As a young newcomer to Canada, navigating both a new country and profession, Sajal Takhi learned an important lesson about professional success: behind every shipment, every cross-border lane, and every international contract are people. And to connect with them, you need to understand their needs and challenges.

With over seven years of experience in asset-based transportation, plus a CITP certification and a Master’s in Finance, Sajal has combined his learning with practice to become the expert that he is today.

A natural calling to logistics and transportation

Sajal’s journey into international trade began naturally. He started by coordinating shipments across Canada and the U.S., managing complex cross-border operations and building relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors. Through this work, he became fascinated by the intricacies of global trade, whether it was handling customs clearance documentation, resolving business disputes, or managing financial risks associated with international transactions. Every challenge and every complex detail drew him in.

His academic background, including a Master’s in Finance, further fueled his interest in international trade by giving him critical skills in financial analysis, risk management, and strategic planning, knowledge that would prove invaluable in his logistics roles. A large part of his career work has been in developing market expansion strategies and optimizing operations to maximize profitability.

Impactful advice about empathy and understanding

One of Sajal’s most powerful stories comes from his early years as a new immigrant in the workforce. At 19, newly arrived from India and working in a diverse Canadian environment, he found himself struggling to connect with colleagues—a challenge many newcomers quietly face.

“Recognizing this, my supervisor told me that to succeed professionally, it was essential to understand the needs and challenges of both customers and colleagues. This advice profoundly impacted me at an early stage in my career, prompting me to cultivate emotional intelligence and empathy.”

It was a simple concept that reshaped his entire approach to work. Sajal began actively building stronger relationships. “I realized that by understanding and valuing the perspectives of those around me, I could build stronger relationships and navigate workplace dynamics more effectively. These skills have become foundational to my professional approach, as I believe that empathy and kindness are key to connecting with others and achieving success.”

Driving significant business growth and winning contracts

Throughout his logistics career, Sajal has contributed to several major projects that improved operational efficiency and drove business expansion.

Notable achievements include winning contracts from major clients such as Burnac Produce and High Liner Foods. These achievements were the result of strategic business planning, negotiation expertise, and strong customer management skills.

“By analyzing market trends, optimizing freight routes, and aligning our service offerings with client needs, I was able to present value-driven proposals that secured these lucrative contracts.”

Another milestone came during the expansion of Sharp Express Inc., where Sajal expanded Sharp Express Inc.’s market presence by diversifying operations beyond traditional reefer loads into dry freight, auto parts, and electronics. “I proactively identified new opportunities, optimized our pricing strategies, and successfully mitigated risks associated with seasonal fluctuations in demand,” he says.

Why Risk Management Became His Guiding Principle

When asked what he wishes he’d known at the start of his career, Sajal answerswith confidence:

“The importance of risk management in every aspect of business, and working as an employee as well.”

He elaborates that the importance of risk analysis lies in its ability to anticipate uncertainties and vulnerabilities, allowing businesses to proactively address issues before they escalate. By doing this, they not only protect their assets and enhance operational resilience but also foster a culture of risk awareness across the organization.

He also believes that,

“risk analysis plays a key role in optimizing financial performance by helping businesses avoid costly mistakes, reduce losses, and enhance their reputation and credibility among stakeholders.”

By systematically evaluating potential threats – whether financial, operational, strategic, or compliance-related – risk analysis enables companies to make informed decisions, allocate resources more effectively, and develop robust contingency plans.

This ability to analyze uncertainty – financial, operational, strategic, or compliance-related – is now central to Sajal’s professional toolkit, and he credits his favourite FITTskills modules with giving him deeper insight into this topic.

Risk Analysis and Cost Analysis – FITTskills training applied on the job

His favourite topics were risk analysis and management and cost and pricing analysis. After studying these areas, he was able to do a mind map of his previous company Sharp Express Inc. where he uncovered risk factors that eventually led to a downturn in the business during a high-interest rate market.

“These courses significantly deepened my knowledge, allowing me to apply advanced analytical skills directly to my work in logistics. This enhanced my ability to make data-driven decisions, mitigate risks, and optimize costs, ultimately contributing to the growth of the company and adding value to the broader community.”

An enriching learning experience

Despite balancing a demanding career in logistics and pursuing a Master’s in Finance, Sajal was able to complete two FITTskills courses for an enriching learning experience. Not long after, he decided to complete the entire FITTskills program and apply for his Certified International Trade Professional (CITP^®|FIBP^®) designation, understanding its ability to open international doors and add credibility to his CV.

“The CITP is a prestigious certification by FITT. By achieving this qualification doors are opened not only in Canada by across the EU as well. Moreover, the faculty of FITT and its strategic partner EDC are industry leaders and well-qualified.”

Pride in contributing to a wider community

Sajal considers earning his designation a proud moment. He views the CITP as a marker of prestige but, more importantly, as a way for him to contribute his learning and work experience to the evolving Canadian economy and “beautiful Canadian community.”

How the CITP is shaping his future

Since earning the CITP, Sajal has honed his international trade skills for a rounded view of logistics, finance, and risk mitigation, all assets he applies to his current role of operations team lead at A.P. Moller – Maersk. Whether he’s ensuring flawless coordination between shippers, carriers, and internal teams to meet OTP targets or reconciling load-level financials, including accessorial, fuel surcharges, and margin analysis to support financial operations, he is using his expertise and deep industry knowledge every day.

His efforts have even led to award recognition within the company—an achievement that motivates him to keep pushing boundaries and deliver excellence in the industry.

Though he is still early in his career, Sajal has accomplished a lot already. He’s won major contracts for clients, accomplished seamless logistics coordination for the world’s biggest shipping companies, and he’s attained major academic and professional milestones. Through it all, he has learned that success in international trade is not just about moving goods efficiently—it’s about understanding people, managing uncertainty, and thinking globally.

His journey stands as a powerful reminder that trade is built on relationships and strategic expertise, and strongest careers grow from both skillsets.

The post CITP Spotlight: Sajal Takhi – Operations Team Lead, A.P. Moller, Maersk appeared first on Trade Ready.

In a world that is constantly expanding and evolving, sustainability in every aspect of life is the way of the future. Governments and customers alike are increasing demands for more sustainable and ethical business practices.

The supply chain industry is one of the leaders in emissions and waste energy, but these challenges have brought with them a new wave of sustainable solutions.

Today there are more options for every company to take action and effectively reduce their supply chain footprint. The innovative, growing companies below are industry experts with actionable solutions to share.

Alt Tex

What they do

Alt Tex is a new company composed of entrepreneurs and scientists that have decided to change the way the fashion industry works. They have innovated a process that uses food waste to produce high-quality, sustainable textile products. Their synthetic material can help reduce wasteful practices in the fashion industry and has the potential to evolve into other industries as well.

Why it’s valuable

The fashion industry contributes an astounding 8-10% of the world’s GHG emissions and the production of polyester (used in over 60% of the clothing textiles and consuming 70 million barrels of oil per year) is a main culprit.

Alt Tex fabric is a ground-breaking innovation that will have long-lasting implications for the fashion industry as a whole and other branches of industry that use textiles, replacing high-waste polyester with their biodegradable textiles.

Whether your company holds a spot in the supply chain that will contribute to the development of these textiles or whether you will be using them to create your own sustainable products, you will be reducing your supply chain footprint and contributing to the health of the planet.

How to implement their solution

While Alt Tex is still in the process of commercializing their product, supply chain companies can still contribute to their mission and implement some planet-saving strategies into their practices.

Whether you would like to receive their innovative textiles to create your products, or you have food waste that you’d like to direct to them instead of to the landfill, the folks at Alt Tex will be happy to hear from you.

Evoco LTD.

What they do

Evoco LTD. Is a company that is replacing traditionally-sourced carbon with sustainable and regenerative plant-based carbon. They use trees and other plant matter to create biomass for ‘green’ carbon that is then used to create various bioplastics and other biodegradable materials commonly used in athletic products and footwear.

When these products are composted, they will contribute to the growth of more trees and plant matter to create a sustainable, renewable cycle.

Why it’s valuable

Evoco’s process eliminates the need for fossil fuel carbon, and this in turn maintains the balance of carbon in the atmosphere and lessens the rate at which climate change occurs. Using sustainable foams and other materials produced by Evoco LTD. will reduce your supply chain footprint and will allow you company to contribute to sustainable carbon extraction.

How to implement their solution

Replacing standard plastic and textile use with products from Evoco is the best way to contribute to their goal of creating a sustainable cycle for carbon extraction and development into various products. All of their products have a high percentage of plant-based carbon, and transitioning to those products will help your company find its way to more sustainable practices.

Genecis

What they do

Genecis is a company focusing on the science of plastic. They divert food waste from landfills, ferment those materials with special bacteria, and use the by-products of that fermentation to create biodegradable plastic.

This plastic degrades completely in 30 days in a compost environment, and if it does happen to escape to the ocean, it will degrade in only 1 year.

Why it’s valuable

Not only does diverting food waste reduce the rate at which landfills fill, but the biodegradable plastic created from that food waste will replace standard non-degradable plastics throughout the globe, reducing pollution and contributing to beneficial compost growth.

Using Genecis plastic in your supply chain will reduce your carbon footprint and divert even more materials from landfills.

How to implement their solution

If you’d like to reduce the environmental impact of your supply chain, Genecis plastic is the way to go.

There are three main ways you can work with Genecis to implement this plastic-reducing endeavor: use Genecis plastic to replace standard plastic use in your manufacturing processes, create new products with their bacteria, or license their technology to produce your own plastic within your facility.

BrainBox AI

What they do

BrainBox AI has developed what is essentially a brain for your HVAC system. Their AI technology integrates into your HVAC system in order to learn the heating and cooling patterns and how your building responds to external temperature and weather changes. Then, it will regulate each component of your system in order to maintain set temperatures and eliminate energy waste.

Why it’s valuable

HVAC systems are one of the most wasteful systems in a building, and they also draw a lot of power: up to 50% of a building’s energy consumption goes to the HVAC system, and as much as 35% of that energy can be wasted.

Using the BrainBox AI technology can lower your carbon footprint by 40% and HVAC operation costs by 25%. Plus, you’ll end up extending the life of your HVAC system and increase the comfort of your staff. Say hello to increased productivity and goodbye to unnecessary costs.

How to Implement the Strategies

If implementing this autonomous AI solution sounds like a good deal to you (and you’re right, it is), get in touch with BrainBox AI staff to discuss installation. It can be integrated into any building size and layout, so no matter where your facility sits in the supply chain, you can start saving energy and reducing your carbon footprint.

Extract Energy

What they do

Extract Energy has designed a heat engine that converts waste heat from industrial factories and power plants into electricity. This innovative technology is easy to install, manage, and scale as your production changes. The engine can be affixed to multiple waste heat streams in order to fit into any company’s manufacturing and/or processing facility.

Why it’s valuable

The Extract Energy heat engine can dramatically reduce the amount of waste heat your facility is releasing into the atmosphere. Eliminating emissions will reduce your supply chain footprint, and converting that heat into usable electric energy can reduce operation costs and improve efficiency.

How to implement their solution

If you’re interested in helping Extract Energy perfect their system, give them a call. They’ll assess whether your site is a good candidate for pilot installation of their heat engine units. If your site meets their criteria, congratulations! You can start reducing your carbon footprint immediately. If not, you can reach out again once they are ready for full-scale implementation across the industry.

Xos

What they do

Xos is a leader in battery-operated transportation vehicles. They make fleet vehicles in all sizes (Class 5 through Class 8) that run off of battery power alone, and they also supply companies with the power solutions for those vehicles and a highly intelligent management software to coordinate and monitor their fleet.

Why it’s valuable

A massive 95% of the world’s shipping energy still comes from fossil fuels, and as a result, the transportation industry accounts for around one fifth of the world’s carbon emissions.

Incorporating fully electric vehicles into supply chain transport fleets is valuable in three ways: it lowers operating costs, reduces downtime, and eliminates carbon emissions. Implementing transportation solutions like this is one of the fastest ways we can reduce our negative impact on the planet.

How to implement their solution

Initiating the changeover from gas-powered vehicles to electric is as easy as placing a call to Xos staff. One of their account executives will discuss your fleet and infrastructure needs to come up with a feasible implementation strategy to get your fleet operating with clean, sustainable energy as quickly as possible.

Norsepower

What they do

Norsepower is a second company tackling emissions in transportation, specifically shipping by sea. The company has designed an auxiliary wind propulsion system called Rotor Sail technology that is highly automated and reliable. They believe that bringing sail energy back into ocean transportation is the way to reduce and eventually eliminate carbon emissions from this transportation sector.

Why it’s valuable

More than 3% of global carbon emissions can be attributed to shipping vessels on water. This is equivalent to what the highest-emitting countries produce. Since the shipping industry is only accelerating, taking steps to counter these carbon emissions is vital.

The Rotor Sails designed by Norsepower can reduce consumption of fuel by as much as 20%, with an average between 5 and 10%.

How to implement their solution

Whether your supply chain incorporates passenger ships, cargo ships, tanker ships, or any other kind of ocean-going vessel, Rotor Sails can be the solution for reducing carbon emissions and fuel consumption.

The post 7 emerging cleantech suppliers that can help you create a more sustainable supply chain appeared first on Trade Ready.

In order to be able to tell your customers how much they will pay for shipping, or when to expect delivery, you need a way to calculate the costs and know the options for all shipment sizes.

Getting this right is crucial to recouping your costs while keeping your customers happy – by setting the right expectations and avoiding errors that could cause you to absorb the additional fees.

Here’s how you can calculate the freight charge by rating shipments.

Rating Shipments

Rating is the process of estimating the freight charge associated with any given shipment. Rating capability should be incorporated into your company’s online Transportation Management System (TMS), if it has one, and linked with the order processing system.

This will enable you to inform your customers of shipping charges and estimated arrival times. Many carriers have websites that provide rates to shippers.

Electronic Shipment Bidding (ESB) allows shippers to post shipment details, such as origin and destination, weight and volume, and the required delivery window on an electronic bulletin board.

Carriers monitor this bulletin board and bid for the shipments that appear the most attractive. With ESB, all bids are placed and accepted electronically. For organizations trading internationally, this system can dramatically reduce the time spent obtaining rates.

To gain a realistic understanding of available rates, a shipper should obtain a wide variety of rate quotations for the same export transaction.

The shipper should also undertake an internal costing exercise to obtain a rough estimate of the costs involved, although such an exercise usually requires considerable resources and might be beyond the means of small- and medium-sized shippers and exporters.

Want to learn more about how to decide the best method of transportation based on cost, delivery time, risk, product quality and overall efficiency? Check out the FITTskills International Distribution online workshop!

Weight Break

A shipment’s weight break is the point at which the weight of a shipment is large enough to be assessed at lower freight rates that are applicable to larger shipments, as per the carrier’s tariff.

To calculate the weight break, use the following formula:

(B X D) / C = X

Where:

• X is the weight break, the point when the higher rate is charged based on weight
• A is the weight of the lower rate bracket (example 1M = 1,000)
• B is the weight of the next highest rate bracket (example 2M = 2,000)
• C is the freight rate fee for A
• D is the freight rate fee for B

Example:

1A/ 58.21   2B/ 49.39 translates to:

1000/58.21         2000/49.39 translates to:

A/C       B/D

If (B X D)/ C= X then (2000 x 49.39) /58.21= 1696

This formula provides information for weight-based freight rate calculations. Many companies use volume calculations and will select whichever rate is higher.

As freight charges are calculated automatically using computer programs many companies’ websites allow shippers to input freight dimensions, including weight, which provides the freight charge or a very close estimate of the charge for their shipments automatically.

The post How much will your freight charge be? Here’s how rating shipments works appeared first on Trade Ready.

This article is part 2 of our series on regulatory compliance, and we will be looking at shipping  and health and safety. In part 1 we looked at product safety compliance, which you can find here.

Shipping Compliance

Countries regulate how goods are shipped and received within their borders for a variety of reasons, including to facilitate the orderly and secure transportation of goods, to ensure safety and security of borders and citizens, and to collect economic data.

As a result, international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) have developed guidelines such as the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. These guidelines assist governments in developing their own regulations, while still facilitating international trade. Packing, marking and the transportation of dangerous goods are part of distribution activities.

Packing refers to the way in which a load of products is prepared for shipment, and can include how products are crated, placed on pallets or put into containers.

The main concern is that the goods are transported to their destination safely and without damage as agreed to in the sales contract and in accordance with any regulations affecting transportation.

Packing is an important cost element and should represent a reasonable trade-off between a minimum level of protection and a greater level of risk mitigation. It is better to invest in adequate packing than to have to deal with the consequences of damaged goods. The characteristics of the product and the physical aspects of distribution must be taken into consideration when packing goods for transportation.

Companies must also be aware of international packing regulations concerning the specific type of packing materials that are allowed, and the proper disposal of packing materials and environmental regulations associated with them. It is best to investigate any controls, obligations or materials that are prohibited in the country prior to engaging in trade. For example, exports to the United States require specifically treated pallets used for shipments of goods.

Proper marking helps avoid customs difficulties and potential damage from mishandling or improper storage, as well as ensuring that packages conform to international transport regulations and requirements. Companies should follow standardized procedures for marking shipments during the packing process, to ensure that nothing significant is missed.

Such procedures might include:

• Ensuring that marks are clearly visible on at least two external sides of the package
• Making all marks legible, large and prominent against the surface of the package
• Identifying fragile goods with the word “fragile” or with the symbol of a broken wine glass
• Removing all previous markings on recycled packing materials
• Marking dangerous materials clearly, according to regulations prescribing symbols to indicate the nature of the danger
• Stating any special handling instructions, such as storage in cool or dry conditions

To be effective, markings must be prominent, simple, clear and distinct. They should be applied by brush or stencil using waterproof ink or paint. Whenever possible, universally recognized International Organization for Standardization (ISO) symbols should be used.

Seven categories of markings are used for shipments:

• Customer identification code (shipper’s mark): An importing firm makes up a personal mark that all exporters shipping to it must use on their packages.
• Country of origin: May be required by the importing customs and border security agency.
• Ports of entry: The names of the destinations. If the goods are being shipped through one port to an ultimate destination, both must be marked (for example, “OTTAWA VIA HALIFAX”).
• Pack numbers: The importer should provide instructions on how the units being shipped are to be numbered. Each pack or container is marked accordingly.
• Special cautionary markings: Special markings such as “fragile” or “use no hooks” can appear on the packages.
• Component numbers: When components for large projects are being exported, containers should be given an indicator number. This number enables the project manager to ensure storage and opening in the sequence required by the project-implementation schedule.
• Dangerous goods labels: If the contents of the freight are hazardous, it must be clearly labelled using the International Maritime Organization and IATA recognized universal symbols. Text related to the handling of the hazardous material should also be in the language of the destination country.

Want to dive deeper into the regulations and requirements for selling in international markets? Check out the FITTskills Products and Services for a Global Market online course.

Health and Safety Compliance

Health and safety compliance is required for the protection of consumers. Hazardous goods, such as many chemicals, food products and pharmaceutical products, are strictly governed by health and safety regulations in most jurisdictions. Rigorous rules apply to how different types of food are produced, processed, packaged, stored and transported. Similarly, there are regulations governing the production, licensing and testing of pharmaceuticals, chemical products and any other goods that have the potential for being hazardous.

Safety certifications required for imports also exist to protect consumers. For example, health or sanitary certificates are quite common. These are government to government certificates that include information about the product, its health status (according to the government in the exporting country) and the exporter. The information on an export certificate varies, but includes such things as the country of origin, the ingredients, microbial status and/or its status as it relates to plant/animal diseases.

Similarly, inspection certificates are available in many countries to attest that the product complies with government and/or industry standards (e.g. certificates of hygiene, product grading certificates, standard meat product certificates, etc.). In some countries these certificates are routinely issued by government departments (to support exporting companies) and in other instances, third-party commercial certification may be required.

Examples of product safety regulations also include the safety standards for power tools, requirements for automobile speedometer designations for specific markets, and types of paint used for children’s toys and furniture. These requirements will vary for each foreign market.

Some countries have recall legislation that provides governments with the power to force organizations to recall products that are deemed public safety hazards. These recalls can have a devastating effect on an organization’s brand and image. In fact, many companies will issue their own recalls to mitigate public backlash and replace parts. This action helps to position quality control and customer service as positively viewed components of their corporate image.

Stay tuned for part 3 of our series, where we will be looking at environmental compliance.

The post Regulatory compliance for your products and services – a complete guide Part 2 appeared first on Trade Ready.

There are many important details that need to be covered when dealing with cargo insurance—defined as the transfer of risk to a third party, the insurance company, who takes on the risk for a fee called an insurance premium—and every stakeholder involved in the international trade transaction has insurance.

Want to learn more about how to manage your company’s supply chain and logistics? Check out the FITTskills Global Value Chain online course!

For those who are aiming to obtain insurance, they must be aware of the process, which requires the following agreements by the insured and the insurer:

Setting the insurable value

The shipper can insure the cargo for the invoice value of the goods, plus freight and other charges. Most insurers offer insurance at 110 percent of the CIF value. The additional 10 percent is included as compensation for loss of profit. Generally, the beneficiary of the insurance policy determines which risks should be covered by insurance and negotiates to include that degree of coverage in the sales contract. It is rare to obtain insurance for more than 110 percent of the CIF value of the goods. The purpose of insurance is to compensate the insured for loss or damage, not to generate profit to the insured for the accident or event that led to the loss or damage.

Determining who takes out the policy

Usually, the terms of the sales agreement indicate which of the parties must obtain insurance. The Incoterms® 2020 rules for CIF or CIP require the seller to obtain cargo insurance to protect the buyer against the risk of loss. The rules require a policy that will allow the buyer to claim directly from the insurer, and requires the seller to provide the buyer with a copy of the insurance policy or other evidence of insurance coverage.

The remaining Incoterms®2020 rules leave the purchase of marine cargo insurance to the discretion of the buyer. Most insurance brokers are familiar with the requirements applicable to each trade term. The insurance ramifications of the Incoterms® rules being considered should be investigated before entering into a sales contract. Insurance can be quite costly, and in some cases it is unavailable.

Do you need a better understanding of Incoterms^® 2020 definitions/rules and obligations? The Incoterms^® 2020 online course, presented by FITT and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), is designed to help international trade professionals gain an understanding of the latest edition of the Incoterms^® rules (which came into effect on January 1, 2020).

Finalizing the policy

Once all details of the policy are determined and the insurance premium paid, an insurance policy is issued to the insured. The insurance policy is the contract between the insurer (i.e. the insurance company) and the insured (the shipper on the B/L or waybill) in which the insurer promises to pay the beneficiary (the person named in the insurance policy) for damage to, or loss of, the insured goods due to particular risks.

Legal Considerations

In terms of risk, it is also important to understand the protections that may be provided to international trading organizations based on the conventions, treaties and agreements to which countries are signatories. It is important to understand the geopolitical aspects of international trade in order to determine how international conventions, treaties and agreement may be beneficial.

The answers to the following questions will assist in this assessment:

• What is being shipped?
• What is the shipment’s final destination?
• Who owns the land, air and sea en-route to the final destination?
• Where is it stopping along the way to the final destination?
• Are there passage rights, bans, boycotts, wars or trade restrictions on specific goods that could hinder the transportation of the goods being shipped?
• What is the process if an accident or natural disaster destroys some or all of the goods?
• What is the percentage of coverage, and where do the obligations of different stakeholders begin and end?
• What is the notice period to file a claim or initiate liability litigation? How should the notice be given?

The post Necessary agreements and legal considerations for cargo insurance in international trade appeared first on Trade Ready.

When Ken MacDonald was approached by former colleagues looking for someone to lead their global commercial team, he jumped at the opportunity and challenge. He’d always had an avid interest in international trade, and choosing to lead their team marked a significant start to his incredible career story. Eventually, this path would lead him to become the President and CEO of CLARITY Sales Enablement—a company that guides businesses to achieve maximum potential.

Acting quickly to solve a complicated partner issue

Among his favourite career stories, Ken remembers sitting in the CFO’s office at Acadian Seaplants Ltd. in Dartmouth Nova Scotia Canada. It was mid-morning and they were discussing a complicated partner issue: Their partner had legal ownership of some inventory stranded in Port dos Santos, Brazil, but this inventory could not be cleared by customs due to the partner’s financial issues.

The only way to sort out the matter was to deal with it in person. Acting upon an impulse, they made an on-the-spot decision to fly to Brazil that very afternoon to find a solution.

“After a weeklong negotiation with lawyers, accountants, regulatory and customs officials, we were able to transfer ownership back to Acadian and avoid a significant financial hit”

This incident taught Ken a valuable lesson:

“Issues and opportunities can arise very quickly with international business and the ability to act quickly is paramount.”

Sharing a common goal with talented people across the globe

With many stories that span the globe, it’s no surprise that Ken’s proudest accomplishment has been his ability to work with incredible people from around the world. He’s found the entire experience extremely enriching, as it has given him the opportunity to interact with many capable and knowledgeable individuals from diverse cultures. Working together, they’ve achieved great success.

“It has been an honour to be associated with so many amazing and talented people who come from different cultures but shared a common goal.”

Find mentors to guide you through complicated situations

Ken’s advice to individuals in international trade is to look for mentors who have successfully developed and established businesses in international markets.

“I believe that there is no better sounding board to help guide you through very complicated situations.”

Adding a prestigious credential to his already impressive repertoire of knowledge and experience

Ken earned his CITP®|FIBP® designation in March 2020 and is confident that this unique credential will bring advantages to his career.

He notes that it has been “very gratifying” to earn this official stamp of excellence, as it is industry-backed and validates his competencies in international business.

“The CITP designation is widely recognized and lends significant credibility to my dialogue as it relates to international business development.”

Ken is already thinking ahead about how he is going to leverage his special designation.

“I plan to promote it as a competitive advantage and to help mentor young entrepreneurs to achieve the designation.”

Today, as President and CEO at Clarity Sales Enablement, Ken partners with businesses to help them scale-up and enter new markets. There is no doubt that he’ll continue to expand his breadth of knowledge in international business, adding to his catalogue of worldly stories and sage advice.

As Ken prepares to guide and inspire young talent towards a fulfilling career in international business, we wish him continued success and can’t wait to see what’s next.

The post CITP Spotlight: Ken MacDonald – President & CEO, CLARITY Sales Enablement appeared first on Trade Ready.

Dealing with rising logistics costs

From sourcing materials to storing goods to shipping to your customers, logistics costs add up. They can be a major part of your business’s expenses, and they seem to be continually rising. If you’re not looking at how you can scale back your logistics costs, you’re hurting your business’s bottom line. While tackling these kinds of costs might seem overwhelming, there are some things you can do to manage your business’s logistics costs.

Understand your logistics costs

Reducing your logistics costs begins with evaluating them. Until you understand how your business is spending money on logistics, you can’t understand how to reduce logistics costs. Take the time to understand how much you are spending on packaging, shipping, labour and storage. Know how much each container costs you to ship, and how much you are spending on logistics for each item in your inventory.

Once you understand where your logistics budget is going, you can begin to look at how to pare back on those costs. Break apart the fixed costs that you don’t have the power to change and the variable costs. By knowing which costs you can influence, you can begin to identify where you can save money in your supply chain.

Understand your inventory

When it comes to reducing logistics costs, many experts will suggest maintaining higher inventory levels. Carrying higher inventory levels means less frequent supply shipments and you don’t risk paying more for last-minute supplies. Unless you evaluate and understand your inventory, your supply needs and your space, it can be difficult to maintain higher inventory without running the risk of overstocking.

Know which items move faster than others and what you should have more of on hand. Monitor the flow of your inventory, and keep an eye on peaks in demand that call for increased inventory. Evaluate your inventory space and determine whether you could be shelving your inventory more efficiently to store more items in less space. Be sure to keep and regularly evaluate your inventory data so you can make better decisions on your inventory levels to save on shipping and storage logistics.

Plan regular shipments

Consider when you order items or contract shipments for your business. If you are waiting until you need to ship something or until you need something in stock, you’re spending more on shipping than you need to. When you’ve analyzed your supply and inventory needs, you can begin to contract your shipping in advance to save your business money on shipping costs. Many companies will offer savings when you contract multiple shipments at once or when you contract for shipping further in advance.

When logistics companies have orders on the books in advance, they can better manage how they’re filling their shipment containers to lower their costs, which means your costs are lower. Contracting logistics in advance, or working with the same companies for supplies and shipments over and over again, can help you develop good working relationships with your logistics partners. When you have those solid relationships, you can work with your partners to lower costs, and they likely will reward you for your loyalty with better pricing over time.

Involve everyone in logistics savings

If you’re committed to keeping your logistics costs low, you’ll need to involve every team in your business. That’s because nearly every department impacts your logistics costs. Product developers can look at supply or design options that will lower your supply logistics costs and your product distribution costs. Your marketing team can keep a calendar of initiatives that are likely to bring a surge in business to help you beef up inventory in advance. Your warehouse team can find efficiencies in their operations or in their storage methods.

When all of your teams are aware of how they play a role in logistics and keeping the costs low, they can contribute to this goal on a consistent basis.

Logistics is an expensive part of every business, which makes keeping logistics costs in line essential to maintaining your business’s profits. Keeping those costs low involves constantly monitoring data that will help you make better decisions, planning your logistics as far in advance as possible and involving your teams in moderating logistics costs. By actively tracking, evaluating and controlling your logistics costs, you can save money and better protect your business’s bottom line.

The post How your small business can save money on rising logistics costs appeared first on Trade Ready.

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Dimple Gandhi’s path towards an international trade career started at a young age. Her father ran a logistics company for 25 years, and as she saw how much work he needed to do to keep his business going, she wanted to learn how to help him run and grow the business as well.

“I started understanding the business structure and day by day I was eager to learn more. After office hours, I used to ask several questions to my dad every day. I understood transportation is one of the most important factors in international trade, so I started focusing there, which helped me to better understand international trade as a whole and gain my own perspective.”

As she grew older, she decided to attend university to continue her education, learning more about international trade and its many requirements. Each summer during her program, she also worked as an intern at different manufacturing companies to gain further experience in accounting and then import/export management. As the daughter of a business owner, however, she faced significant challenges in dealing with her employers and co-workers.

“For three summers I worked for free, none of the companies paid me a single penny. My employers would tell me ‘you are here to learn’ or ‘you are the daughter of a businessman’, and my co-workers always saw me first and foremost as a ‘rich man’s daughter’. This was very frustrating. I was struggling to please everyone around me and sacrificing any break during the summer, but only hearing unwanted things from everyone around me.”

“I always wanted to be independent, and these three years of sacrifice and hard work changed my life and developed my self-confidence. I learned to always look on the bright side. There are 10,000 reasons to give up, so always eliminate all the excuses and replace those excuses with opportunities. Hard work pays off at right moment, so never give up.”

The balancing act of studying while working full-time

After completing her undergraduate degree, Dimple earned a full-time position at SRV Global Freight, a freight forwarding company, where her role was to negotiate contracts and pricing for ocean, rail and other importers. She also wanted to continue her studies, which led to a hectic 18 month period in her life.

“My goal was to enhance my knowledge and gain further insights into logistics and supply chain management, and to apply my theoretical knowledge in a practical environment. I enrolled for an 18 month diploma program where I worked Monday to Friday full time and then spent my weekends in school for more than 10 hours each day, which was difficult.”

“I still can’t believe I graduated from the program with an A, which was unbelievable. Balancing my study time and work time was important. I am grateful for my SRV Team, especially my Director, Mr. Rosario Dcruz, who supported and motivated me throughout my journey.”

After completing her diploma, she then set a new goal: to study abroad and continue her trade education. Moving to London, Ontario, Canada in 2017, she earned her diploma from Fanshawe College in international business management as well as the FITT Diploma in International Trade the following year.

“Moving abroad to achieve my goal was another achievement.”

The FITTskills courses helped me to sharpen and enhance my international trade knowledge. They have all the essential content and elements an individual should know before you enter any kind of market around the world.

I personally developed my research skills – there were so many aspects which I wasn’t aware of, and this training has all the minute things which are important for business.

Earning the CITP designation to open doors in the Canadian trade job market

By earning her FITT Diploma, Dimple fulfilled the educational requirements to apply for the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation and applied for the designation shortly after.

“Within 20 months, I decided to pursue my diploma, complete all of my exams and successfully complete my work experience. I worked hard and enhanced my knowledge as much as I could, so I think of this designation as a kind of reward for my enthusiasm towards this field.”

Learning that she had officially become a CITP was one of the proudest moments of her career to date.

“This feeling cannot be expressed, it’s such a proud moment for me and my Parents. This designation has proven that my three years of struggle during my undergrad was worth it. Sacrificing my social life for two years while working and studying has given me this. I’m thankful to my parents for motivating me at each stage of my learning, and my “never give up attitude” paid off.”

As she works to establish her career in Canada, she says that the CITP designation will open doors and help her earn the kind of position she is seeking.

This will help me to reach my goal and give me an opportunity to enter the global trade job market. Companies will know they can rely on my skills, knowledge and experience.

With all of the tools she needs to succeed in hand, Dimple has a bright future ahead of her and is poised to help any number of international trade businesses grow and excel in global markets.

The post Dimple Gandhi, CITP|FIBP – Logistics Professional appeared first on Trade Ready.

In international trade, it is important to maintain the competitive advantage of sourcing goods globally. Your business needs to get your goods to the right place at the right time, consistently and efficiently. This is why it’s important to consider the potential risks of international distribution.

Transportation costs must be controlled, and goods delivered promptly and in good condition. No matter what you’re transporting or what borders you have to cross, you can build a competitive advantage and maintain your profit margins as long as you plan properly.

When goods are in transit, they are most vulnerable to risk threats. The larger and more valuable the shipment, the bigger the risk—and solutions are much harder to implement when the issue is halfway around the globe.

Understanding the types of risks your business could face is the first step. Then, develop a strategic risk management plan to protect goods in transit and your bottom line. A well-developed strategy and due diligence can help you manage many of the kinds of risks that come with international distribution:

• The shipment that was expected two weeks ago has disappeared
• The container slipped from the crane’s rigging and cracked open on the dock
• The full container load has been pilfered to two-thirds of its value
• Thousands of bags of rice are wet and moldy
• The charter vessel has not been heard from
• The shipment was refused entry into its destination country

Threats to Cargo

Some typical methods used by cargo thieves:

• Theft at warehouses and distribution centres – basic break-ins, identity theft and hacking online databases
• Theft from trailers – at rest stops and while vehicles are in motion. Thieves have been known to jump trains looking for high value cargo.
• Theft of trailers – in distribution centres, storage or drop yards and rest stops
• Hijacking/piracy – encounters that can end in violence. Using deception (eg: dressing up as police officers) to intercept trucks, forcing the driver to another location or loading the cargo into another vehicle.

The dollar value of lost and damaged cargo is unknown as carriers tend not to report damage and will absorb losses to preserve reputations and avoid insurance cost increases.

Piracy

Thieves target high-value items such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and clothing, however, as a crime of opportunity, any product will do. Organized thieves will gather information and monitor the shipping activities in industrial parks and manufacturing or distribution facilities, waiting for an opportune moment to steal cargo.

Organized thieves are aware of electronic surveillance and the use of GPS trackers. Law enforcement agencies are finding that thieves are using GPS jammers and removing cargo to their own trailers or warehouses, thus preventing tracing by trucking companies. At secured warehouse locations, the thieves will break the product down for resale on the black market. Preparing stolen goods for resale may entail changing the packaging, re-labeling the boxes, and even creating falsified bills of lading or customs paperwork to facilitate moving the stolen cargo out of the country.

Another concern is the use of insider information or help from the organization’s employees. FreightWatch International suggests that some cargo theft gangs will conspire with employees at the facility or have a gang member hired at the targeted warehouse in order to obtain necessary information on alarms, cameras and other security measures in place, as well as cargo deliveries.

The most serious concern is the escalation of violence. FreightWatch suggests that violence is escalating in developing countries. Countries with political instability, corrupt governments and law enforcement agencies, and high levels of poverty, are prone to cargo theft along with a wide range of other crimes and various levels of violence.

It is clear that supply chain/logistics planners must be aware of these risks when determining the movement of cargo.

Want to learn more about how to use appropriate procedures to prepare goods for shipping in order to minimize risks? Check out the FITTskills International Distribution online workshop!

The big risks of international shipping

• Loss and damage to cargo
• Unexpected additional costs, e.g. storage
• Delays or disruption of supply chain
• Personal injury or death
• Increased insurance premiums
• Increased prices of goods for consumers

7 risk management strategies

1. Exercise due diligence when engaging a carrier

• Determine how long the carrier has been in business
• Check their equipment or distribution centre – well maintained and secure
• Determine their business model – their own fleet or contract owner-operators
• Make sure their personnel are trained and qualified
• Check the carrier’s track record
• Consult with other customers for their experiences working with the carrier
• Check drivers’ training and accident record
• Understand the freight claim rate
• If using a freight forwarder, find out who they use as a carrier
• Review the relationships with carriers or freight forwarders that have been developed, ensuring that service levels are being maintained

2. Understand what documentation is required

To move your goods internationally and be in compliance with regulations, you need to understand exactly what documentation is needed. Your documents will need to include all the relevant information. If your documents are unclear or inaccurate, your shipments could be subject to significant delays. Protect your business, profits and time by maintaining  rigorous records.

Many transportation services are paperless. For example, railway quotes, booking and documentation is all conducted online. In Canada, the U.S. and most of Europe, customs documentation is digital. However, this is not true for all countries. Be sure to check with consulates and agents for the procedures for customs and documentation submissions in other jurisdictions.

Focus on accuracy, detailed descriptions and complete documentation on shipping documents:

• Bills of lading
• Waybills, title documents
• Bills of sales
• Customs documents (including any taxation information)
• Health and safety certificates
• Import permits
• Certificates of origin

3. Ensure the contracts are clear

The contract for the sale of the goods will provide the terms of the delivery of the goods. Incoterms® rules will impact how the goods are delivered, where the sellers and buyers assume responsibility for the goods, as well as what they are each responsible for.

Since the cost of transporting goods is typically not included in the contract for the sale of goods, a contract with a third party for the international  delivery and transportation of goods is necessary. This contract is between the shipper and the carrier, and it determines the rights and obligations of all the parties involved in transporting the goods. The shipper can be the seller, the buyer or a freight forwarder. The contract is generally a bill of lading or waybill.

Ensure the terms and conditions of the transportation contract are clear and that each party understands their rights and obligations under the contract. Seek legal advice if necessary, e.g. negotiating charter vessel contracts.

4. Communicate clearly and in timely manner

Good communications are an important part of risk management. Making sure that detailed information is provided in a timely manner can help reduce extra costs:

• Prevent unplanned storage or transportation costs by making sure that the carrier has specific details on the port terminal to deliver cargo
• Communicate the right information to the emergency response personnel when transporting hazardous or dangerous goods so that proper action can be taken to mitigate incidents or to report unsafe conditions
• Tell the importer when the cargo will be at the border to ensure that customs documentation is filed at the correct time
• Make sure the insurance company has the transportation vessel name, registration number and other pertinent details so that risks to cargo are covered

Providing important information in a timely manner can be complicated in international trade due to time zones and the international dateline. It’s important to keep stakeholders informed with accurate information. Changes to bills of lading/waybills (e.g. the number of containers and their descriptions) or any special requirements must be communicated to the appropriate stakeholders to ensure cargo is handled correctly.

Failure to communicate changes to all stakeholders and document changes properly could result in:

• Damaged cargo
• Loss of insurance coverage
• Payment disputes or no payment

Language and culture differences can also impact communications. Not all industry terminology, abbreviations and jargon will be understood in another country. If foreign language documents are required, make sure to have translation personnel with experience in the shipping industry to ensure that terms and conditions of shipments are clearly communicated. Often organizations will hire agents with specific business and language skills to expedite business affairs in other countries.

5. Trained and qualified personnel

It is important that the personnel managing and handling cargo have the training necessary to ensure the safe transportation of cargo. If using a freight forwarder to deal with customs, ensure they have personnel who are qualified customs brokers.

It is in the best interest of all stakeholders to ensure that those individuals hired to drive trucks, to captain ships, to operate shipping container cranes, and to manage customs processes are properly trained and qualified.

6. Implement and maintain security practices

In general, thieves will target small, high-value cargo that is easy to identify and transport. There are many security practices that your business can implement to prevent theft:

• Conduct thorough background checks on new employees and new contractors
• Plain containers without logos and company names are useful in concealing the type of product that could be inside
• Account for all products leaving the warehouse, and ensure that all truckloads, containers and cartons are properly sealed with seal numbers on documentation
• Use discretion about shipment storage sites, delivery and pick-up dates and times
• Keep the time, place and dates of deliveries confidential – it impedes the ability of criminals to plan thefts
• Follow pick-up and delivery protocols to ensure that legitimate drivers are accessing warehouses
• Keep time in transit short. Transportation by air is the fastest, safest and most convenient method for transporting goods internationally
• Use direct routes or single-trip deliveries when possible
• Avoid long periods of time where containers are sitting unattended
• If containers need storing, ensure they are in locked and monitored distribution centres or drop yards
• Avoid high crime or high risk areas when possible. Plan longer routes if necessary

7. Take advantage of technology 

Technological solutions ranging from tamper-resistant seals and packaging to satellite tracking technologies:

Locks:

• combinations of locking crossbars threaded through door lock rods and door handle with steel cables
• electronic locks for container doors that lock from the inside of the container preventing thieves from accessing and breaking off a lock
• locks and electronic steering and engine systems that prevent thieves from driving off with the truck and cargo

Seals:

• plastic or metal pins or tags that thread through container locks or door handles or metal numbered tape placed over openings, which will brake if the container door opens, indicating tampering
• reusable seals that electronically record the number of times they open and close providing a record of the number of stops a vehicle makes and how often the container opens.

Trackers and locators:

• barcoding, RFID tags and GPS trackers allow for cargo and vehicle monitoring
• systems where customers get online confirmation of shipping status and estimated delivery times
• barcoding and RFID tags enable the scanning of shipments or automatically tracking at each stage of the shipping process
• GPS systems along with online Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and on-board communication systems attached to vehicles and containers enables carriers to track their movements and provide accurate estimated delivery times.

The loss of goods, theft, and damage can erase any competitive advantage gained by international trade. Plan, prepare and implement strategies to manage risk and increase security for your shipments.

The post 7 strategies for managing the big risks of international distribution appeared first on Trade Ready.

With e-commerce taking an increasingly bigger chunk out of retail sales, (currently about 10%), the last mile has grown in importance as a competitive advantage. Shippers and carriers alike are eagerly looking for ways to please customers while keeping costs down. In fact, according to some estimates, 30% of the total cost of all goods delivery is in last-mile.

Customers get even more demanding

Today’s customers are on the go and not as willing to sit around waiting for a delivery. Thanks to Amazon’s Prime subscription service, the accepted 5-7 day delivery time period has been reduced a new norm of 2 days. Even that is quickly being reduced further to same-day, and in some locations, one hour delivery.

According to the UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper  survey and analysis, speed is important with 77% of survey respondents willing to pay for expedited shipping. Forty-one percent of survey respondents indicated they had ordered a product for same-day delivery. The importance of same-day delivery is evident in that 58% of those surveyed said the ability to search by items available for same-day delivery is important when selecting products online. In addition, 36% said same-day delivery is important when deciding to shop with a physical store. This was up from 31% in 2016.

Shippers and carriers alike are addressing the ever-shrinking last mile by offering options besides the traditional home including lockers, in-store pick-up and pick-up in third-party stores. In fact, UPS’ study found that 52% of online shoppers were interested in shipping to alternative locations.

“Ship-to-store” is a popular choice with 50% of online shoppers having used this option and noting that speed and convenience are important success factors.

Getting there faster

In some situations, the delivery person is being replaced by a robot or even a drone. For example, Starship Technologies is launching 1,000 delivery robots on U.S. and European university campuses for food delivery. A number of carriers, shippers, and others are testing drone deliveries. 7-Eleven has partnered with Flirtey for drone deliveries in the state of Nevada. In addition, Zipline has deployed drones in Africa to deliver medicines in remote locations. Also, Chinese e-commerce providers, Alibaba and JD.com are using drones to deliver in rural areas of China.

Not only is the delivery person being replaced by a robot or drone, but the traditional delivery companies such as DHL, FedEx and UPS, are facing increasing competition from firms such as Amazon and JD.com. These e-commerce providers are building out their own global logistics network and could potentially rival the integrators, DHL, FedEx and UPS.

The growing number of delivery options definitely indicates the importance of the customer. Indeed, the customer is in the driver’s seat and expects customization – not only in the products that are purchased but also in delivery decisions. Customers now expect to have options from the delivery time, to where the product is to be delivered to even tracking and managing the shipment while en route.

Tracking technology grows up

Gone are the days in which a customer was expected to phone a customer service representative to ask the status of an order.

With the advent of the internet, tracking technology made it easier for customers to know more about their shipment status. But still the technology lagged in timing. Today, tracking is available in real-time with little if any lag time. Some carriers such as DPD and even Amazon offer customers the ability to view actual delivery stops in real-time, online.

Apps from FedEx and UPS allow customers to not only track shipments but also offer a host of other options, including the ability to change delivery locations to leave with a neighbor or a different location while the package is out for delivery.

The customer is in the driver’s seat

The customer is in control of their shopping experience, from selection to purchase, all the way through final delivery or pick-up. Carriers and retailers will need to monitor customer behavior as well as their own costs in order to stay one step ahead of expectations and to remain competitive in a tight industry.

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