Five Common Pain Points for Importing

Avela Corporation has been sourcing manufacturing in China for our clients since 2002 and we have pretty much heard it all.

Clients often come to us after having tried to “go it alone” by dealing with a trading company that they may have met at a trade show, through a website on Alibaba or elsewhere. If all goes well, things are great… but the chances of a complicated job going perfectly smooth on the other side of the world can be slim.

Following is a list of the five most common problems, or pain points, for manufacturing importers as we have observed over the years.

Number One: Container Surprise
Upon delivery you find your order is incomplete or somehow incorrect. Of course, mistakes can happen anytime, but if the order is originating in China, corrections at this point can involve delays of four weeks in transportation alone. This can be devastating if your business is geared toward on time delivery.

Avela Corporation eliminates container surprise and provides an extra layer of assurance by personally inspecting shipments before they ship so that corrections can be put into action on the spot. This way, the issue can fixed in a matter of hours or days instead of weeks.

Number Two: Mystery Sources
Often import transactions are handled by trading companies that provide little value while masking their sources to protect their business. They operate as China factory reps and essentially work for the manufacturer, not you. Frustration and uncertainty can arise when your only link to the manufacture of your product is someone who is keeping secrets from you.

With experience going back to 2002, Avela adds the value of our expertise in the business both inside and outside of China. We happily provide certification information and can arrange site visits with the manufacturer.

Number Three: Cultural Fog
If you have experienced a problem with a supplier who suddenly is no longer fluent in English or otherwise fails to grasp your meaning at a critical point, you know how exasperating international transactions can be. A factory may have only one English-speaking employee who may not be knowledgeable in your production needs. Or your English-speaking contact may move on to greener pastures, leaving you out in the cold.

Avela maintains offices in Houston and Shanghai with team members fluent in English, Mandarin and other Chinese dialects. By speaking English-to-English and Chinese-to-Chinese, cultural issues fall by the wayside with Avela in your corner.

Number Four: Logistic Disconnect
In this era of orders with multiple moving parts and on time delivery expectations, it can be difficult to manage logistics that need to mesh perfectly from half a world away, but errors could cripple your business.

By maintaining our office in Shanghai, Avela provides in-country monitoring of logistics to make sure your product is where you need it to be when you need it there. If there is a hiccup in the supply chain, we are on top of it, devising a workaround.

Number Five: Account Neglect
Account neglect can occur in any business, but it can paralyze an import-based business. Service falls behind expectations, communication lags, responses are disappointing… Is it time to find a new source with all the hassles involved with that? Can your business survive a transition? Or do you just accept the situation and hope things somehow get better.

Avela works as your boots on the ground in China. If the source falls behind expectations, we can meet with them face to face to resolve any issues. In cases where they cannot be resolved, we can arrange alternative sources that can be phased-in to minimize any disruption.

As you can imagine, some of our best clients are those who have tried “going it alone” in China. Avela Corporation adds value by handling the details and the dealing with the unexpected before problems in China snowball into disasters for your business.