How the Internet Affects International Trade

Nelson CabreraGeneral1 Comment

The internet has opened many doors for many people, corporations, industries and even countries. The nature of the internet keeps us informed of what is going on around the world every day. It has made it possible for small companies to make a large audience aware of their products and services. It has allowed people to work from their homes instead of from costly offices. The internet has taken many companies from local distributors to global conglomerates. Let’s take a look at how the internet has played a major role in industrialization through the ocean shipping industry.

International trade was formerly not possible for a lot of countries. However, with the ability to communicate with investors and customers worldwide, many small countries have been able to expand their businesses and industries worldwide. The shipping world was already making great strides toward making international trade a reality for smaller and smaller businesses when the internet started making it possible for these businesses to actually utilize these services.

Business and industrialization has boomed over the last few decades. The internet has not only allowed small companies and isolated countries to do international business, but it has improved the ocean shipping industry to the point where we can safely and quickly do business overseas.

The process of shipping something by ocean freight is actually a very complicated system. It consists of a lot more than putting something on a boat and taking it to another country. Ports employ thousands of people and some even support the economy of entire countries. When something is shipped, it has to comply with the laws and guidelines of every country that it will be going through for every form of transport that will be used to get the goods to their final destinations. Every country has its own laws, customs specifications, and tariffs. Even a countries customs and traditions can have an impact on how your freight is shipped. This is where the internet makes a huge difference.

The ocean freight and ocean shipping industry uses intricate logistics systems to comply with all of the ground, waterway, rail and ocean shipping guidelines. They keep track of containers, cargo, loans, money collection, customs requirements, freight forwarding, insurance, and required forms that must accompany every shipment. Companies and individuals that import and export goods rely on the competency of the ocean shipping companies and their logistics systems to avoid delays and ensure that the process is a simple and profitable one.

The internet allows companies to easily communicate with their shipping provider. This one advancement has allowed industries and companies to avoid major delays and has made importing and exporting a streamlined and timely process. With electronic forms, tracking, and e-mail communication, multinational corporations can save precious time and money, ultimately passing the savings on to their clients and making business possible for many companies that would otherwise be confined to local operations.

Nelson Cabrera
Nelson leads global business development efforts within ShipLilly and has been featured as a logistics expert in numerous publications, including SupplyChainBrain, The Bulletin Panama, Logistics Management, and the Miami Herald.

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