Many companies that resell computer software and IT equipment are facing an oversaturated local market. Up until recently, it has been incredibly difficult for these businesses to expand internationally because servicing clients overseas has meant paying heavy duties on goods, and contending with a complex and often frustrating importing process. Those who’ve tried have been disheartened, as foreign customs require a great deal of documentation to accompany each shipment; they also require this paperwork to be filled out accurately. Not only are resellers subject to heavy taxes, but they can procure greater costs – to themselves and their international clients – should their equipment be held at the border.
Technologies are treated with great caution at customs and with good reason; they can potentially pose a great threat to the civilian population if used with malicious intent. Naturally, these materials must be heavily scrutinized before awarded entry. However, this doesn’t ease the situation for resellers simply trying to foster global relationships, or for their clients who are unable to receive the parts they need to provide their services. What both parties require is a trustworthy middle man, one that has a point of presence in the receiving country, one that can vouch for the equipment and its intended use, and bonus if they can present the correct documentation to prove it.
This entity is known as an Importer of Record, used when there is no traditional customer or local tax-payer who can take responsibility for the assets being shipped. There is one global importer though that takes an even more hands-on approach. TecEx is a global distributions partner with a point of presence in over 120 countries, and has vast knowledge of these nations’ importing and exporting laws. They’re able to gather all the proper documentation for the reseller including commercial invoice and freight delivery waybill, among other permits and licences, enabling them to guarantee clearance in as little as 10 days, helping any IT reseller save money when importing goods from abroad and keeping their clients happy.
This alleviates stress and worry on the part of the reseller while providing the client overseas with an accurate estimated time of arrival for the package – enabling them to plan for their upcoming projects. Furthermore, the importer’s on-the-ground personnel liaise with the reseller’s preferred freight service or forwarder to ensure the package reaches clients promptly after clearance; alternatively, resellers can use the company’s own courier services if they wish. As for taxes, this Importer of Record can retrieve import taxes (such as value-added tax) back from 40 of the countries they regularly work with. No longer must resellers write these off as a necessary cost for doing business globally.
By partnering with this company, many of the pain points associated with complicated cross-border transactions are alleviated, allowing both client and reseller to smoothly carry on with business knowing clearance will always be taken care of. It also enables resellers to leave behind a local market no longer able to fulfill their business needs, and expand on their own terms without disturbance or delay.
Originally posted on November 22, 2017 @ 9:13 am