The African Business Journal: Express Clearing and Forwarding Logistics

Express Clearing and Forwarding Logistics
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admin on 16 June, 2010 01:16:00
 
“The strong points of Express Clearing are our customer service, and our
hands on approach with regards to management and operations involvement,”
Tiago Duarte says declaratively.
Duarte is the National Sales Manager of Express Clearing and Logistics, and
there is no hesitation or reservation in his words. The Express Clearing team
are unique in their assiduous dedication to providing the utmost in client
service and exceeding their expectations 100 per cent of the time.
Express Clearing was founded by Gerhard Steyn in 2000 and was based on his
vision for a company that would allow clients to focus on their primary business
and entrust their express needs entirely with the company. Having been involved
with the freight industry for over two decades, Steyn saw an opportunity for
freight a freight company that would go beyond handling goods and be an alley
and support system for its clients. The idea was to provide a complete,
effective and personalised freight solution for customers, which is exactly what
they have achieved.
Express Clearing and Forwarding Logistics, headquartered in Johannesburg, are
experts in all aspects of the clearing and forwarding industry, and control the
gamut of operating elements in sea freight, airfreight, transport and warehouse
and distribution—a division currently under expansion.
The company handles break-bulk, bulk and project cargo (heavy, indivisible
items, typically generators, parts from oil rigs, reactors, boilers etc.)
freight from the local and international markets, “anyone who needs to
move goods to and from South Africa and the African continent,” says
Duarte.
“The SA market being very competitive, our clients expect to have the best
service at all times, and we have managed to give them that. That is how we have
grown, predominately from word of mouth and aggressive sales team,”
continues Duarte.  The Express Clearing team—dedicated and
dynamic—work hard to see their company grow alongside the success of their
clients. In an age and industry where the human face of a business can be
overshadowed, Express Clearing prides has been able to create long-term
associations and relationships with its clients, built, and this is not
secondary, on reliable service and an adherence to the strictest timelines.
Express Clearing has been active members of the World Cargo Association (WCA)
since 2007, enabling them with an expanding support network of thousands of
fellow members in hundreds of cities, globally. This network ultimately ensures
the client with the fairest rates, the most reputable agents, which, combined,
equal the best in customer service. And for additional peace of mind, Express
Clearing offers a range of insurance options, all underwritten by the
established Lloyds of London and, of course, meeting, and in some cases,
setting, international standards.
Every action written in the Express Clearing handbook is done so with the
express objective of aligning the clients’ needs with their solutions,
fostering a relationship that does not end when the goods arrive. “We
build personal relationships with our clients, assisting them in finding ways of
bettering their business and service levels to their clients, not us just
getting their cargo from one point in the world to their doorstep,” says
Duarte. “It has helped our business grow and the client finds value in
partnering with Express Clearing.  At the end of the day, we customise solutions
for them which benefit their business as a whole, not just in regards to imports
and exports.”
Of course, delivery of one’s goods is paramount to any business, so
naturally clients are keen on knowing exactly where their items are and when
they will arrive. Express Clearing’s reliable tracking system is going one
better, with the company having upgraded their system to monitor movements in
the “quest to follow the complete supply chain in tracking consignments
from start to finish.” The tracking system is important because customers
can follow a purchase or have information pertaining to when their product can
go to market. Being acutely aware of timelines means gives an advantage that is
not to be underestimated.
Out of one company, many services
When talking to Duarte about Express Clearing, attention to detail and attention
paid to the client’s needs under-rides all aspects of the company. The
philosophy has proven to be successful and reaped untold benefits. By taking
care of all aspects of shipping, importing, exporting, distribution and so
forth, the client needs only to deal with a single representative, had a single
contact, and can go to them and know he or she will be accountable and
responsible.
“We focus on selling a complete package because within our industry
incidences can occur and additional charges that are incurred are due to
handover when accountability is shared amongst multiple companies; there is a
lot of finger pointing when things go wrong and no one wants to step up to the
plate. Express Clearing focuses on the complete package are is accountable for
everything within the supply chain.” And, at the end of service, there is
a single manageable bill.
The extra attention to detail and the experience of the customer has brought
Express Clearing a long way. With distribution around the world and back again,
they never stray far from the principles on which the company was built.
www.expressclearing.co.za