物流配送文献综述上传

浅谈农村电商物流配送问题及对策研究——以京东为例一、引言物流配送问题特别是农村物流配送问题领域的研究是涉及多学科交叉、多种现代技术工具协调配合的课题，伴随互联网技术的广泛使用，物流配送开始与经济学、商品学和市场营销学、统计学、运筹学等社会科学和自然科学的很多结合在一起来研究，物流配送贯穿于物流整个学科发展的始终，几乎全部的物流活动都可通过物流配送来表现出来。

在中国，对于农村物流配送模式的研究也涉及到国家实现经济转型升级的关键；涉及到农村现代化、农业增值增效、农民增加收入，解决好农村物流配送是解决三农问题维护农村稳定，满足农村消费需求，提升商品品质，实现精准扶贫的重要方向；涉及到如何更好解决电商大跨步前与农村物流配送短板的矛盾，充分挖掘农村物流市场经济潜力，降低物流成本，增加时效。

社会经济发展越好，物流对经济的支撑作用就越明显。

当前中国经济在世界经济增长中处于前列，经济增长客观上也要求物流配送能力、配送水平相应的提升，在农村物流配送领域研究方面国内外学者从多视角、多维度、多领域对农村物流配送进行了学术研究。

二、国外农村物流发展综述农村物流这一说法在西方国家没有被单独拿出来进行研究，主要原因是西方发达资本主义国家在农业生产、仓储、信息技术手段、配送工具等等方面早已经实现了现代化，可以说在西方发达资本主义国家现代化的农村物流配送问题与现代化的工业物流配送问题大同小异，在西方发达资本主义国家农村物流领域的研究大多直接借鉴工业物流方面的成熟经验和成果。

在1901年John F Crowll 在工业委员会关于农场产品配送报告中首次对农产品配送成本和影响因素做了研究。

西方发达资本主义国家的互联网技术手段、生产力水平和社会经济水平已经处于很高的发展程度，因而对经济社会发展具有巨大支撑作用的物流业也发展很迅猛，对物流配送领域的研究起步也比较早。

西方国家在农业方面基本上以大农场形式集中生产、规模庞大，而且农场主可以实现农产品从生产到消费的一条龙物流配送相当于我国现行的自营配送效率高、时效性强，或者由农协等专业的物流组织帮助配送，这样使得西方国家在物流配送板块呈现系统化、规模化、统一调度和管理，先进的物流配送技术手段在农产品领域普遍使用大大提升了配送的效率、满足消费的消费、节约了物流配送成本，当前物流配送中心、农产品加工中心遍布整个美国、西欧，不管是在物流理论体系研究还是在硬件设施方面都给本文研究河北省农村物流配送模式提供一定的参考。

文献综述网络零售中的物流配送模式研究随着信息高速公路的建设和人们对消费观念的改变，电子商务的发展正显示出蓬勃生机，而作为电子商务主要业态之一的网络零售业更是掀起了一轮新的发展浪潮。

网络零售的优势之一就是大大简化了业务流程、降低企业运输成本，而网络零售成本优势的建立和保持必须以可靠和高效的物流运作做保障。

网络零售的发展改变了传统的销售方式和消费者的购物方式，促进了物流业的兴起。

尽管我国物流业经过多年的建设已经有了很大的进步，但随着信息技术和网络技术的日益渗透和受传统电子商务环境下的服务存在的缺陷和物流信息化管理程度低等因素的影响，目前我国的物流水平还难以满足网络零售的需求，特别是物流配送模式方面还存在很多的缺陷。

如何提升我国的物流水平呢？对涉足网络零售业的企业而言，物流模式的选择应首先考虑，但是物流模式的改善和创新就更为重要。

本文针对网络零售和物流配送的概述、物流配送的模式、我国物流配送存在的问题及其优化策略这五块来进行研究综述。

1 关于网络零售与物流配送的基本概念的探讨1.1 关于网络零售含义的研究近几年来，全球的网络零售业迅速发展，规模越来越大，已然成为如今社会经济的支柱产业。

对于网络零售的定义曹江东（2007）认为，网络零售是无店铺零售的形式之一，是指借助因特网进行商品经营活动的零售[1]。

关于网络零售的发展常兴斌、丁文辉（1999）提到，在我国第一笔网络零售交易发生于1996年11月加拿大驻中国大使贝祥通过互联网购买燕莎商城的一个景德蓝制品。

自此网络零售在中国开始发展，但是发展的比较缓慢[2]。

近几年，随着网络技术的不断发展和人们消费观念的改变，网络零售有了新的发展。

颜涛（2010）调查到，2009年中国网络零售市场交易总额接近2500亿元，同比增长93.7%，网络购物用户规模突破1亿。

网络销售已促使传统的商务模式、企业经营方式和消费习惯发生全新的改变，许多传统的零售企业已经迅速进军网络销售领域，建设网上商城，开拓新市场，以期获得更大的利润[3]。

第三方物流文献综述第三方物流文献综述总述：随着世界经济和现代科学技术的迅猛发展，物流产业作为国民经济中的一个新兴服务部门，正在全球范围内迅速发展。

它被认为是国民经济发展的动脉和基础，其发展程度成为衡量一国现代化程度和综合国力的重要标志。

第三方物流这一先进的物流运作模式，由于适应了现代企业生产方式的变革和市场外部条件的变化，逐渐成为现代物流发展的主流。

我国要发展现代物流，对第三方物流发展战略的研究与探索己成为至关重要的内容。

关键词：第三方物流；物流营销模式；零售网购；客户服务一、第三方物流研究及发展前景第三方物流诞生20多年以来，在过去的10年中得到了飞速的发展。

第三方物流实质上由供应链的上下游物流需求双方之外的第三方，利用自有资源，同时整合社会资源，为客户提供全方位、客户服务高水平、专业化、低成本的物流服务。

第三方物流企业为客户提供物流服务，其实实质是一种产品及服务产品，进行专业化的运作并且进行有效的服务营销，扩大市场来获取竞争优势。

现代物流研究是一个不断创新、不断发展的过程，作为其中的一种运作管理模式，第三方物流也必将随着社会需求的变化、技术手段的更新，而不断得以成熟与完善。

实现物流活动的高效化、资源配置的合理化，将是第三方物流所要追求的永恒目标。

二、第三方物流成产经营及营销模式的分析一个客户企业完整的物流体系包括运作层、管理层、规划层三个层面。

运作层的物流服务是最早的物流外包形式，也是最重要、最基本的物流服务形式。

随着服务层次和项目种类的扩展，传统物流逐步向第三方物流转变，管理层面的物流服务主要指库存控制、物流预测、采购计划等的高级物流服务。

目前规划层主要指的是对物流网络、物流体系的规划设计，包括物流设施选择、仓库配送中心选址。

在利用所有的第三方物流服务的基础上，提供增值的创新服务。

第三方物流有别于传统的仓储、运输类企业，其营销具有鲜明的特点。

在物流服务的初期，第三方物流企业的中心在于降低物流成本，提高物流水平，不断拓展服务范围，使客户企业建立依赖性，逐步加大信息技术、管理人才的投入，在合作的过程中提供个性化差异化的服务。

电子商务企业物流配送问题研究文献综述（一）电子商务的定义及内涵电子商务，大多时候被简称为“电商”，就是以电子的形式在网络上进行交易或是进行与其有关的活动，例如互换电子货币、共享电子数据、网上购物、电子交易市集、网上办理事宜等等的商业活动。

Internet技术、E-mail技术、数据库等的信息技术会被运用到这些活动中。

通过在线传输数据，在线交易与结算相对轻松地解决数据流，业务和资金流问题。

电子商务所包含的内容很广泛，像传统的商业活动中以网络作为媒介在商业上的行为也隶属于电商的范围。

总而言之，电商就是一种充分运用信息通信网技术、主要目的是进行商品交换的商业行为。

电子商务代表了更新颖的商业运营模式，在全球商业交易繁盛的当今世界，电子商务实现了以全世界作为范围的买卖双方能够不受地区、时区、语言障碍地进行商业往来，只在网上就能达成交易，带来了巨大的好处与优势。

目前来说，跨境电子商务以及电子商务所处的环境是大部分学者的钻研讨论的方向。

在关于跨境电子商务方面：鄂立彬和黄永稳（2014）经过一定的研究发现了我国发展跨境电子商务有可能会面临的机遇以及挑战，并且进一步地提供了相关的建议：作为企业，要做好充分的准备，对国外市场进行详细且准确的调研，并根据此内容规划更为全面的发展计划；作为政府，应当协调国税局、海关部门、检验检疫局等的相关部门，共同商讨制定出切实可行的法律法规来促进我国跨境电子商务的进步 [3]。

何江和钱慧敏（2017）发现目前为止我国学者们研究跨境电商的角度缺少多样化，大部分集中于研究跨境电商的模式发展、外贸转型升级路径和策略、国外跨境电商发展等的几个角度。

提出有待学者能更深入研究解决有关于跨境电子商务营销领域、电商的、定价、逆向物流等方面 [4]。

其次，在关于电子商务环境方面：李晓静和艾兴政等学者（2017）构建出两个供应商以及两个平台方存在交叉交易的供应链博弈模型，同时进一步研究发现得出：如果平台方决定使用分销的方案时，与之竞争的对家公司就会更加倾向于根据商品的竞争力度和平台方的角逐力度做出渠道的选择；如果平台方仅仅是供应一个平台，与此同时供应商选择了直销的方式的条件下，与之竞争的对家公司就会根据自身的情况最渠道进行取舍，将不受任何条件的限制；如果商品竞争力度与平台方角逐力度都较小的情况下，平台的直销的方式能够为供应链中集体的参与者带来最高的利润 [5]。

物流管理类毕业论文——文献综述文献综述报告（20**届本科）学院：专业：班级：姓名：学号：指导教师：20**年 5 月文献综述——零售业食品配送的现状与发展趋势前言：配送是物流活动中一种特殊的、综合的活动形式，它将商流与物流紧密结合起来，既包括了商流活动，也包含了物流活动中若干功能要素。

和其他新生的事物一样，是伴随着生产的不断发展而发展起来的。

配送的雏形最早出现于20世纪60年代初期。

之后伴随着经济发展速度的逐渐加快，货物运输所需的量的急剧增加和商品所占市场竞争的日趋激烈，配送在一些发达国家得到了进一步的发展。

20世纪80年代以后，受到多种因素影响，配送才有了长足的发展。

1 食品物流配送的现状分析1.1 目前的发展状况自从20世纪80年代初，《物资经济研究通讯》刊登了北京物资学院王之泰教授的《物流浅谈》一文，物流在我国逐渐得到了关注和重视。

90年代以来的流通实践证明了配送是一种较好的物流方式，我国很多城市的物资部门都设立了配送中心，配送得到了很大的发展。

这样，彻底改变了传统的流通模式和方式，实行上门送货为生产企业配送急需的产品，通过构筑代理、配送、连锁相结合的新的流通方式，提高了流通的效率，为用户提供了更为快捷的方便的服务。

但是直到20世纪90年代中期，食品行业采用供应链管理思维和管理模式进行物流管理还没有得到普及。

旧的管理体制和管理机制已不适应目前纷繁复杂的食品行业市场的需要，因而导致管理混乱、问题频出的局面。

随着经济的不断发展和人民生活水平的不断提高，食品消费模式已经逐渐从传统的单一模式向“多品种、少数量、高质量”的模式转变。

这种转变对食品行业提出了更高的要求，必须为消费者提供更好的质量、更大的柔性、更多的选择、更高的价值、更低的消费价格和更优的服务，因此，构筑具有竞争优势的食品供应链管理体系是在必行。

1.2 存在问题郭法霞在《浅论我国冷链物流存在的问题及发展策略》一文中总结了，由于我国历史原因，长期以来形成了重生产、轻流通，重商流，轻物流的思想，国内对食品和农产品在实施食品供应链配送管理方面的介绍较少，特别是见年来我国食品质量安全问题，食品配送的发展在现阶段还很不成熟，存在的问题也不少，突出表现在如下两个方面：（1）配送的基础设施落后食品配送的基础设施落后主要表现在冷藏运输和冷库储存方面。

物流文献综述物流管理是经济发展的关键因素，动态的物流系统能够满足市场的持续需求。

物流管理一直是由科学家和学者研究的一个备受关注的话题，越来越多的研究正在开展，从而推动物流管理的发展。

本文将简要综述近十年来有关物流管理的有关文献。

近十年来，有大量的研究围绕着物流管理。

首先，人们对全球物流管理进行了大量的研究，特别是在全球市场化、竞争力和供应链行业趋势方面的研究。

折射出当今全球日益活跃的物流市场结构和流量的变化趋势。

例如，针对印度现行供应链模式及其变化趋势，研究有Kakkar (2009)、Sikdar和Sikdar (2015)等。

此外，学者也就网络式物流、物流集群以及商业主管机构对供应链发展的调控等多维度进行了深入的探讨，以期实现全球经济发展。

如粗放网络式物流结构及其及其分析，Smith和Scarborough (2008)、Cagnina等(2012)研究了网络间的互动关系、关键流程和软件等。

有研究也探讨了供应链集成的重要性，如Oh et al. (2011)的研究，提出了集成传统供应链管理系统的方法。

此外，学者们还开展了大量关于物流运输的研究，主要集中在如何提高物流系统的效率上。

研究表明，为了有效地满足客户的需求，企业必须建立可靠的物流运输系统。

与此同时，环境保护对于物流运输也变得越来越重要，Nash et al. (2013)和Azadeh et al. (2016)这两个研究都强调了绿色物流系统的重要性。

最后，有关物流安全及技术中各种技术的研究也引起了人们的广泛关注。

例如，智能物流技术（Sasaki et al. 2013）和物流安全技术（Mudassir et al. 2014）也引起学者们的关注，他们对这些技术的运用也做出了深入的探索，以实现可持续的物流绩效。

总之，在物流管理方面的研究有很多文献彰显出大量的见解。

从本文叙述中可以看出，人们对整个物流管理系统、物流运输以及物流安全技术都进行了深入的研究。

文献综述-水产品物流配送研究《水产品物流配送研究》文献综述【摘要】自20世纪90年代以来，现代物流在我国得到了迅速发展。

物流配送作为现代物流的一个重要环节也成为了国内外专家学者研究的重点。

为了更好地指导实践，本文对物流配送的相关研究成果进行了全局性回顾，依次对国内外对新员工培训的研究进行了系统的梳理，并对研究现状进行了初步总结。

【关键词】水产品、物流配送、配送中心Abstract：Since the 1990s, the modern logistics obtained the rapid development in our country. The logistics and distribution also becomes the key point that as a modern logistics's important link the domestic and foreign experts have studied. To the guide practical undertaking, this article have carried on overall importance review to logistics and distribution's relevant research achievement well, to domestic and foreign has carried on combing of system to the research that the new staff trained in turn, and has carried on the preliminary summary to the research situation. Keywords：Aquatic Product，Logistics and Distribution，Distribution Center现代物流的概念和应用均起源于西方，并被称为“第三方利润源”。

跨国物流问题研究文献综述针对国内外研究现状，国外对于跨国物流配送业务的研究由来已久。

对于跨境电商与跨国物流配送的未来发展相关的深入研究。

国外的Tuan Nguyen Trong、Phuong Phan Thi Khanh(2012)判断在剧烈的市场中慢慢消失了的大多数跨境电商公司,在其快速蓬勃发展前期中忽视了物流配送的重要意义,他们相信物流业发展水平在电子商务企业开发中占有着至关重要的战略地位,跨境电商和跨国物流配送的关系也就是这样。

Hsiao(2017)则指出,跨国物流配送业务的未来发展需求量与必要性正伴随跨境电商的蓬勃发展而日益提高,而跨国物流配送服务商也唯有通过不断创新和提升相应服务水平,才能在越来越剧烈的市场竞争中维持其优势。

而在跨国物流配送业务方面。

Boyson和Csorisi(1999)指出,第三方物流配送是未来跨国物流配送蓬勃发展的新趋势,第三方公司企业物流配送的稳定对跨境电商的蓬勃发展无疑是有益的。

Ewa Płaczek(2013)指出,互联网电子商务与物流业需要通过信息资源重构,在解决需求的基石上考虑服务实现的时机,因而在跨国物流配送业务的分配环节,需要有适当灵活性的运送体系,从而适应多样化的供给需求。

Jazairy(2017)等人给出了在未来进一步发展第三方配送与供货商伙伴关系中,提升成本效益以及准时交货领域方面的物流配送绩效的指导方针。

外国专家学者们善于汇总了FedEx、UPS等外国大规模物流配送龙头企业发展战略的经验,并汇总出了一些领先发展理念,以提供其他物流公司参照借鉴,为蓬勃发展跨国物流配送业务作出了贡献。

相比较于国外，国内则在跨国物流发展的研究领域较晚。

但是从起步发展到现在，已经发生了翻天覆地的变化。

关于这一方面的研究主要表现在以下两个方面。

一是基于跨国物流业务的技术研发。

跨境电商与跨国物流配送协调发展方面一般有如下看法,庞燕(2015)指出服务的高质量是电子商务蓬勃发展的保障,同理,跨境电商网络平台的蓬勃发展也对跨国物流水平提供了相应的条件。

本份文档包含该专题的：外文文献、文献综述一、外文文献Transport, Logistics, and Fulfillment OptionsLaurel J. DelaneyAir TransportShipping by air used to be an emergency strategy, used only when a customer needed a product immediately, but with the proliferation of international air delivery services such as Federal Express, DHL, UPS, and Airborne Express, it is now easy and economical to move your product around the world, even overnight. You’ll generally pay a higher price per kilo than you will for ocean shipment, but in some expense categories you’ll actually rack up some savings. For example, packing costs tend to run less for air transport. One major consideration is the weight of your cargo. Are you exporting feathers? If so, air transport would be cheaper, provided you don’t use cartons that take up a lot of space. Tractors, on the other hand, should be transported via ocean.If exporting highly perishable items is your business, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with carriers that offer affordable worldwide express shipments of chilled, frozen, and fresh foods, such as seafood, meats, and produce. You will see more and more demand for this service as the market for organic, fresh, and convenience foods expands. I suggest you call the US Department of Agriculture’s interna tional marketing office for additional help. It usually has directories, workbooks, and guides to assist exporters of highly perishable products.The International Air Transport Association represents 240 airlines worldwide. When these members reach agreement on a fixed rate, they file a tariff with the US Department of Transportation. Tariffs define the rate, rules, and regulations governing air cargo deliveries for a given carrier or conference. Only when an exporter is charged by a shipper a cost that is beyond the maximum amount specified in the tariff (unless it is under a service contract) will she need to notify a regulatory agency to complain.There are two major types of equipment used in air transport:1.Air cargo containers: These types of containers are loaded by hand or forklift. They come in more than a dozen different styles and sizes.2.Air cargo pallets made of wood or plastic (corrugated plastic is used but not recommended) with netting: These are also loaded by hand or forklift.Which type of equipment you use depends on the type and quantity of the cargo you are shipping. To determine the absolute best way to ship your cargo, always discuss your situation with your transportation company. And don’t forget to find out the distance from your cust omer’s door to the closest seaport or airport. If one delivery destination is closer than the other, you’ll save your customer time but not necessarily money in the case of shipping to the nearest airport, because air cargo can be expensive.The top two considerations when choosing air vs. sea freight are transit time and the cargo itself. It usually takes a product a couple of days to arrive by air, whereas sea freight takes anywhere from twelve to fourteen days. The cargo itself, whether delicate in nature (fine art, for example) or large in size (as is heavy equipment), forces you to make the best decision for your cargo shipment.CautionAlways check with your shipping specialist to verify the pallet requirements for yourdestination country. Some countries, for example, require certain types of wood packaging to be treated with chemicals or heat before being allowed into their country.Ocean TransportShipping by ocean takes much longer than shipping by air, but it is nearly always much less expensive. T hat is why it will generally be your overseas customers’ preferred method of transport. Whereas with air shipment, the greater the volume of your shipment, the more expensive it becomes, with ocean shipment a greater volume of shipment actually decreases the cost. Ocean transport is less simple, though, because it involves many more choices that you may know very little about. These include the choice between terminals, vessel types, container loading options, and so forth. You’ll have to rely on your trans port company to give you advice.When choosing a transport company, you’ll want to find out the following:1.The frequency that the vessels sail2.The transit times3.The reliability measures4.The ports served by steamship line5.The company’s safety record6.The computerization for cargo managementThe last point, computerized cargo management, is vital these days. You want to be able to track your cargo at any given point. If it gets lost, you want to know that the transport company can find it. Cargo management is an important part of the package you offer your customers— so anytime you find a new and better way to serve them in terms of cargo, jump on it.Shopping for an Economical Transport PackageShipping lines—whose vessels are still commonly referred to as “steamships” although the days of steam-powered shipping are long gone— can be classified as either independent or conference. Independent lines tend not to have as many ports of call, which can cause shipping delays. Sometimes, while comparison shopping, you will find an independent line that quotes you a rate that is cheaper than what the conference lines are offering. Howe ver, when using an independent line you can’t be sure of your shipper’s timeliness or reliability. Conference lines, on the other hand, guarantee similar standards and rates. If you can contract with a conference line on an exclusive basis, rates are usually cheaper than, or at least competitive with, those offered by an independent line. The guarantee on rates during a specified period of time is a savings that you can then pass on to your customer or use to pad your own profit margin. Other types of ocean transport companies that have evolved over the years are NVOCCs, or non-vessel-operating common carriers, and shipper’s associations. NVOCCs book space on vessels and then sell the space to shippers with smaller cargoes in smaller-volume units. They consolidate these smaller shipments into container-loads under one bill of lading, and as a result can pass on more favorable rates to the small cargo shipper. You can also take advantage of a larger shipper’s economies of scale to move your smaller loads more cheaply. Shipper’s associations, similarly, were formed to pull together several different shippers’ cargoes to achieve greater volum e and hence lower rates.Don’t forget that ocean and air shipping itself is only part of the transport package you’ll need to assemble. To get your product to an ocean-going vessel for loading, you must also transport your cargo overland by truck or rail. How do you do this without spending an arm and a leg?The most advanced and efficient transport mode currently available to exporters to handle this problem is intermodal transportation. This is a start-to-finish transport package that takes your cargo fro m its point of origin to its point of destination (commonly described as “door -to-door”) under a single bill of lading. It involves the use of at least two different transportation modes— rail and ocean, for example— to cover the overland and overseas movement of the cargo. The company that offers the package is liable for getting the cargo from the point of origin to the final destination, and it will charge you a “through rate” to do so. The rate represents a substantial savings over what it would cost you to engage separate carriers for each leg of the trip. An added bonus: The company can issue a computer-generated bill of lading within hours of the cargo’s receipt at an inland terminal or immediately after the vessel has left port. This means faster turnaround time in collecting payment from your customer. Some intermodal service packages also offer container freight stations, which save you time and drayage (local transportation) costs by bringing their service closer to your door.TipWith the Internet and the advent of e-commerce sales transactions for B-to-C transactions, most international carriers and third-party logistics providers now offer all-inclusive door-to-door landed costs (meaning they include the price of the product, the delivery charge, taxes, duties, customs, and in a currency your shoppers understand) on single-product shipments delivered to a consumer. In 2009, this was unheard of. What a difference five years makes! If you are an exporter of refrigerated commodities, most sophisticated transportation companies can offer cost-efficient transport via refrigerated vehicles. For example, there are railcars equipped with individual generators to ensure the preservation of perishable products during transit. Some companies offer what is ca lled a “motorbridge” (trucking) service to exporters of frozen meat and other perishables, which entails a through transportation rate from the producer’s door to the customer’s door. Other companies offer multipurpose vessels for more cost-effective shipment of noncontainerized cargo, such as tin, tea, equipment, and grain. These vessels are usually smaller in size than those found in a regular containerized ship, allowing them to travel safely through rough seas and narrow channels. They also make the difficult portside dockings at newly industrialized countries easier.It’s imperative to shop around and compare rates to get the best-possible transportation package for your customer. Don’t be shy about questioning a transportation company or freight forwarder at length and in great detail about its service and rates. That is what it is there for, and you don’t owe them anything until after you’ve hired them. Always inquire about the latest and most advanced methods for moving goods overseas. Even as you read this, improvements are underway. Keeping current with the transportation industry will help you offer your customers the most innovative and cost-effective service and equipment options. Break-Bulk and Container LoadingWhat kind of vessel you choose to ship your cargo, and what special handling, loading or storage apparatus, if any, should be used, will depend on the type and quantity of your goods. Here are a variety of common options and techniques for loading your shipment.Break-BulkBetter known as less than container-load, or LTL shipment, break-bulk shipment is the most likely option to be used by new exporters, whose first orders are likely to be small. It allows your customer to test the product in his market before committing to a large quantity, such asa full container-load or more. The shipper can still load the goods into a container, but the container will be delivered to a consolidation point (port of exit) where other shippers’ goods will also be stowed in the container. The advantage of this method is that it allows smaller, low-volume exporters to have their cargo containerized, although it is not as desirable as a sealed door-to-door container, as I will discuss.To control the expense of small-quantity shipment, find a transport company that specializes in break-bulk. Naturally, when you are shipping a small trial order and hoping for repeat business, it will be to your advantage to control your customer’s costs by offering them the best rate possible. When shipping LT L, you’ll need to take extra care in packing and marking your cartons. (I’ll discuss carton marking in greater detail later.) Break-bulk shipments are commonly packed using the following materials:Pallets: Wood pallets must be strong enough to be stacked on racks and reused numerous times.Never let your cartons overhang a pallet. Your whole load might collapse! As previously mentioned, some countries require certain types of wood pallets to be treated with chemicals or heat before allowing the shipment to cross its borders. Check with your transportation specialist.Slipsheets: Used to pull your cargo to the point of loading, these sheets are usually made of fiberboard or plastic. They must be strong enough for the forklift operator to clamp onto and pull. Slipsheets cost less than pallets and eliminate the expense of transporting pallets back to the shipper for reuse. Cartons placed on slipsheets must be cross stacked, shrink-wrapped, or secured with extra-strength strapping.Crates: Wood crates are still popular with some shippers due to their strength and resistance to humidity, at any temperature and at any point in transit.All onboard packing aids should be recyclable or reusable. Use the minimum amount of material necessary to protect your product. Pallets, slipsheets, and crates are loaded using the following methods:Bulk loading by machine or hand (for bulk commodities, for example)Hand loading using individual shipping containers, with or without pallets Unit loading using palleted or slipsheet stacks into containers with forkliftsContainer LoadingShipment by container-load continues to be the preferred method for exporting goods because each container is sealed (allowing it to stay closed from the factory door to the customer’s door), strong, theft resistant, and stackable. Containers are also easy to load and unload; transport by truck, rail, or ship; and store. The only time the container may be opened while in transit is for the customer’s inspection, so the transport of the goods becomes nearly bulletproof concerning safety and pilferage issues.NoteExporting by container continues to grow. According to trade data produced by PIERS, “U.S. containerized exports were up 5 percent in February 2013 compared to February 2012, reaching 1,011,874 20-foot-equivalent units.” PIERS, a database of US waterborne trade activity, says this is the largest year-over-year increase since June 2012, when exports jumped nearly 10 percent.Containers are available in various volumes and in a number of specialized constructions to accommodate various cargo types. Typically, shipping companies provide containers, but youcan also rent or buy them new or used. If you want to do so, try eBay, contact a local shipping company to inquire about used shipping containers, or contact the Container Alliance, a network of portable storage and shipping container providers.A container can cost anywhere from $1,500 (used) to $8,000 (new). Rental costs range from $75 to $295 per month. You can also expect to pay delivery and pickup charges on any of these scenarios. The twenty-foot container, the most popular volume, works well for starting up with exports. The forty-foot container is the second-most popular choice. It’s important to resist the temptation to overload this larger container or you won’t be able to move your cargo over land! For large loads, a forty-five-foot container is an attractive bargain because it gives you a 27 percent increase in interior capacity over the forty-foot unit for the same handling costs. Containers come as large as forty-eight feet, but these are comparatively rare.Just as you conducted market research on where the best market is for your product using a variety of sources, keeping track of where all your exports are going provides a good basis for asking yourself, “Should we be looking at these markets since there are so many containers going to that part of the world?” Take The Journal of Commerce s annual ranking of the top fifty world container ports for 2012). 5Here is a snapshot of the top ten container ports, which shows heavy concentration in China (Asia):The port of Shanghai handled 32.5 million twenty-foot-equivalent container units, considered the busiest container port in the world in 2012.High-cube containers (referred to as HQ; they include twenty-foot, forty-foot, and other measurements) are oftentimes shipped at the same rate as a standard container but offer more cargo space and are typically one foot taller. Garment containers have a movable track system, so that prepressed and prelabeled garments can be shipped on their individual hangers, unloaded, moved right into a showroom, and racked for sale. Open-top containers, designed for awkward, oversize goods, such as heavy equipment, can be loaded from the top by crane. This reduces handling costs. Refrigerated containers come in high-cube and wide-body dimensions and offer temperature-controlled environments that can be monitored by means of an exterior temperature recorder, a central shipboard control, or even satellite transmission. Bulk-hatch containers, used for commodities such as corn and grains, can be loaded from the top or the rear for easy access and minimal handling. Vented containers allow for appropriate ventilation and thus eliminate potential condensation, preventing damage to moisture-sensitive goods like tobacco, spices, and coffee. Flat-rack containers, designed for moving huge goods, such as heavy equipment, lumber, and pipes, can be loaded from the top or the side, thus reducing handling costs. An expandable chassis accommodates a variety of box sizes and allows for easy offloading from ship, to train, to truck.TipIf you are interested in learning more about shipping containers and who invented containerized cargo (hint: an American by the name of Malcolm P. McLean), read the article “The Truck Driver Who Reinvented Shipping,” and try The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, by Marc Levinson. Both are fascinating reads!Having shown you what’s entailed in getting your shipment underway, I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite solutions for the shipping phase: the freight forwarder.The Global Freight Forwarder: Your One-Stop Transport ProGlobal freight forwarders serve as all-around transport agents for moving export cargo, typically transporting it from a factory door to your customer’s warehouse or storage facility. Their service saves you lots of time, effort, and anxiety and is available for a very reasonable fee, usually under US$200 per transaction—an e xpense that you’ll include in your price quotation to your customer and recoup when you collect payment. These are just some of the things a freight forwarder will do for you:Handle all shipping arrangements on the basis of your specificationsTake legal responsibility for the shipmentPay up-front costs to move the productArrange for a carrier to arrive at your factory door at a specified date and timeBook space with transportation carriersHandle all documentation and see that it is properly processedArrange insurance, if requestedPresent documents to your bank in a timely fashion to meet your payment terms Suggest or make on-the-spot packing adjustments, if neededMove the product from the factory door to the port of exit, either by common carrier or rail Take responsibility for getting the cargo on the vessel in time to sail on schedule, thus enabling you to meet all the terms and conditions of your payment agreement Monitor the shipment from beginning to end and keep you informed throughout See to it that the shipment arrives safely at the foreign port of entry and proceeds from there, depending on the delivery terms that you quoted to your customerIf you were to undertake the transit of goods yourself, you would probably be overwhelmed by all these logistics, and you would certainly not achieve the savings that forwarders can, given the networks of service providers that they have in place and the volume and frequency of shipping that they do. You can find freight forwarders by conducting a web search using the keywords “Freight forwarders, international transportation” or you can check for listings in trade magazines or other international directories. You should find hundreds of them. In some instances, they will be categorized by the geographic area they serve, the type of commodity in which they specialize, or the transport modes they offer, such as air or ocean—most forwarders offer both. Pick two or three that seem like a good fit for your product and shipping destination. Some may be located near your office or by an airport or port facility that you expect to use often.The Kings and Queens of International Shipping: UPS, FedEx, DHL, and TNT Logistic experts UPS, FedEx, DHL, and TNT have long been considered the best in international shipping. Check with each of these companies in regard to their areas of expertise, including whether they not only ship worldwide but also handle fulfillment needs and collecting payments from customers worldwide.The electronic filing of export information, formerly do ne with the Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) form, is the system used by US companies to electronically declare exports with the US Census Bureau. The process, now called electronic export information (EEI), is done through AES Direct the filing is required for items valued over $2,500 or on products requiring an export license. Most sophisticated carriers can take care of the electronic filing on your behalf for a small fee and provide options for you to self-file or provide your own company’s completed EEI. Check with each international carrier. Refer for more information.Third-Party Logistics and Fulfillment CentersExporting represents a significant opportunity for online small business retailers. Setting up an e-commerce site automatically puts you in front of a potential 2.4 billion online customers. To service even a fraction of those customers, you’ve got to get up to speed on how to package and ship your products internationally.A third-party logistics company (abbreviated 3PL) provides logistics services for part or all of your supply-chain-management functions. They can warehouse, pack, and ship your products to customers all over the world, for example. Some will even produce or procure goods for you. Many of these services can be scaled and customized to your needs. Further, 3PLs allow you to leverage their industry expertise, achieve volume discounts, and realize other benefits (better carrier rates, for instance). To get up and running, many service providers require you to have a good technology program developer on board to install appropriate applications. Prepare accordingly.NoteTypically with a 3PL, you’ll need to integrate your e-commerce platform closely with that of the 3PL’s provider. Major carriers like UPS and FedEx, for exa mple, offer tools or even application programming interfaces (APIs) that make it possible to calculate the landed cost and integrate shipping tools into your e-commerce platform. Consult with them on how to incorporate their APIs within your existing e-commerce platform.Ask whether your provider can not only calculate the international shipping costs on transactions but handle the fulfillment part on B-to-C transactions as well. Decisions must be made on who will put your product in a box, label it, insert the appropriate commercial invoice (used as a customs declaration form), calculate shipping charges (including tariffs, duties, and taxes), and ensure the product arrives to a customer’s final destination timely, economically, and safely. These are things a 3PL will do for you. It may be worth investigating one or more from the list we will look at to make the fulfillment part of e-commerce easier on yourself and your customers as well. Third-Party SuppliersHere is a short list of third-party suppliers (3PLs) who specialize in helping businesses ship internationally and deal with the customs, tariffs, and currency conversions worldwide. The whole point of using 3PLs is to enable you to reach customers globally and take on new customers by using existing technology systems— all without hiring extra employees.TipSome people shy away from putting all their eggs in one basket. In the case of selling, distributing, and marketing your products worldwide, you might want to consider a master logistics provider that does it all. That way, you develop a strong relationship and achieve efficient distribution with fewer touch points (meaning less people handling your product), letting you focus on perfecting your sales and marketing methods.Simple Methods to Improve Logistics and Boost SalesThere are a few other factors to consider before getting started with international carriers or 3PLs. Here are some steps you can take to improve your international e-commerce results Comparison shop between carriers and the various carrier-shipping-fulfillment options. Saving even pennies on each package you ship internationally can save you big bucks later on, and those savings can boost your bottom line. Use various online calculators (USPS, UPS, orFedEx, for instance) to get an idea of what it might cost to send your package to China as an example of the costs.Audit your shipping and fulfillments costs quarterly. See if you are making or losing money. If you are losing money, switch carriers or take an entirely new approach toward the product you are exporting, the market you are entering, and the carrier you are using.Scrutinize the rates of different carriers to decide whether to opt for a flat-rate price on each package or go by weight or measurement (whichever is greater) on the calculation.To ship free or not to ship free? That is the key question. Free shipping is a growing trend in e-commerce. The most popular offer is free shipping in exchange for a minimum order in dollars. Second to that is free shipping for a limited time only, such as three weeks prior to a Valentine’s Day shipping deadline. I’ve always fallen for the free shipping offers, especially when I need a product and it’s coming from overseas, showing that it does have a positive psychological influence on consumers, resulting in increased sales. If you offer free shipping, make sure you don’t lose money on those sales!SummaryYou now have some guidelines telling you what transport and fulfillment methods are available to get your product to your customer and how to make a cost-effective choice. As you move on to put together a price quotation for your customer, including price per unit, total transport, and incidental charges, you’ll see exactly how valuable working with a good global freight forwarder, logistics expert, or fulfillment company can be in making the sale and delivering the goods. 二、文献综述快递业研究文献综述摘要：近年来，中国快递产业发展迅速，目前已经在中国东部地区形成了以沿海大城市群为中心的区域性快运速递圈。