and notification capabilities. They utilize advanced logistics information systems to track the real-time transportation status of goods and provide timely updates to shippers on the transportation status. This real-time and transparent information transmission method not only improves transportation efficiency, but also enhances the shipper's sense of control over the transportation process.
2, Professional service role
The second major role of air freight forwarding companies lies in the professional services they provide. These services cover the entire process from goods receipt, packaging, transportation to destination delivery, ensuring the safety, integrity, and efficiency of goods during transportation.
Firstly, air freight forwarders provide professional packaging services. They carefully package the goods based on their characteristics and transportation requirements, using appropriate packaging materials and methods to prevent damage during transportation.
Secondly, air freight forwarders also provide warehousing and distribution services. They have modern warehousing facilities and efficient distribution networks, which can provide customers with flexible warehousing solutions and fast delivery services. This one-stop service not only reduces customers' logistics costs, but also improves logistics efficiency.
In addition, air freight forwarders also have rich experience in risk management. They can help customers assess the risks during the transportation of goods and provide corresponding insurance recommendations. In the event of unexpected situations such as loss, damage, or delay of goods, air freight forwarders can also represent customers to claim compensation from airlines, maximizing the protection of customers' interests.
3, Cost control function
The third major role of air freight forwarding companies lies in their cost control capabilities. By integrating transportation resources, optimizing transportation plans, and providing value-added services, air freight forwarders can help customers reduce logistics costs and improve economic efficiency.
Firstly, air freight forwarders achieve economies of scale by integrating transportation resources. They have established cooperative relationships with multiple airlines, which enables them to obtain more favorable fares and cabin resources. At the same time, they also centralize the shipment of goods from multiple customers, reducing transportation costs through methods such as LCL and palletizing.
Secondly, air freight forwarders can reduce transportation costs by optimizing transportation plans. They choose the most suitable transportation method and route based on the nature, destination, and time requirements of the goods, avoiding unnecessary transshipment and waiting time. In addition, they also utilize advanced logistics information systems to finely manage the transportation process, reducing waste and losses during transportation.
Finally, air freight forwarders also provide a range of value-added services, such as customs clearance, insurance, quality inspection, etc. These services not only improve customers' logistics experience, but also reduce their logistics costs. For example, by providing customs clearance services, air freight forwarders can help customers quickly complete customs clearance procedures and avoid additional costs caused by customs clearance delays.