Tech market innovation boosts call for global hand-carry couriers
March 18, 2015The world of electronics is a fast and ever-changing business: the very nature of the industry dictates that today’s ground-breaking technology may be outdated within months as the market continues to propel itself off the latest high-tech advancements and innovations.
When time is of the essence, it regularly falls on time-critical logistics specialists to ensure the latest products are delivered ahead of launch deadlines.
Nikolai Bergmann, Global Business Development Director for Chapman Freeborn OBC, says:
“Without question, there’s growing demand for on board courier (OBC) services for the global electronics industry – and the trend is for movements on tighter timescales than ever before.”
“We’re often dealing with the finest of margins in meeting launch deadlines. One of our smartphone clients recently required a last-minute shipment on the day of the actual launch. While the handsets were already in place for the media showcase, the new charging stations had to be flown in urgently as hand-carry courier shipments.”
Trying to accurately predict the next direction the global electronics industry will take is a tricky business.
As demonstrated by international showcases like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held recently in Las Vegas, the ever-widening reach of consumer electronics now encompasses everything from automotive connectivity to smart-clothing.
Changing consumer tastes and the global nature of electronics manufacturing means both the routes flown and the technology couriers are required to carry are constantly evolving.
Demand for desktop PCs and other portable PCs has declined in the last few years (forecasted 290 million units will be shipped globally in 2018, down from 364 million in 2011) – but new products including tablets and wearable technology look set to continue soaring in popularity.
- Forecasted number of tablet users worldwide in 2018 = 1.43 billion (435.5 million of these users in China)
- Forecasted wearable device market value in 2018 = US $12.6 billion
- Forecasted Google Glass annual sales in 2018 = 21.1 million units
On board courier – or “hand-carry” services – increasingly play a small but important part in getting new technological innovations to market, according to Bergmann:
“Time is always a key factor in why clients use on board courier services – but it’s not just about how fast you can deliver an item. It’s also about transporting the item in a safe and secure way – and with the necessary insurance cover.”
This is particularly true for deliveries of prototypes, according to Bergmann. The company recently handled a 50kg shipment of samples from Mexico to South Korea on behalf of an electronics manufacturer.
While the shipment wasn’t time-critical in the sense it needed to be there immediately, the nature of the cargo meant it wasn’t suitable for standard express logistics providers.
“With a specialist hand-carry service the samples weren’t being passed around or moving from warehouse to warehouse, with the added risks of being lost. A dedicated OBC courier personally accompanied the prototypes every step of the way, from the manufacturing facility direct to the final recipient in Asia.”
Chapman Freeborn OBC’s global coverage of over 30 offices worldwide has helped to give it the competitive edge over its rivals in the on board courier industry, says Bergmann.
“It doesn’t matter whether we’re delivering hand-carry shipments from Shanghai to Silicon Valley, or Mexico City to Seoul, clients expect the same excellent level of service around the world."
Editorial Credit: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com. The Consumer Electronics Show, held recently in Las Vegas, is a world-renowned showcase for the global consumer electronics industry.
Statistics source: Statista
