Shipping to Saudi Arabia: How Sunny Worldwide Logistics Helped a Client Consolidate Shipments from 44 Suppliers
Not long ago, a long-term Saudi client who has been working with us for almost two years told me they had a shipment ready. This shipment involved about 15 suppliers, and they needed us to make payments to the suppliers on their behalf. Since we’re familiar with each other, the client gave me the necessary information and hung up the phone. Handling 15 suppliers seemed manageable at first. However, a few days later, the client informed me there were nearly 50 suppliers involved! This was a huge challenge for me! Each supplier needed careful attention, and the workload was enormous. Any mistake could lead to problems, especially since we had to handle export declarations, customs clearance documents, trucking, and other procedures.air freight
This isn’t an unusual situation for us. At Sunny Worldwide Logistics, we often assist clients with tasks beyond just shipping, such as factory inspections and quality checks, free of charge, making things much easier for them. When dealing with consolidation, our team is present during loading to ensure everything is done correctly and we send videos to our clients. If there’s any confusion with product codes, we remark the labels, count the quantities, and handle the details meticulously. We even help clients with small tasks, like repacking items purchased from platforms like Taobao, that others might overlook.
I noticed that most of the client’s goods were concentrated in three areas in Guangzhou: 1) near Wanling Plaza, 2) near Nan’an Road, and 3) near Huangsha Avenue. To help the client save on pickup costs, I decided to first gather the goods at our Guangzhou Huangpu warehouse.chinese shipping agents
The pickup was the most challenging part due to the number of suppliers involved. So, I divided the task into two parts: 1) For suppliers with larger quantities and higher-value goods, I convinced them to deliver directly to the warehouse. 2) For suppliers with smaller quantities and lower-value goods who weren’t willing to deliver, we arranged for trucks to pick up the goods.air freight
Our company actually owns its own fleet of trucks, unlike many small logistics companies. In our industry, only about 10% of companies have their own trucks, and we’re one of the few.chinese shipping agents
Initially, I tried sending our drivers to pick up the goods directly from the suppliers, but this led to several issues: 1) The drivers found it inconvenient to pick up goods from multiple suppliers at once. 2) Communication with suppliers was challenging. 3) Traffic restrictions and congestion in the city center were serious problems. 4) Delays in unloading at the warehouse could result in extra charges, like waiting fees and loading/unloading fees.
After discussing with my supervisor, we came up with a solution: 1) Confirm the goods and pickup times with the suppliers. 2) I, along with my colleague Hank, went to Guangzhou to oversee the pickups in person. We followed the plan and collected the goods from the designated areas. This approach worked well, and we quickly gathered all the client’s goods and delivered them to the warehouse on time.air freight
Since these suppliers are mostly small domestic sellers, they couldn’t provide proper packing lists, invoices, or customs documents. So, I provided them with Sunny Worldwide Logistics' multi-supplier document collection form and customs declaration form, asking them to fill in the details based on their goods. However, some suppliers couldn’t even use a computer, which was a big challenge. I ended up asking them to handwrite the information, and I entered it into the computer for them.air freight
In the end, there were over 50 types of goods. With the help of my colleagues, we categorized them into 11 main groups and prepared the customs and clearance documents for the client.air freight