Specifications of the project

• Chart sheet is required.
• The DocShipper team will act as the communication line between clients and suppliers, which will enhance precision, flexibility, and time by eliminating the need to multiply the number of interlocutors.

The charge sheet is the first step and the foundation of any project. It is one of the most crucial steps and should not be overlooked. Its goal is to define a project's requirements and specifications and help all parties to understand the process/task to avoid wasting time or confusion. We insist on sending the charge sheet in a single email to avoid mistakes or omissions, which can cost a lot of money in the long run. The following items must be included in the charge sheet:

1. Your products in order of preference:

• URL of the product's website (Amazon, Alibaba, AliExpress, etc.)
• Detailed characteristics of products if the website is lacking
• Photos of the products
• Additional details, requests, and requirements

We are constantly on the lookout for the best partners in Asia to meet your supply chain needs.

2. The Minimum Order Quantity (Minimum Order Quantity):

A minimum order quantity (QMM) is the smallest amount of stock that a supplier is willing to sell. If you are unable to purchase the minimum order quantity for a specific product, the supplier will not work with you.

3. A specific price based on a reference (Optional criteria, but important)

It's all about the target price, the price at which you want to buy your products. Highly recommend that you send what prices have already been negotiated in the past, allowing us to negotiate a lower price. Finally, the price serves as a barometer for the desired level of quality.

 

Sourcing of suppliers

As a company, we must ensure the quality of our final products meet clients needs. With a database of over 3000 verified vendors, we can provide a high level of service and filter the supplier by client’s requirements and select the most appropriate one:

• Price
• Standards and certifications in your industry
• How do you personalize your products
• Specialized knowledge to carry out work under contract in accordance with any manufacturing contracts (OEM-ODM) or subcontracting
• Delivery term
• Customer services
• Payment terms

An internal short list will be carried out on these requirements in order to select the appropriate supplier(s) for the next step.

Certificates and standards

Our experts verify the compliance of the products from the supplier. They also check the current standards of the countries involved in shipping. (CE marks, RoHS standard, EEC, ISO…)

A legislative awareness is important in order to always be up-to-date with new directives, which are constantly updated.

Negotiation

DocShipper is in charge of negotiation with the supplier(s) selected for your project. We negotiate price, delivery, and payment terms in the client's best interests.

Sampling (optional but recommended)

Once products are chosen, our team will combine the samples from several vendors and send them to you in one package via Express (2-4 days). Sampling & testing products will help clients save money and time. This checklist contains enough details for you to test the product and see if it meets your needs before deciding on the best supplier for your project and starting large-scale manufacturing.

This estimate will include in total transparency the transport price, the manufacturer price, our commissions.

Quality control (Optional)

It's possible that multiple quality controls are required to ensure that your products aren't defective. However, a single quality control check by a professional team like DocShipper is usually sufficient..

Inspection times varies on two factors:

• The inspection quality: Naturally, certain products (for example: electronics) require a lot more attention when it comes to quality control. The number of units to be monitored is a factor that influences processing times (more units, more time needed).
• Suppliers are not always professional, therefore it is important to carry out a quality control of the products to minimize its risks. A small mistake on your part can negatively impact the whole supply chain! If quality control is not carried out properly, it's possible that 30% of goods are defective.

Suppliers payment

After approval of the supplier's quote(s), you pay a deposit of 30% and the remaining 70% before delivery

Our Departure services

After approval of the supplier's quote(s), you pay a deposit of 30% and the remaining 70% before delivery

• Pick up by truck: When you buy products in Asia, such as electronics in Shenzhen, China, or handicrafts in a remote Thai village, you'll need logistical support. Our network spans throughout Asia, allowing you to manage all of your outages in one place.
• Storage service: Docshiper provides storage services, a service not to be overlooked, especially when purchasing from multiple vendors, as it allows you to organize your orders and save money on future shipments. DocShipper strives to provide you with a high-quality service while also reducing your logistical costs whenever possible.
• Export declaration and FOB : Our team will deliver your luggage to the departure port (or airport) in order to achieve the export declaration process. During international transportation, it is mandatory to notify local authorities (the custom) of departures from the country; this is a procedure that we carry out directly in designated areas of the port or airport.
• Packaging service : Suppliers from Asia usually do not meet standards for international shipping, therefore unable to work with companies like Amazon. At DocShipper, we make sure that all shipments are packed according to international standards: carton, bag, wooden box, palletization etc.
• Obtaining licenses and certificates: Due to international standards, buying in Asia can be a hassle and time-consuming, especially when managing product certificates, and licenses in a foreign language. Fortunately, DocShipper walks you through the process, gives you advice, and makes sure everything is in order before you go for your trip. If your provider is unable to provide the required documents, we advise you to contact us to seek out another provider.

International logistics

Rail freight

Railway traffic is becoming more competitive, particularly for Chinese departures. A growing mode of transportation that strikes a balance between the cost-effectiveness of maritime shipping and the timeliness of air shipping. When you have a large volume of goods to carry and certain deadlines to meet, the Railway system may be the best option.

Sea freight

The marine freight is most often used, particularly for large amounts/orders. Volume orders, greater than 2 CBM (meter cubic meter) or 300 kg, are shipped by sea because it is less expensive & faster compared to air freights (plane/jet).

 

Air freight

This method is commonly used for small quantities of merchandise (often less than 2 CBM), note: the aerial freight is not the same as the express freight. Firstly, it makes use of available capacity in traditional airline companies such as Air France, Air China, and Qatar Airway etc. Secondly, it uses mailing companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, Aramex etc. Thirdly, air freight is governed by many strict regulations like the ban of certain goods considered as dangerous. Finally, the transporter will choose the most suitable weight between the volumetric (based on 1 CBM = 167 Kg) and the gross weight.

Express freight

Like traditional air freight, it takes advantage of the available capacity in planes. The traditional airline ticket is unique in that it employs a direct company (a courier company) to handle your package from departure to arrival. Highly recommended for orders under 150 kg because it is affordable and quick.

Arrival services

Custom clearance

A compulsory step in international shipping, also the most problematic. DocShipper ensures that all shipments comply with the requirements of the destination country to ensure that the shipment is not held up at customs. If we have any doubts about the products' conformity, we will simply decide not to send them out right away or look for an alternative solution.

Final delivery

DocShipper will take care of delivering your shipment to its final destination using a courier service. Our specialty is the “door-to-door" service: a logistical solution that combines all of your needs into one convenient package. This is a rare and difficult-to-find service because most transition airlines discontinue operating after they no longer cover their territory (for example, an Asian transit airline usually only covers Asia). To save money at this phase, clients can drop their luggage at the port or at the arrival airport.

Supply chain and treasury management

What could be more frustrating than stock stuck in inventories? We can help you set up a schedule to manage your inventory in an optimal way.

(Optional) : 3PL Services

From Camporosso (Northern Italy), DocShipper can provide a high-quality and low-cost distribution solution for your products (via E-Commerce). Due to our strategic location and 20 years of experience, delivery across Europe is very quick and affordable with DocShipper. Services are also offered to clients outside of Europe. In addition, Docshipper uses a constantly updating database to organize the inventories, which show clients what goes in and out of their inventory in real-time.

FAQ | Sourcing services

Why should you use DocShipper's services?

In Asia, there are many excellent suppliers as well as untrustworthy ones, which is why quality control, standard control, export management, and so on are all steps that must be carried out meticulously. DocShipper will save you time and money by providing the most trustworthy suppliers in Asia or other desired regions like Europe and Africa.

Is it true that ordering through an agent is less expensive than contacting a supplier directly?

In most cases, it is cheaper to use agents to contact suppliers instead of directly contacting them yourself. For example, DocShipper communicates with Chinese suppliers in Mandarin, which is an important factor to consider during negotiations. Furthermore, our network of over 3000 certified suppliers will save client time from tortuous research. Finally, we provide customized services to clients which includes quality assurance and product compliance.

What is the function of a provisioning agent?

DocShipper will provide clients with an agent from the beginning of the process. Agents represent clients, ensure the reliability of vendors, and assist with selection of products. Once your supplier has been chosen, the Agent will carefully manage production, product quality, and conformity. Agents also have the responsibility to guide clients throughout all stages of the purchasing and shipping.

Where do you look for suppliers?

Suppliers can be found on e-commerce Platforms like Alibaba, Amazon, Taobao, Ali express etc. At DocShipper, we have dedicated teams that perform meticulous work to filter out the unreliable suppliers and find the most suitable supplier(s) for our clients.