Globalia’s territorial exclusivity, its rigorous selection process and the continued trust of members have contributed to the quick rise in the number of agents
Globalia Logistics Network, an exclusive network of the most reliable freight forwarders, has set a record by reaching 211 members representing 133 countries. Globalia Logistics network took shape in 2017 with 50 members and has steadily increased its coverage during the last 6 years.
In the words of Antonio Torres, President and Founder of Globalia Logistics Network, “We created Globalia 6 years back with the express objective of providing a solid global platform for independent freight forwarders which would allow them to gain new businesses while boosting their brands”.
200 Members- Globalia Logistics Network
One of the factors that has contributed to this growth is Globalia members, who are the key of the stability and growth of the network: “Overall, we owe this achievement to our members. This could not have been possible without the faith and trust of Globalia members, who have believed in the network even in the most difficult moments. We are like a big family and Globalia is proud to be the link”, continues Antonio Torres.
Another important aspect that has boosted this increase is the Annual Meetings organized by Globalia. In these yearly events, Globalia members get face to face and discuss the prospects of enhanced collaboration and finalize their deals. Moreover, their territorial exclusivity ensures that only one forwarder gets to represent each major city/port to avoid any kind of competition.
Other causes are the wide array of online tools to make business easier for its members. In a bid to digitize the process of quote preparation, they have introduced the FreightViewer- an online freight rate management software which is available for free for all members of the network. It allows the members to create an accurate and professional quotation for their clients within less than a minute.
In the year 2022, Globalia Logistics Network for the first time surpassed 200 members and has accomplished several of its objectives
Globalia Logistics Network, has made many noteworthy accomplishments in 2022, the foremost of which is surpassing 200 network members. Presently, Globalia has trustworthy freight forwarding agents in over 203 cities across 135 countries.
Globalia Logistics Network
To quote Antonio Torres, the President and Founder of Globalia Logistics Network, “Crossing the 200 mark has been one of our long-cherished ambitions that we have finally accomplished this year. Our team couldn’t have been more excited, and we are eagerly looking forward to connecting with all our agents old and new in our upcoming Annual Meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the entire Globalia team for their hard work, and of course our members around the world who will now have more trusted network partners to work with.”
Additionally, the year 2022 has turned out be be an extremely productive one for Globalia. In March 2022 Globalia launched an online logistics academy to offer useful freight forwarding courses for their members. To this end, they partnered with CIFFA- one of the best logistics education providers of our time. Their two logistics courses are helping the members to create a resilient team of professionals who can easily adapt to the changing requirements of the industry. The courses are not just meant for the professionals in this sector but also the newcomers.
Some of their other achievements from last year include the enhancement of their social media presence by creating an Instagram handle, the creation of an online certificate for members, and most importantly doing the groundwork for an in-person meeting in Phuket in March, 2023.
To make the conference registration process more convenient the network has created a special Annual Meeting web portal. It brings all the relevant information about the event at the members’ fingertips and makes the registration, room reservation, and meeting slot booking processes absolutely seamless.
The day tour will allow the agents to explore the marvels of Phuket and foster deeper connections with their network partners
Globalia Logistics Network’s 4th Annual Meeting at Phuket, Thailand in March 2023 will include an optional day trip for the delegates and their spouses. On the 15th of March 2023, delegates who’ve signed up for the group tour will be visiting the Phi Phi Islands by speed boat and explore some of the most exotic destinations such as the Viking Cave, the Loh Samay Bay, the Pileh Cove and the Monkey Island.
Globalia’s Day Trip to the Phi Phi Islands
Additionally, the delegates will be lunching at a local eatery and can go for outdoor activities such as swimming and snorkelling following which they will be returning to the hotel for the Welcome Cocktail Reception. The day trip will help to create an informal platform for fostering team spirit among the delegates. A corporate group tour of the network agents will create the right environment for nurturing friendships with friendship among network members and open up new channels of communication.
In the words of Globalia’s Founder and Director Antonio Torres, “The primary objective of this additional activity is to bolster the ties among the members. The focus of this corporate tour is to enhance communications among the delegates who will now get a better and more congenial socializing space.”
This day trip will also allow delegates to engage in sightseeing activities and discover the local culture and the fantastic beaches around Phuket. Furthermore, it will help to break the ice among the delegates and give them a chance to establish a lasting bond with their existing and future partners.
“The trickiest aspect of my job is to provide quick solutions to issues and inquiries from hundreds of agents from so many different countries. I believe that on-time response, empathy towards the complaining agent, and a degree of familiarity with the agent’s history are a few ways to efficiently handle the agent’s issues.”
Latifa is a part of Globalia’s Agent Coordination Team whose main responsibilities are to assist members with any issue they may have and ensure that agents get the promptest solutions.Latifa has previously worked with multinationals as a project coordinator and interpreter. Also, she has worked for 12 years as a sales manager in an export/import company where she gained experience in maritime transport and the export/import procedures. In this interview, she talks about her experience of working at Globalia, the benefits of Globalia’s referral programme, the importance of attending the Annual Meetings and more. Additionally, she also provides useful tips to safeguard the members from online fraud.
Q. Tell us about your experience of working with the Globalia team?
A. My experience with Globalia has been really satisfying so far. We have a small close-knit team and working with them is a productive and pleasant experience. Globalia’s Agent Coordination Team works together to provide quick solutions to our member’s problems. Additionally, Globalia has taught me a great deal about client communication, customer-care, and ensuring better coordination among the network and its members. I try my best to help the members in the best way possible, regardless of the issue.
Q. How do you think your previous work experience can contribute to the Globalia team?
A. As a sales manager I have many years of experience with customer handling and client management. Moreover, working as an interpreter has allowed me to be familiar with people from several cultural backgrounds. This is surely a factor that allows me to do my job better. Lastly, I have worked for more than a decade with an export/import company which has helped me to gain considerable knowledge of the intricacies of the freight forwarding sector.
Q. Which do you think are the best benefits of becoming a Globalia member?
A. To begin with, Globalia is one of the best logistics networks in the world, that not only allows members to find new partners and serve new territories but also offers resources and tools to help the members digitize their operations. Covering more than 196 cities across 129 countries, Globalia accepts only one agent per city, who is solely responsible for the traffic from/to that territory. Moreover, Globalia’s extremely rigorous selection process guarantees that all our members are trustworthy and financially solvent. Lastly, our highly professional team is always on hand to assist members in the best way possible both quickly and efficiently, whatever the issue.
Q. Which are the most important achievements of Globalia along these years?
A. In the last 5 years, Globalia already has achieved many significant milestones. It is the first freight forwarders network to launch a tool that is allowing the members to digitize their businesses. Our TMS FreightViewer is reducing members’ expenses, saving their time, eliminating manual error, augmenting visibility and security, and minimizing the steps involved in shipping operations.
Secondly, every year Globalia organizes an Annual Meeting that offers an ideal networking platform for the agents. Even in the last two years when physically meeting wasn’t possible because of the pandemic, we arranged for cloud conferences. Globalia’s 4th Annual Meeting is all set to happen from 15th to 17th March in Phuket, Thailand.
Lastly, Globalia has partnered with the top supply chain course provided CIFFA and open an online academy. The logistics courses are allowing the members to augment the expertise and industry knowledge of their employees. Above all, the courses are helping the newcomers in the logistics industry to get an in-depth understanding of all the important supply chain processes.
Q. How can Globalia’s referral programme be beneficial for the agents?
A. We always encourage our members to refer their reliable industry peers to our network. When this referred agent eventually becomes a part of the network, the referring agents can greatly benefit by obtaining a discount on their membership. Firstly, he gets a 25% discount on their next year’s annual fee. Additionally, when members refer more than one agent, they stand to get a maximum of four discounts (of 25% each) which makes them eligible to pay zero membership fees for the next year.
“Forging a collaborative and profitable relationship with the partners is one of the keys in our sector and the Annual Meetings are crucial in this regard. Most agents who have attended the Meetings have increased their business volume and created a long-term business relationships with their partners. I strongly recommend all our members make it to Globalia’s 4th Annual Meeting.
Q. Which are the new achievements you foresee in the coming days?
A. Very soon we will launch an app that will allow increased communication among the network members This innovative mobile platform will allow the Globalia agents to maintain and foster a close-knit community that can connect with each other any time of the day right from their mobile devices. Additionally, with 196 members and still going strong, we are also hoping to reach 200 members very soon.
Q. Which is the most challenging aspect of your work? How do you deal with it?
A. The trickiest aspect of my job consists of providing quick solutions to issues and inquiries from hundreds of agents from so many different countries. I firmly believe that on-time response, empathy towards the complaining agent, and a degree of familiarity with the agent’s history are a few ways to efficiently handle the agent’s issues.
Q. Do you get complaints from members regarding scam emails? How are you coping with this problem?
A. Yes, scam emails are a persistent threat in the age of digital communications. Members have notified us about receiving payment-related emails from another member in which they were asked to make the payment to the new bank details provided. It goes without saying that, such emails are sent by scammers and not by any member of our network. This is why we always urge our members to verify the bank details of their partner to whom they are supposed to make a payment by talking to them directly over the phone.
Q. Why do you think attending the Annual Meeting is important for the agents?
A. Forging a collaborative and profitable relationship with the partners is one of the keys in our sector and the Annual Meetings are absolutely crucial in this regard. Most of the agents who have attended the Meetings say that they have increased their business volume and created a long-term business relationships with their partners. I strongly recommend all our members to make it to Globalia’s 4th Annual Meeting that will take place from 15th to 17th March 2023 in Phuket, Thailand.
Globalia’s Instagram page will come with photos and videos from the network that followers can view on the go from their mobile devices
Globalia Logistics Network, an international freight forwarding network with members from 194 cities, has recently launched their Instagram page. This new social media handle will help to further enlarge the audience base of the logistics network and enable them to reach out to potential agents in the future. Additionally, their strong social media presence will also keep their followers updated, and add to their digital visibility.
Globalia Logistics Network has always had a strong presence on social media with handles on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more recently Instagram. Every week Globalia posts the news from the network and its members on their social media handles to keep their followers updated. Moreover, they make sure to post the news about the achievements of their agents which in turn promotes the members and increases their online presence.
As stated by Maria Serrano, Globalia’s PR and Event Coordinator, “We firmly believe that an active presence across a number of social media platforms greats helps to expand the outreach of our network. Moreover, these days the audience is more reliant on audio-visual platforms like Instagram for their daily dose of news and this is precisely why we have decided to be active on this platform.”
Globalia Logistics Network has opened an online academy for their members to enhance their skills, become more efficient and prepare themselves to take up greater responsibilities
With the aim of broadening the agents’ skills and knowledge, Globalia Logistics Network has launched its freight forwarding courses. In order to provide the most efficient training material, Globalia has partnered with the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), one of the leading logistics course providers, and Container xChange – a neutral online platform, used by 600+ freight forwarders who is offering a wide range of training material regarding the leasing container industry.
freight forwarding courses
Globalia Logistics Network has inaugurated its online academy with the International Transportation and Trade Course and it has been an outstanding success. More than 20 students have enrolled and over 80% have already been certified. The main aim of this course is to help the participants reach new goals and confidence while boosting their productivity, enhancing their skills and even preparing them for greater responsibilities. The International Transportation and Trade Course is about the foundations of international freight forwarding, how to manage risks by selecting the appropriate Incoterm, how to calculate freight charges and load shipments, types of equipment and documentation used to move goods.
Antonio Torres, President and Founder of Globalia states: “We have opened our online academy with the intention of providing our agents with a platform for inspiring educational courses that will enable them to set the international standard in their everyday shipping and logistics operations. We are delighted to have had this high demand among our members and very proud of the obtained results. We really hope that we will keep this high level in future courses.”
The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) is a course provider with more than 60 years of experience in logistics learning. The courses they offer are suitable for supply chain professionals who want to upgrade their knowledge base, and also for newcomers to this industry who want to take a deeper dive into the vast subject of transportation and logistics management.
Apart from the International Transportation and Trade Course, Globalia is also offering the Essentials of Freight Forwarding Course provided by CIFFA . This course will instruct the participants on multiple themes including export packaging, warehousing, document preparation or cargo insurance and it has already opened its registration.
Globalia has also established a partnership with Container xChange in order to offer a SOC Masterclass for members to understand the leasing container industry. The SOC Container Masterclass is provided as a complement to the other two courses. It consists of an “everything-you-need-to-know” course about handling Shipper Owned Containers.
The specially designed online training courses are helping Globalia members to cope with the industry challenges and confidently execute complex logistical procedures. Furthermore, upgrading the work skills will also allow them to stay updated with the industry changes, take the necessary measures to bypass any obstacles in the process of successful execution of a project, and provide better customer service.
The newsletter includes the latest news from the network, the agents and pertinent news and articles from the freight forwarding industry
Globalia Logistics Network’s June Newsletter for 2022 is now out and available for viewing and downloading from the website. The newsletter includes all the relevant news from the network along with a selection of news and articles from the transportation and logistics sector. It starts with the details of Globalia’s 4th Annual Meeting that will take place in Phuket, Thailand, in March 2023. Additionally, there is a page on the newest activity of this in-person meeting viz. a day trip with the delegates and how it will strengthen the bonding among the network members.
Globalia’s Newsletter for June
Click on the above image to read the newsletter
Globalia’s June newsletter has published the news of the recent achievements of agents in Seoul, Sao Paolo, Itajai, Southampton, and Piraeus. Additionally, there is a special news about Globalia Ankara who are extensively using FreightViewer to generate their quotations. In the interview section, there is an interview with Rania Skouta from Globalia Piraeus who talks about the history of her company, the challenges in the industry and the keys to success among other things. In the interview with Globalia’s Membership Development Coordinator Dustin Brown, he talks about his experiences at Globalia, the benefits of the agents in sales terms, the sales objectives of the team, the challenging aspects of his job and more.
The sector news for this edition is about the emergence of Brussels airport as one of the top air cargo hubs in Europe. Furthermore, there are also several pertinent news headlines from the industry. Lastly, there is an article on Smart Cost Optimization Tips that will help freight forwarding companies to reduce their operational expenses.
GlobeNewswire is a news distribution platform that drives brand awareness and boosts the online visibility 0f international companies
Globalia Logistics Network, a freight networking covering 170 cities across 106 countries, has created a media partnership with GlobeNewswire. GlobeNewswire is one of the world’s largest news distribution networks that provides real-time news releases from corporates helping them to reach an international audience.
Globalia’s media partnership with GlobeNewswire
They specialize in the distribution of corporate press releases, financial disclosures, and multimedia content to media, investors, and consumers worldwide. At the moment, they are covering over 130 countries in 35+ languages.
In the words of Antonio Torres, the President and Founder of Globalia Logistics Network, “Globalia’s media partnership with GlobeNewswire will increase the online visibility of the network. Additionally, it will drive brand awareness and generate media coverage by targeted news distribution to media and consumers worldwide.”
Click on this link to check out the website of GlobeNewswire.
Although the container shipping industry is gradually coming back to normal after two years of destabilization caused by the pandemic, the freight forwarding companies are still struggling with numerous hurdles. The port congestion, the sky-high fuel prices, the lockdowns in China and the war in Ukraine are just some of the factors that are still hindering normal operations. Nevertheless, on the brighter side, even though the sea freight shipping rates are still above the pre-pandemic times, there has been a substantial drop in the spot rates in 2022.
The challenges in the container shipping industry
As stated by Mrs. Rania Skouta, the operation Manager of Feroniki SA, Globalia member in Piraeus Greece, “I have to admit that in the past months we have faced many problems such as delays because of the situation in ports of Singapore, Gioia Tauro and Tekirdag where we ship cargoes frequently. Nevertheless, we have managed to overcome the crisis and continue serving our clients in the best possible way.”
Some of the ongoing problems in container shipping could result in a new supply chain crisis and rate fluctuations. For example, there is a high probability of backlogs of cargo piling up in the ports in China. In a situation like this, freight forwarders need to take extra precautions and keep all options open.
“The fall in the sea freight rates is welcome news for us. Nevertheless, there are still many challenges lying ahead of us. My teammates are working round the clock to keep tabs on the vessel’s availability and check if they meet the requirements of our clients. Additionally, we are checking the surcharges for each month and the percentages and BAF/CAF, etc, or if there is any PSS. Next, we are making sure that the vessel in question is available on the confirmed dates. Once all the work is done, we just secure the required equipment in time for the loading to meet the cut-off of the subject vessel with the confirmed rates. The rest is monitored by our team 24×7,” adds Mrs. Skouta.
Container shipping industry challenges as explained by Feroniki SA
She further points out, “Although the reduction of the rates is a great benefit for the shippers, we are still having to face problems relating to port congestion and equipment availability. The war in Ukraine and the lockdowns in China are further adding to the problems. For instance, many shipping lines have suspended services to/from Greece for several reasons. Moreover, finding equipment in the Far East is becoming a tricky affair primarily because of the local lockdowns.”
The drop in sea freight shipping rates
“Right now it is a good time for the ocean freight industry as rates are slightly decreasing. This will allow us to obtain more shipments and offer very competitive rates.” The steady decrease in sea freight shipping rates that started at the beginning of 2022 is still ongoing. The prices fell further in the lean season following the Chinese New Year. In the last two years, several factors hiked up the shipping cost. These factors included container and equipment shortage, port congestion, and insufficient workforce.
The average international spot rate decreased by almost 4 % at the start of April 2022. Shipping rates on the transpacific routes went down for the fifth week in a row. Freight rates to the US declined by around 6%-8%. Additionally, since April the overall sea freight rates have decreased by a whopping 12%.
Many industry experts are wondering if the decreasing rates is because of lower demand. Some are suggesting that it could indicate the revitalizing efforts of the industry and that there could be a sharp increase in capacity from the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2023.
Reasons behind the decreasing freight rates
The China factor
The decreasing volume of shipments following the peak during the Chinese New Year could be another important reason behind the price drop. Moreover, the lockdowns in Shanghai and other manufacturing centres in China are also a contributing factor. The normal functioning of the air freight industry could be another reason behind the declining prices.
The impact of the normal functioning of the air freight industry
During the pandemic a large number of passenger planes were grounded. As a result, forwarders couldn’t use the belly hold of the passenger flights for transporting shipments. This led to further pressure on the sea freight sector. The normal functioning of the air freight sector has freed up space for the ocean freight industry.
Changes in consumer demands
The two years of the pandemic witnessed a massive increase in consumer demands and e-commerce shopping trends. The spending pattern of the consumers has finally returned to the pre-pandemic level. The inflation and the rise in fuel prices around the world surely prompted consumers to cut down on spending. This obviously had significant consequences on space availability in the container shipping industry. More space availability definitely has helped to lower the freight rates.
“At the moment we are trying to make the best of the situation by further boosting our relationship with our partners, suppliers and customers. Years of steady cooperation is an important factor that has allowed us to continue providing our clients with dependable door-to-door transportation services. The flexibility and persistence of our team along with our longstanding connections, are some of the reasons why we are always able to support our customers with a range of solutions even in these uncertain times,” concludes Mrs. Skouta.
Globalia wishes Feroniki the very best for their upcoming projects!
After over two years, Globalia members from nearly 130 countries will assemble under one roof to reinforce their partnerships by meeting face-to-face under both formal and informal settings
Globalia Logistics Network’s 4th Annual Meeting will take place at Le Meridien Beach Resort in Phuket, Thailand from 15th to 17th March 2023. For the first time since the pandemic over 193 agents are gearing up to participate in an in-person meeting at the tropical beaches of Phuket. Just like Globalia’s previous face-to-face meetings, the conference will include a Welcome Cocktail Reception, a Gala Dinner party, and around 6000 one-to-one meetings between network members.
Globalia Logistics Network’s 4th Annual Meeting
Click on the above image to visit our Annual Meeting Page
Each member will get to take part in 32 one-to-one meetings with their network partners. Face-to-face communication will bring a sense of community to the network. Moreover, the conference will allow the agents to socialize and interact which in turn will make way for trust and a better working relationship. More importantly, the in-person conference will majorly facilitate securing new business opportunities while strengthening the ties among Globalia members.
Additionally, this year Globalia is organizing a half day sight-seeing tour to Phi Phi Island. This optional group tour will allow members to discover some remarkable spots in and around the island. Additionally, apart from letting the members explore the marvels of Thailand, it will also promote friendship between network members, and foster a sense of goodwill and camaraderie within the Globalia team.
Registration for the Annual Meeting is now open. Visit our Annual Meeting page for further details about the conference.
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