Choosing an import-export service provider is extremely important. A reputable and capable service company can help shippers and partners grasp the big picture of importing and exporting goods, assess risks and related costs, and ensure the timing of the import-export process. Therefore, they can help you do business smoothly, gain trust with customers, and form a basis for winning in the business arena. In this article, ExtendMax will share criteria and tips for choosing a reputable import-export service provider, a logistics partner, or a high-capacity licensing consultant to accompany you in your projects. With these tips, you won't find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having to publicly criticize your supplier or partner.
Choose a company with a long history in the industry #1
According to reports from startup support units in Vietnam, up to 80% of startups do not survive beyond two years, and only 3% achieve real success. Therefore, choosing newly established import-export service enterprises that have been in operation for less than three years comes with certain risks for the following reasons:
- Have they had enough time to perfect their service delivery processes?
- Have they established an effective partner network yet?
- Have their commitment and capabilities been verified?
- With a new staff system, do they have sufficient experience?
With over 20 years of business experience, I have observed that companies surviving the first five years signifies that the market has accepted their products and services. Surviving for ten years means they have the capacity to adapt well to market fluctuations, and have the ability to adapt and overcome crises. Surely you all remember how the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 ~ 2021 impacted us. Following that was a global economic crisis that dealt an additional blow to vulnerable businesses. All companies that have overcome these two events and even managed to grow deserve to be on your shortlist for selection.
Scale and financial capacity are important factors #2
When shopping for an expensive product, we often tend to look for larger stores, right? This is a natural behavior because it is very effective in ensuring a positive shopping experience and after-sales service. The same applies to companies offering services in the import-export industry, where scale and financial strength are extremely important, especially when you have large projects. I believe you would feel uneasy entrusting a large shipment to a small company with capital of less than one billion VND. Here are the characteristics of an import-export service company with good scale and financial capacity:
- International corporations with a long history and global operations.
- Vietnamese companies that have joined the international supply chain and have international customers.
- Companies with multiple headquarters, offices in well-invested, stable, and long-term locations.
- Companies with a history of providing services for high-value shipments.
ExtendMax is the Leading reputable GMA or IOR & EOR or Licensing Service Supplier in Vietnam
Consider companies that are recommended to you #3
Companies recommended by others are worth considering, especially when the recommender has experienced the service and is not aiming for personal gain. If the person recommending the service provider is from the same industry, it's definitely worth considering that company. Especially when many in the industry recommend the same supplier, you can be sure it's a quality and reliable choice.
We rarely recommend partners to clients ourselves because of concerns that the collaboration may not go smoothly. Therefore, we only recommend others when we have truly experienced a supplier's service and are completely satisfied and confident in that service. I believe you think the same way.
Specializing in a few areas enhances capability #4
The import-export sector is extremely broad, involving many fields, so it's very challenging for an individual or a company to excel in all areas. Typically, logistics companies specialize or excel in a particular area or scope. For example, some companies specialize in bulk cargo, while others focus on containerized goods. Some specialize in maritime transport, while others are focused on warehousing and domestic trucking. Therefore, choosing the right supplier for the specific field you need can lead to greater effectiveness.
For us at ExtendMax, we can confidently claim to be a leading provider in the field of licensing and import-export consulting for electronic and information technology products. We are very confident in areas such as state quality inspection, conformity certification, civil cryptography licensing, and IOR & EOR services of IT products. However, we do not specialize in other goods such as apparel, footwear, foodstuffs, or medical equipment... Other professional companies are the same, excelling only in a few fields.
What the media says about them #5
To be featured in the media, especially mainstream journalism, a company must truly stand out in the market. Articles in mainstream media are highly credible, with sources thoroughly vetted and backed by concrete evidence. Content related to specialized subjects must be evaluated by experts before publication.
If you find a service company frequently appearing in the media, consider adding them to your list of reputable companies to choose from.
ExtendMax has shared in-depth guidance on civil cryptography licenses in Law newspaper
Customer reviews about the Supplier #6
The feedback you directly receive from someone who has experienced the services or products of a supplier is always objective and worth consulting. Nowadays, Google Maps is a review platform that can provide valuable information due to its public nature and the fact that business owners cannot modify these reviews. Although there are now many companies offering services to boost "fake reviews," which reduces the credibility of Google Maps reviews, you can still find useful information with the following tips:
- Read both positive and negative reviews: It's often more insightful to read negative reviews. You can use filters to sort through bad, good, newest, and relevant reviews.
- Detailed and relevant reviews: Positive and negative reviews that provide specific details about experiences are more valuable than general reviews or those that rate without sharing the actual experience.
- Suspicious timing of reviews: If a large number of reviews appear within a short period, such as 1-3 months, these may be fake and less reliable. Genuine reviews will be distributed more naturally over time.
- Realistic rating expectations: In service industries, it's challenging to find a company with purely 5-star ratings. Companies with ratings of 4.8 or 4.9 stars are already quite rare in the service sector. If you see a company with only 5-star ratings, this result may lack credibility.
Companies with ratings of 4.8 or 4.9 stars are already quite rare in the service sector
Higher service prices indicate better quality #7
To maintain a service standard above the industry average, providers must invest significantly in internal training, technology application, and recruiting top-notch employees. Therefore, the service prices of reputable and capable companies will be higher than the industry average. If a provider offers services at a lower price than the market average and still maintains good quality, it would be an exceptional service company. However, this is not common. Generally, the price of a service reflects the quality they deliver.
Experience the legal consultation information process #8
After assessing the basic criteria from 1 to 7, you should interact with a few of the most prominent providers to evaluate them in more detail. Typically, a reputable and capable import-export service company will have the following characteristics:
- Quick responses to your requests. If they take 1-2 days to provide a quote, it means they need to contact others for pricing, indicating they are not specialized.
- Detailed, clear, and transparent quotes. They provide specific information and procedures, accompanied by relevant legal regulations related to the import-export goods.
- Confident consultation that demonstrates expertise. The best experts can immediately answer your questions without needing time to look up documents or consult others.
- The company has various specialized departments, each handling different operations, such as consulting, accounting, contracts, transportation, on-site management...
- Professional communication via email. Typically, professional companies rarely use social media platforms like WhatsApp or WeChat for business due to security concerns and other factors.
Choose companies with ethical business practices #9
Business ethics often relate more to a company's reputation than to its capabilities. A reputable company is usually one with good business ethics, ensuring customer rights and being willing to be accountable for the services they provide. Look into the core values of the company, and explore their internal activities on their website. If the business has a consistent quality management system, its core values will be reflected across all its activities.
Trần Thanh Phương (Alex) - CEO ExtendMax - Author
Here are 9 criteria and tips for an initial assessment of whether an import-export service company is good and reputable. You can also apply this set of criteria to all other service sectors. We wish you success in finding reliable partners and suppliers to accompany you in your import-export projects.
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