Many things must go right when you want to send cargo from one country to another. Among those many things, there are also some concerns. One of the biggest concerns is getting a trusted, reliable, and right shipping partner. Imagine you have spent a lot of time getting your shipment ready and it is fully prepared to get dispatched, but your shipping partner is not there. He has ghosted you. It is a common situation that happens frequently in the shipping line.
Picking the right shipping company in Dubai is a challenge in itself. You might lean toward the one who is cheaper compared to others, but that’s only one variable to consider. Many more factors are involved. We wrote this article to help you understand how you can find a reliable and right shipping company in Dubai.
A Sea of Options, But Who Can You Trust?
When you hear Dubai, you think of luxury. Be it hotels, iconic skyscrapers, and world-class entertainment. But there is more to Dubai, including its role in global trade. It won’t be wrong to say that Dubai is a powerhouse in terms of global shipping.
In Dubai, you will find thousands of shipping companies, freight forwarders, and 3 PLs, which are commonly known as Third-Party Logistics. Every one of these shipping companies promises a few things. They are fast, affordable, and reliable shipping services for your cargo needs. But, the truth can be harsh too.
Here’s how:
- When you sign a contract, you are shown the pricing. But soon, you’ll realize a difference in pricing. Hidden charges will come up suddenly, only to increase your budgets.
- Each industry is different. Rules and regulations change while shipping. Some shipping companies you’ll come across won’t be aware of logistical needs in the industry you operate.
- Many shipping companies promise too much and then fall short of delivering those promises. Late deliveries, your packages getting lost, problems in shipment tracking, and many more come into the picture.
Now, when you pick the wrong shipping partner, it causes big problems for you. Problems like financial losses, reputational damage, and many operational chaos and issues. To avoid all these happening to your business, you need shipping companies in Dubai that understand your business needs. Moreover, they help you in all the steps of the journey so your cargo reaches the destination safely and affordably.
How to Choose the Best Shipping Company in Dubai
1. Prioritize Experience in Your Industry
Let’s start with the basics. Shipping isn’t about getting your containers from one country to another. Yes, metaphorically, it is true. However, when you go in depth, successful shipments have one factor in common – the right partner who understands the ins and outs of your industry.
Understand that the shipment needs and regulations change as the industry changes. For retail, the rules are different; for e-commerce, automotive, or oil and gas, the regulations differ. When such nitty-gritty is involved, you can’t choose any shipping partner. Your business needs a shipping company that knows all these rules and regulations and has extensive experience in the industry in which your business operates.
For instance, your business operates in the pharma industry, and you want to send cargo from Dubai to Russia. One thing the pharma industry can’t survive in shipments is without proper storage solutions. If a shipping company can keep your medical supplies at the right temperature during transit, it indicates that such shipping companies are well-versed in medical shipping needs.
Now, to be extra safe when choosing a shipping company based on their expertise, check for certifications. There are standard certifications for shipping companies to obtain. For example, in the pharmaceuticals, the companies need to comply with GDP (Good Distribution Practice). On the other hand, ISO 9001 is a certification for quality management in the shipping industry.
2. Demand Transparency in Pricing
Pricing is one aspect you need to be very careful with when selecting a shipping company. Most shipping companies offer cheaper pricing to lure businesses into signing contracts with them. But as you sign a contract, you discover later that there’s more to it. There are hidden charges, surcharges creeping in, and rates begin changing.
Before you know it, the charges have mounted, and your budget takes a beating. That’s why you need to make sure that the shipping company you select is transparent and clear about their prices.
A reliable shipping company should provide transparent prices. Before signing a contract, you can ask for all possible costs, including any additional costs for the warehouse, documentation, and handling fee. Make sure the company offers lock-up prices for a certain period. What it means is that the prices will be fixed. You won’t have to work around unexpected value fluctuations or bear cost increases.
3. Check Their Network & Capabilities
A shipping company is only as strong as its network. If your business operates internationally or depends on import/export operations, you need a supplier with a strong global footprint. When a shipping company has strong partners on larger routes, it makes your life so easy.
Your cargo will easily pass through major routes and ports. There will be fewer custom issues, and you’ll most often have timely deliveries at your desired destination. The question comes, how you can assess if a shipping company has a good network? You can check for:
- Presence in larger markets – firstly, they must work in markets that are important to your business.
- Local agents in destination countries – check if they have representatives of even operations.
- Air and sea fractional capacity – confirm if they can handle both shipping modes.
- Multimodal solutions – look for combinations of road, air, and sea transport for efficiency.
- Strong partnership – assess their alliances with carriers and logistics suppliers.
- Customs Exclusion Competence – Make sure they can basically navigate the rules.
- Technology and tracking – whether they provide real-time visibility.
Once they tick the network part, you can check for a few more things. For example. Check if the shipping company has a fleet size and warehouse. If yes, what is the size of the warehouse? Does the company have the labor to handle your shipping requirements?
Can they handle the seasonal spikes and immediate shipments if you are scaled? When you have a shipping company with limited capacity, it will cause you big problems. It leads to delays, stock shortage in the market, and unhappy customers.
4. Verify Their Tracking & Tech Integration
Tracking your shipments is the most important thing. However, in the shipping industry, the thing is that not all companies provide tracking. If they do not, it is probably best not to go for such companies. You want a company that gives you full, end-to-end tracking so you can monitor your shipment in real time and get automatic updates on the way.
Advanced logistics companies integrate AI-operated route adjustment, AI indication analysis, and IoT competition tracking to increase efficiency. If a supplier still depends on manual status updates and paperwork, there is a clear indication of chronic processes that can lead to errors and delays.
In addition, you can check if the company’s technology is integrated with your current ERP, Warehouse Management, or e-commerce platform. Easy integration means low errors, better inventory, and better customer satisfaction.
5. Evaluate Their Customer Support & Reliability
Shipping is not just about transferring the load- it’s about solving problems that will arise during that transportation. Delays happen, and sometimes wrong shipments are sent. When such problems arise, you need a shipping partner who is responsible, active, and solution-driven. Poor customer service can change a minor delay into a crisis.
You need a reliable shipping supplier providing you 24/7 support. Apart from support, they should provide you account managers and multilingual assistance as a lot of times the language becomes a barrier. You need someone who can easily communicate in English. Some important questions you can ask your shipping company are: How soon do they get back to their customers if there are any important queries? Does the shipping company offer real-time solutions?
These small questions and what the shipping companies reply in their answers reflect a lot about their practices. Lastly, check for the variables like how many customer reviews they have. What does the industry website say about that shipping company? Do they have any testimonials? All these help in testing the reliability of the company you will be choosing for your shipping needs.
Final Thoughts
When you want your shipping to happen smoothly, you need the right shipping company in Dubai to partner with. What happens when you get a reliable shipping partner? You get timely deliveries, you receive fair pricing, and reliable support too. All these contribute big and help you save in things like delays, hidden costs, or operational issues that you don’t need to deal with anymore.
Lastly, a shipping company that understands your business needs and provides easy logistics will save you time, money, and stress. Do your research, ask the right questions, and partner with a company that actually reaches the promises.
