In cross-border e-commerce, logistics is crucial for sellers, especially those who choose Amazon's FBA service. Haika and FCL direct delivery are two common FBA front-end logistics methods, which have their own characteristics and are suitable for different scenarios. The following is a detailed analysis and selection of these two logistics methods.
One, Haika
Haika, or Haika for short, is a logistics method that combines sea and truck transport. The specific process is: the goods first arrive at the designated port by sea, and then use trucks to complete the final delivery from the port to the Amazon FBA warehouse.
1. Advantages:
Cost effectiveness: Compared with air transportation, sea transportation costs are lower, especially suitable for the transportation of bulk goods, can reduce a lot of logistics costs.
Cargo safety: Shipping usually uses large containers, which can effectively protect the safety of goods during transportation. Having your own truck delivered at the end can greatly reduce the chance of damaged goods and lost pieces.
2. Disadvantages:
Low timeliness: Due to the two links involved in sea and land transportation, the entire transportation cycle is longer than the 5-10 days of air transport, and the effectiveness is low.
Cargo tracking: Due to the use of trucks at the end of the delivery, it may be difficult to track the last kilometer of the cargo. Unlike UPS, which has a very detailed track.
2. FBA by FCL
FBA means that the goods are transported directly to the Amazon FBA warehouse in the form of full container without unpacking or transshipment.
1. Advantages:
High timeliness: Full container direct delivery reduces intermediate links, and goods are towed directly from the dock to the Amazon FBA warehouse, improving timeliness.
Cost efficiency: For Haika, the cost is further reduced due to the reduction of overseas warehouse dismantling, sorting, pallet, labeling and other links. When the performance is accepted, the cabinet can be sent directly to choose the cabinet.
Cargo safety: The whole container is delivered without unpacking, and the goods are not unpacking from the container to the warehouse of Amazon. In general, there is no theoretical risk of damage or loss of goods.
2. Disadvantages:
Low timeliness: Compared with Haika, the efficiency of full container direct delivery is slightly slower, because full container direct delivery is generally sent to the popular warehouse. It's gonna be a little slower if this warehouse is a little more explosive. Not much difference in the off-season.
Poor flexibility: After the full container is sent directly to the sealed box, it is generally not unpacked in the middle of the container, if there is an emergency, it will be more troublesome, such as changing the channel, changing the address or intercepting the goods after loading. The success rate of issuing instructions before arriving at the port will be higher, if the cabinet has already arrived at the port and taken away, it is more difficult to intercept. Moreover, the special costs generated by the temporary instructions need to be borne by themselves, such as the change of distribution fees, dismantling fees, tally fees, and so on.
Three, how to choose
When choosing Hika or FBA, the seller should consider the following factors:
1. Cargo characteristics: large volume and weight of the choice of Haika and direct delivery can be, if the delivery address is not very sure, or choose Haika is more secure.
2. Time requirement: Select the appropriate logistics method according to the time requirement of the order. If the customer has high timeliness requirements, full container direct delivery may be a better choice.
3. Cost budget: Considering the proportion of logistics cost in the overall operating cost, select the logistics method that meets the cost budget. The cost of sea cards is usually higher, and the cost of full container direct delivery is lower.
In short, Haika and FBA have their own advantages and disadvantages, and sellers should choose the most suitable logistics method according to their actual situation.