eShipGlobal

Category: Company

  • International Office Consulting, sunapsis and UEMS

    International Office Consulting, sunapsis and UEMS

    International higher education in the US has changed dramatically over the last few decades. In 1998/99 there were only 490,933 international students studying in the US. By 2008/09 there were 671,616. As of 2017/18, there were 1,078,822 international students studying in the US. That is more than double what it was two decades ago.

     

    This sudden growth in international students, along with how complex immigration regulations have gotten, means more work for the small international student and scholar staff at universities. The manual method used in previous years was now too time-consuming for the staff to handle efficiently. Which is why many universities are looking for software, like sunapsis, to help manage their universities international student population.

     

    sunapsis is a case management software that connects to the SEVIS database to help manage international students. However, implementing sunapsis into a university system can be very difficult, especially if you do understand many of the steps necessary.

     

    This is where International Office Consulting comes into play. Jodi Barnhill, the CEO, started International Office Consulting last year (2017). It is comprised of a team of “veteran international case management software experts who have been in higher education for, combined, over 25 years…” They have expertise “working with international cases management software. Homeland Security Sevis systems, student information systems, and HR systems on campuses.”

     

    International Office Consulting “helps international students and scholars offices leverage the power of technology and join the 21st century.” They help universities, ones without any software and those with older case management software, implement sunapsis into their campuses systems.

     

    Jodi is also a strong supporter of eShipGlobal and our UEMS system. UEMS helps international student advisors in several ways: by enabling students to pay for shipping labels, helping to ensure accurate shipping addresses, bulk label printing and more. UEMS can also be integrated with synapsis, allowing advisors to see which students’ shipping documentation is ready. If a university uses UEMS or if they are interested in integrating UEMS with synapsis, Jodi and her company would be able to help.

     

    International Office Consulting has helped several universities, such as Rutgers and University of Texas at Dallas. Their clients often call their help a “blessing” and that they feel “safe and comfortable” knowing that International Office Consulting will be there for them.

     

    With more and more international students coming to the US to study, universities are having to adopt new techniques and technology to handle the influx. This trend does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon either. So, the question many universities now face is how efficient is their international student and scholars office and department running and how can they improve it.

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • The Start of the New Year

    The Start of the New Year

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    Happy New Year! It is a start of a new year, which brings about great new changes and opportunities. We are happy to be entering this new year with a successful 2017 behind us and are excited to see where we will be at the end of this year.

     

    There are a lot of great things planned for eShipGlobal throughout this year. We are going to be putting a lot of effort in to the higher education market and learn more about how we can better help universities improve their shipping process. We also will be focusing on increasing the awareness of our shipping solutions, eShipEnterprise and UEMS (University Express Mail Service) within higher education by making more universities aware of the benefits these solutions can provide.

     

    Last year we launched our newest service to international students: OPT application shipping. Through UEMS, international students can ship their OPT applications (I-765 form) to the USCIS office at discounted shipping rates. We are working to increase awareness about this solution to international students and to university international student advisors. The US saw huge growth in OPT during the 2016/2017 year and we want to encourage this growth by providing services that help the process.

     

    One thing that will never change at eShipGlobal is our commitment to our users. We are constantly working to improve your experience by listening to your feedback and providing excellent customer support. We hope this year we will further strengthen our relationship with our users, both old and new, by providing solutions, content and connections that matter.

     

    We hope everyone will have a great new year and we look forward to working with you to create opportunities for growth.  

     

    “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” –  Benjamin Franklin

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

    Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

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    The year is quickly coming to a close. University staff and students will be celebrating the end of the semester and the holiday season. The holiday season is a time to relax and spend time with the people we care about. It is also a time to reflect and look back at all the great things that happened and accomplishments we had over the year.

     

    “Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” – Winston Churchill

     

    We have had another great year at eShipGlobal working with our users to bring in new international students. While the increase in international student enrollment was not as high as last years, we still brought in more international students than the year before. We hope that in this upcoming year we can work together to bring in more international students and expand the global community.

     

    One of the greatest accomplishments this year is the increase in the number of international students applying for OPT. To help support this growing number, we improved our UEMS solution to better support OPT shipments. Our products evolved and grew this year thanks to your great suggestions.

     

    As we usher in the new year, we hope to provide more service and support for all our clients. Our goal at eShipGlobal is to simplify the shipping process. So, whether you are a single international student services department, an entire university or a business, we want to be able to help you simplify your shipping process. We look forward to working with both new and old users and can not wait to see what this new year has in store or us.

     

    We are very grateful for all your loyalty and support. We hope you have a great holiday season, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

     

    “Cheers to a new year and another change for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Helping to Lower Shipping Costs

    Helping to Lower Shipping Costs

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    Shipping is typically not a fun thing to do. We all greatly enjoy receiving packages, but not necessarily the mailing of them. However, shipping is still important, even in our digital dominated society. There are many things that cannot be digitally transmitted and must be shipped, such as OPT applications and I-20 documents.

     

    Shipping, especially expedited, can often be a bit more costly than ground mailing. However, the speed and security it offers is significantly better. Unfortunately, the cost for shipping in general will be increasing in 2018 as shipping carriers, like UPS, FedEx and DHL, will be increasing their shipping rates.

     

    At eShipGlobal, we believe in making shipping easier by simplifying the process and mitigating the amount of money spent on shipping. We don’t believe shipping should be difficult, which is why we offer shipping solutions that help lower shipping spend across various industries, such as business and higher education.

     

    We also strive to help both incoming international students and international students currently studying in the US by offering discounted shipping rates, carrier rate shopping, and will soon be offering a-la-cart shipping fees. This allows us to lower shipping rates for international students looking to ship important, time-sensitive documents like Optional Practical Training (OPT) Applications, also called the I-765 form.

     

    Shipping is one way that connects people together. It empowers global and cultural exchange to build a global community. Which is why we strive to make it easier for individuals, businesses and other entities to ship their important documents and packages.

     

    Businesses and universities, if you are looking for a way to lower your shipping spend in 2018, we have several solutions that can benefit you. International students can save money on shipping through our UEMS (University Express Mail Service) or eShipNOW solutions.

     

    Let us help you save money on you shipping.

     

    “Because we are a globally connected village, we need to remember that our choices are not isolated. They have a powerful ripple effect, and that ripple is global.” –  Linda Fisher Thornton

     

     

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

     

  • How Small Colleges Can Benefit From UEMS

    How Small Colleges Can Benefit From UEMS

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    International students are a big source of income for many US universities, large and small. This is why universities across the US are actively trying to recruit international students. The process to bring in international students can be long and costly, especially for smaller universities and colleges. They often are understaffed and have a smaller operating budget than larger universities.

     

    One area that universities have challenges with is shipping the I-20 documents to the incoming international students. Usually it means gathering shipping information, filling out a shipping label, and printing the label for each incoming student. Also, the university must either pay the shipping cost, which smaller colleges may not have the budget for, or collect payment information from the students. For understaffed universities, this is very time consuming.

     

    Luckily there is a solution that simplifies the process, saving the universities and the students time and money. UEMS, University Express Mail Service, has been used by large universities throughout the US (Yale, Carnegie, Columbia, and more). However, it is extremely beneficial to smaller universities as well.

     

    UEMS is completely free to use. There is no monthly cost and no subscription fee for either the university or the student. It is an online solution that allows students to pay for the shipping label to ship the I-20 document. Students input their own information, which improves accuracy. All the university staff needs to do is print the labels, which can be done in bulk, and mail them off.

     

    In addition, students save with discounted shipping rates. They can also choose which carrier available to them that they want to ship through and how fast they want the shipment.

     

    So whether you are a large university or a small community college, UEMS can help you ship important documents to students all over the world. It will help improve efficiency giving you more time to focus on other important matters.  

     

    If you are interested in signing up for UEMS, you can register your university or department at https://study.eshipglobal.com/uregister/. You can also learn more about UEMS and all the benefits it can provide to both universities and students on the UEMS website.

     

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • A Thank You from All of Us at eShipGlobal

    A Thank You from All of Us at eShipGlobal

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    It is that time of the year again! The time when students return home and busy university staff get to enjoy the Thanksgiving break. It is a time to relax and reflect on all of the things we are thankful for. However, just feeling thankful is not enough. The holiday is not only about feeling thankful, but also about giving thanks. That’s why it is called Thanksgiving.

     

    “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward

     

    We have had another great year here at eShipGlobal and when we look back at all that has helped us achieve the success we have had, we find ourselves most grateful to our many users.

     

    eShipGlobal has been working with universities since 1999 and many of our users come to us through word-of-mouth. Our UEMS (University Express Mail Solution) service, which launched 10 years ago, is now being used by approximately 898 universities and colleges and together we have helped 749,724 international students and scholars enter the US to study.

     

    All of this would not be possible without your support, usage, suggestions and wonderful testimonials. Every year through various channels like email, phone conversations or when you all stop to see us at our booths during conferences throughout the year, we get to hear your kind support and encouragement through testimonials or just simple thank yous. It is now our turn to thank you for being a part of the eShipGlobal family.

     

    “No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” – Alfred North Whitehead

     

    Whether you have been using us for many years or you are a new client, we are very grateful for all your loyalty and support. So, from all of us to you, we want to thank you and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!



  • Simplifying the Shipping Process

    Simplifying the Shipping Process

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    Shipping should never be difficult, which is why we aim to provide businesses, universities and individuals with shipping solutions that simplify the shipping process. Below are some of the great blog articles we have posted showcasing our most popular solutions/services.

     

    UEMS –

    I-20s and University Shipping

    University Shipping

    Universities all over the US are faced with the task and challenge of shipping important documents like the I-20 to international students all across the world. These challenges can be time consuming and costly. (Read More…)

     

    Studying in the US, I-20s and UEMS

    Personal Shipping Solution

    Coming into the US to study is a long process with many steps and forms. One of those forms required to even start the process is the I-20 form. Without a system, this can be a time consuming and costly process for universities. (Read More…)

     

     

    Enterprise –

    Improving Business Shipping Efficiency

    Manage Your Business Shipping

    Efficiency is crucial to businesses, this includes shipping efficiency. Manage your business shipping and improve efficiency with eShipEnterprise. (Read More…)

     

     

    Export Control –

    Importance of Export Control

    With every thing becoming more and more global, it is gradually becoming more difficult for businesses, organizations or institutions to operate solely within one country. However, doing business internationally often has its own set of challenges, one of them being shipping. (Read More…)

     

     

    Inbound –

    Managing Inbound Shipping

    Manage Inbound Shipping

    Do you have a way to Manage Inbound Shipping to your business? With proper control you can improve inbound shipping to your business and increase efficiency. (Read More…)

     

     

    Supply Chain Analysis –

    Analyze Your Shipping Spend

    Analyze Shipping Spend

    One way to improve shipping efficiency is to analyze shipping spend. Supply Chain Analysis uses your shipping data to provide valuable insights. (Read More…)

     

     

    eShipLab –

    Managing Hazardous Material Shipping

    Shipping Hazardous Materials

    It can be difficult for businesses and universities to maintain compliance when Shipping Hazardous Materials, but with eShipLab they can do it easily. (Read More…)

     

    If you are interested in any of our solutions, check out the product pages and fill our the contact form. Let us help you simplify your shipping process.

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

     

  • I-20s and University Shipping

    I-20s and University Shipping

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    Universities all over the US are faced with the task and challenge of shipping important documents like the I-20 to international students all across the world. The I-20 form cannot be scanned or photocopied, which means universities must mail the form to the student. Here lies some challenges:

     

    Cost
    Universities normally use express mail or expedited mail when sending these forms. This can be expensive when sending documents internationally. Not all schools want to pay for the shipping and, therefore, require students to. To do that the school has to bill the student for the shipping cost by gathering credit card information or use another mean of getting the payment information.

     

    Accuracy
    In addition to having to collect the payment, universities have to gather the shipping information from the student. This can often result in errors in the shipping address.

     

    Time
    This is self-evident given the first two challenges. For the shipment of just one I-20, university staff needs to collect and write down payment and shipping information. They also must print out shipping labels, often one at a time. The entire process can be very time consuming.

     

    UEMS, University Express Mail Service, by eShipGlobal helps simplify this process. It is an online solution that allows students to pay for shipping labels on requested documents. University staff can print labels in batch all through the UEMS system. Better yet, It does not cost the school or the student to sign-up/register for UEMS and students can save money with eShipGlobal’s discounted shipping rates. They can also choose which carrier available to them that they want to ship through and how fast they want the shipment.

     

    For larger universities or universities with multiple departments, eShipGlobal has another solution which includes UEMS. Their Enterprise solution can provide more visibility and management of the shipping process across multiple departments or systems. It is a customizable solution that allows universities to manage their outbound shipping, connect and manage their own carrier accounts, and it consolidates invoicing.

     

    The web-based solution integrates with financial, ERP or 3rd party legacy systems and allows universities to look at past orders and receive reports on shipping analytics. Anyone or any department connected to the system will be able to compare the carrier rates based on the universities carrier discounts, saving them more money.

     

    Universities can also add-on to the Enterprise solution with packages like:

    • The Export Control Package, which helps universities ship internationally in compliance with government regulations: ITAR, EAR, etc.
    • The Inbound Package, which provides universities with more control over inbound shipping.
    • Supply Chain Analysis Service, which is a more in-depth analysis of universities shipping data to provide meaningful insights into their shipping habits and spending.

     

    Shipping should not be difficult, which is why eShipGlobal aims to simplify the process while saving their users money and time.

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • eShipGlobal’s eShipLab Solution in Yale

    eShipGlobal’s eShipLab Solution in Yale

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    Many years ago, Yale University came to us with a challenge they were facing. The university was shipping about 40,000 packages around the world and about 4,000 of it contained regulated research materials (Hazmat). They had about 500 shippers processing packages daily and had little to no insight on what was being shipped from the university on a daily basis. The university needed a system to provide transparency on what was being shipped, by who and was it following hazmat regulations (if necessary).

     

    The Challenge

    Hazmat Shipping

    When shipping research or other hazardous materials, it is important to follow federal hazmat regulations because failing to do so can result in significant fines and civil penalties. They needed a solution that ensured compliance with systems like FAA, IATA, and the DOT. They also needed to ensure that the shippers were authorized and properly trained prior to shipping out hazmat shipments.

     

    Unified System

    In addition to needing something for compliance, the university needed a solution that allowed them to see who was shipping and what they were shipping. The solution needed to be able to integrate with their business systems and allow them to track shipping expenditures. They also needed one solution to manage their various shipping carrier accounts, like FedEx, UPS and DHL.

     

    The Solution

    Our eShipLab solution allowed Yale to manage the entire universities shipping and their multiple carrier accounts. This allowed the shippers at the university to ship using Yale’s carrier accounts for discounted shipping rates and compare carrier costs, saving the university and departments money. Administrators can review the various shipments by material through the dashboard. The system was integrated with their 3rd party legacy systems and since eShipLab is an online system they can access it anytime from anywhere.

     

    One top of improving shipping transparency and management, eShipLab improved hazmat compliance shipping by ensureing that packages meet all compliance requirements from governing entities (FAA, IATA, DOT, etc.). It also helps to ensure that regulated materials were packaged, classified marked and labeled properly by trained, certified shippers. Lastly, restricted party screening (RPS) ensures that it is compliance with export regulations.

     

    eShipLab helped Yale reduce shipping risk, manage the universities shipments, and simplified and automated their shipping process.

     

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Needed Documents for OPT Application

    Needed Documents for OPT Application

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    As graduation time approaches for international students, many start to think about gaining experience in the US through Optional Practical Training (OPT). Students can start applying for OPT 90 days prior to graduation and are encouraged to do so because it can take a while.

     

    Besides the long wait it takes for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process and approve the request, time is spent gathering all the paperwork and filling out the forms required. It can feel like you are shipping your life to the USCIS office, because you almost are.

     

    All the documents needed to apply for OPT are VERY important documents. Below are just a few of the documents international students need to send to the USCIS office.

     

    1. The G-1145 Form in order to receive a text notification when the USCIS accepts your form.
    2. Completed Form I-765 signed in blue ink. This is the main form that is necessary to get your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
    3. Required $410 fee – which can be paid for using a personal check.
    4. Photocopies of all pages of all I-20s. This means photocopies of your OPT-endorsed I-20 and all other I-20s starting from the one marked “initial attendance”.
    5. Photocopy of your unexpired passport ID page, which must be valid 6 months into the future.
    6. Photocopy of your most recent F-1 entry visa
    7. Most recent I-94 arrival record
    8. Two U.S. passport style photos no more than 30 days old when the application is filed.

     

    These some of the important documents that you will be sending and there may be more. This is your US identity. With all this private information, money and the limited time international students have to get OPT approval from the USCIS office it makes sense to invest a little more into securely shipping and expediting the shipment.

     

    UEMS, eShipGlobal’s University Express Mail Service, is designed to help international students ship these important documents securely, quickly and at discounted rates. UEMS has been used and trusted by hundreds of thousands of international students in order to receive their important I-20 documents from the university.

     

    It does not cost a thing to sign-up for UEMS or to get access to the discounted shipping rates and using UEMS is easy. The addresses for the USCIS offices and lockboxes are already preloaded into the system, so all students need to do is select the proper address.

    Students can compare carrier rates from trusted carriers, like UPS, FedEx and USPS. They will also be able to compare the different service options offered by those carriers, like next day or overnight shipping.

     

    The package, or envelope, that is being sent to the USCIS office contains the personal identification of the international student, their history in the US, and could even contain their bank information via the check. Wouldn’t you want to ship that information securely and quickly?

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Analyzing Your Shipping Spend

    Analyzing Your Shipping Spend

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    Businesses operate with numbers in mind: KPIs, ROIs, profit margins, expenses, etc. It is important for businesses to keep close eyes on what they are spending and how much. It is also important for growing business to limit how much they spend in some areas in favor of investing the money in areas that would help them grow. One of the areas that can often be overlooked is how much money businesses are spending on shipping.

     

    When analyzing shipment volume, UPS and FedEx usually divide it up between business-to-business and business-to-consumer. Notice that business is in both categories. Businesses often ship products, supplies or important documents to customers, partners or other businesses.

     

    One way to cut shipping costs is to improve efficiency and compare carrier rates and services. eShipGlobal’s flagship solution, eShipEnterprise, is a customizable solution that allows business to manage their outbound shipping and consolidates invoicing. However, what can really help lower shipping costs and provide more insight into shipping spend is the Supply Chain Analysis add-on service.

     

    The add-on service adds on to eShipEnterprise, and eShipLab, solution to help businesses analyze the shipping data collected within enterprise. It aims to provide meaningful insights that can help businesses manage how they ship in the most efficient way.

     

    The Supply Chain Analysis service looks at many different variables like, human error, carrier performance, billing errors, cost per shipment and more to determine how to improve shipping efficiency. Shipping reports are usually done on a quarterly basis and provide an in-depth analysis of the routing and shipping data, the efficiency of shipping and suggestions for potential improvements.

     

    Supply Chain Analysis is just one of the multiple add-on that can be customized into the enterprise solution. Others include:

     

    • The Export Control Package, which helps businesses ship internationally in compliance with government regulations: ITAR, EAR, etc.
    • The Inbound Package, which provides businesses with more control over supplier inbound shipping.

     

    The less money you spend on shipping, the more money you can invest into growing your business. Do you know how much you are spending on shipping and are you shipping efficiently?

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Managing Inbound Shipping

    Managing Inbound Shipping

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    Operating with efficiency is important to businesses. This includes shipping efficiency since businesses are the biggest shipper.  In fact, business-to-business shipping makes up nearly half of all shipments UPS and FedEx ship. One of the most difficult aspects to managing shipping to improve shipping efficiency and spending is managing inbound shipments, shipments that come into the business. This is especially true for businesses who utilize suppliers. There are several challenges that businesses face when it comes to inbound shipping.

     

    When suppliers ship to businesses, the businesses often do not have much control over how a supplier ships or if they are shipping in compliance. Suppliers are not obligated to use business shipping carrier accounts. Many businesses have their own accounts with FedEx, UPS, DHL or other shipping carriers that provides them discounted shipping rates. If businesses do provide their carrier account numbers, they have an increased risk of fraudulent use of the carrier account numbers. This means they may see shipping charges that are not theirs and have to dispute those charges with the shipping carrier.

     

    So how can businesses make their shipping more efficient and control inbound shipping? eShipGlobal has a business shipping solution, eShipEnterprise, that helps business control and manage their outbound shipping. It is a web-based solution that integrates with financial, ERP or 3rd party legacy systems and allows businesses to look at past orders and receive reports on shipping analytics. They will also be able to compare carrier rates, saving them more money.

     

    eShipEnterprise is a customizable solution that has several great add-on packages, including an Inbound Add-on Package. The Inbound Add-on lets businesses limit suppliers ability to ship based on restrictions they put in place. The solution also has compliance procedures to enable shipping compliance. Since the solution deals with the carrier account numbers and not the suppliers, the risk for fraudulent use of the accounts are significantly lowered.

     

    The Inbound module allows for real time collaboration between suppliers, buyers and carriers. It also collects supplier shipping data, which in combination with the Supply Chain Analysis Add-on Service, will provide insights on how much you are spending in shipping costs, what shipping carriers are being used the most, carrier performance and provides useful insights that could help lower shipping costs.

     

    It is important for businesses to operate efficiently and to save money where they can. Using the eShipEnterprise solution with the Inbound Add-on Package will help businesses manage and control both outbound and inbound shipping which can help them save time and money. Managing and growing a business is hard enough, which is why services that help improve efficiency are practically required.

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Managing Hazardous Material Shipping

    Managing Hazardous Material Shipping

     

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    It is important for businesses to run efficiently and compliantly, especially when dealing with restricted or hazardous material. Universities are the same. Universities all over the country are shipping important research material and one university could have several principal investigators shipping hazardous materials. It is important for universities to have a system that guarantees the researchers are shipping compliantly because failing to comply can result in heavy fines and civil penalties.

     

    Yale, classified a R1 university (highest research activity) by the Carnegie Classification of Institution of Higher Education, had to deal with the challenge of monitoring and managing their university shipping. They ship about 40,000 packages a year throughout the world. About 4,000 of those packages contain regulated research materials. They had little to no insight on what was being shipped from their university on a daily basis. They had a problem.

     

    The university wanted a way to improve compliance for shipping hazardous materials and having the assurance that the authorized shippers are properly trained. They also needed a solution that integrated with their university systems so they could track shipping expenditures. They wanted a green web-based system that would allow them to manage all their carriers, track shipments and other shipping reports. This is where eShipGlobal’s eShipLab solution was able to help.

     

    By using eShipLab, Yale was able to improve regulatory compliance with governing entities like the FAA, IATA, DOT, etc. The restricted party screening evaluations also ensured that the packages were compliant with export regulations. The system also helped to ensure that regulated materials were properly packaged, classified, marked and labeled by certified shippers.

     

    eShipLab is a centralized web-based solution. University administrators can review shipments by material with the “in-a-glance” dashboard reporting. Because it is a web-base solution it reduces paperwork through electronic documentation. Yale was also able to save money by having the ability to ship using most carriers and see a route cost comparison during the shipping process.

     

    Other great features eShipLab has is a configurable approval workflow, training verification, the ability to forward shipment information to airlines and shipping carriers, auditing/cost reconciliation and more. It is a customizable solution, allowing you to add-on great packages like: Export Control Compliance, Inbound Shipping and Supply Chain Analysis.

     

    Yale was able to reduce their shipping risk by using eShipLab. They now have an easier way to manage the thousands of shipments the university makes every year. It is simple and automated.

     

    Are you in the need for a hazardous material compliance solution? Do not take the risk. Civil penalties for violating compliance laws can range from in the thousands to in the hundreds of thousands. Why take the risk when there is a simple solution that can help? Stay safe and compliant with eShipLab.

     

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Improving Business Shipping Efficiency

    Improving Business Shipping Efficiency

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    A good business is built on organization, productivity and efficiency. The bigger the company grows the more important efficiency and management become. That is why there are so many systems, software and tools out there to help them manage their business. Businesses utilize tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Quickbooks, Hootsuite, and many others to manage areas of business like marketing, sales, customer service, accounting, etc. With efficiency and management being so important, why does certain areas often get overlooked? For instance, shipping.

     

    Businesses, are often shipping products, supplies or important documents to customers, partners or other businesses. In fact, business-to-business shipping makes up nearly half of all shipments UPS and FedEx ship. UPS and FedEx shipment volume is usually divided up between business-to-business and business-to-consumer. Note that business is the common factor.

     

    When businesses ship a lot, they often have their own carrier account and are invoiced at the end of the month by the carriers they use. Managing one carrier might not be that difficult without a system, but there are several different carriers. DHL, FedEx and UPS are three big shipping carriers that ship both domestically and internationally. Managing all three carrier accounts and invoices is often troublesome. Not to mention that businesses may have multiple departments that ship documents or packages and keeping track of what department ships what is difficult.

     

    However, there is a system that helps manage business shipping, solving many of these challenges to improve business efficiency. eShipGlobal’s Enterprise solution is a customizable solution that allows business to manage their outbound shipping and consolidates invoicing.

     

    The web-based solution integrates with financial, ERP or 3rd party legacy systems and allows businesses to look at past orders and receive reports on shipping analytics. They will also be able to compare carrier rates, saving them more money.

     

    Another great aspect about this solution is the packages that be added on to the service. These packages are:

    • The Export Control Package, which helps businesses ship internationally in compliance with government regulations: ITAR, EAR, etc.
    • The Inbound Package, which provides businesses with more control over supplier inbound shipping.
    • Supply Chain Analysis Service, which is a more in-depth analysis of businesses shipping data to provide meaningful insights into their shipping habits and spending.

    It is important for businesses to be efficient because efficiency saves them time and money. One way businesses can improve efficiency is to utilize solutions, like eShip Enterprise, to manage certain aspects of their business. Is you business operating efficiently?

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Social Community for International Students (and College Students)

    Social Community for International Students (and College Students)

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    Studying in the US

    It can be a scary and exciting adventure when you decide to leave your home country to live and study in the US. This transition is often filled with uncertainty and questions; questions like: how can I easily acclimate to the US, where will I live and will I experience culture shock. Even after moving to the US, you will probably still have questions.

     

    Knowledge is key

    There is a saying: knowledge is key. The same saying is true with studying abroad. The more you know and the more you expect, the easier your transition will be. Having resources to help guide you through the process, tips on how to live in the US and a directory of companies that help international students studying in the US, will help answer questions and ease the uncertainty.

     

    Resources Available

    Providing resources and connections for international students is the primary goal for UEMSConnect, an online community. UEMSConnect is an eShipGlobal initiative to help international students, advisors and other university staff or students connect. It serves as a library of knowledge. International students have access to resources like, blogs, infographics, videos and services aimed to help them live and learn in the US.

     

    The Online Community

    As mentioned before, UEMSConnect is an online community. It is a social platform designed to connect international students, international student advisors, and college students. One of the best ways to deal with the uncertainty is to be connected to advisors and students from the university you are looking at attending.

     

    Making Connections

    Through the community international students will be able to talk to other international students, advisors, or US college students via online chat, group boards and private messaging. This is a great way to learn about the school from the people actually attending. International students coming into or already studying in the the US can (and are encouraged to) share tips, advice events and stories. What better way to learn about the challenges you may face when living and studying in the US then from student who made the same journey.

     

    Connect Offline Too

    The connections made on UEMSConnect transcend the digital world. Once you enter the US you can connect with the students, clubs, organizations and advisors you talked to in the community groups. These organizations, clubs and advisors hopefully where using their ability to list events on the calendar, so you may even know about what events will be taking place during your first few weeks on campus.

     

    Join Today!

    Whether you are a incoming international student, a current international student, an advisor or a college student, UEMSConnect is a community designed to help you succeed when studying in US Universities. Sign-up is quick and easy. We hope to see you there!

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • Social Community for International Student Advisors, International Students and College Students

    Social Community for International Student Advisors, International Students and College Students

    When international students decide to live and study in the US, they often have questions. These questions can range from topics like acclimating to the US or how to apply for OPT. Coming to live in a foreign country is often filled with anxiety and uncertainty. After all, they are leaving their family, life and country behind to live in a different culture.

     

    International student advisors are often the ones having to face these questions and guide international students on their journey. It is an important job and often a busy one. They plan orientation, on-campus events, workshops, advising and sometimes even recruiting of international students. In fact, they have a long list of jobs that they are responsible for and unfortunately, many international student services (ISS) departments are understaffed.

     

    That is why it is important for ISS professionals to have resources for not only them, but for international students as well. UEMSConnect, an eShipGlobal initiative, is an online community where international students, advisors and other university staff or students can connect. Advisors will be able to communicate with other advisors around the country to learn and share tips about being an ISS professional. What better way to learn than from seasoned international student advisors.

     

    Not only can they talk to each other via online chat, group boards and private messaging, they will also have access to resources that can help them in their career. Content such as videos, blogs and infographics are available about a variety of topics, including: international student recruitment, international student statistics/studies and services that could help ISS professionals in their field. These resources are designed to help alleviate their jobs or at least shed insight into current trends.

     

    Advisors also have access to the calendar to post events they think would be relevant to potential or incoming international students. These events don’t just have to be on-campus either, you can set up an event for an outside webinar or schedule a group chat.

     

    There are also resources for international students: blogs, infographics, videos and services. These resources are designed to help international students live and learn in the US. They cover topics such as acclimating to the US to a guide on applying for OPT. Not to mention it is also a great way for them to connect with advisors, students and organizations from the university they want to attend.

     

    The more tools and resources advisors have at their disposal, the easier their jobs will be. If you are interested in being a contributing advisor to UEMSConnect we would be happy to hear from you! Check out our new community and see how it can benefit you.

     

    By Ashleigh Cue

  • India’s Growing e-Commerce Market

    India’s Growing e-Commerce Market

    The Growth of eCommerce

    eCommerce is a growing and highly competitive market. In fact, over 51% of the American population shop online and 40% of internet users worldwide have purchased items online. The eCommerce market is expanding about 23% every year.

     

    eCommerce in India

    Many countries are working to improve and grow their eCommerce market. In fact, it was predicted that India’s eCommerce could grow from $16 billion to $102 billion in five years, hitting that number by 2020. The Prime Minister of India has even proposed a major revamp of the India Post to help expand the reach of eCommerce businesses into more rural areas.

     

    Indian Marketplaces

    As mentioned before, eCommerce is a highly competitive market and that goes for the marketplaces as well. There is a major battle to see who will be the major marketplace for India. Currently, there are three big marketplaces in India: Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal. However, the big battle is between Amazon and Flipkart.

     

    Flipkart

    Flipkart is India’s current number one marketplace and they are trying to keep it that way. Flipkart is rapidly growing their business and is working on business deals to buy eBay India. There is also talks that Snapdeal may merge with Flipkart, which could provide a bigger edge.

     

    Selling in an Indian Marketplace

    Unfortunately, it is not easy to sell on an Indian marketplace. Your business will need to be registered with India, you will need an Indian bank account, a value added tax (VAT) identification number and a permanent account number (PAN). Flipkart also requires that businesses have 10 unique products they want to sell on their marketplace in order to sign-up as a seller.

     

    Beyond Borders

    Luckily, for those wanting to sell in an Indian marketplace, there is an alternative or back door in. eShipGlobal’s Beyond Borders eCommerce solution works around the paperwork by integrating directly with Witch Wand, a branch company of Flipkart. Witch Wand is an eCommerce management tool and integrates directly with Flipkart. This integration allows US eCommerce businesses a way to sell their products on India’s biggest eCommerce marketplace. It will also help them to save money on shipping with discounted shipping rates.

     

    Open Up Possibilities

    With the highly competitive eCommerce market, it is important to stand out and get your products in the faces of many people. Selling your products on international or on other countries marketplaces is one way to help you expand your business.

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Growing Business in the eCommerce Marketplace

    Growing Business in the eCommerce Marketplace

    eCommerce – the expanding frontier

    Over 51% of the American population shop online and 40% of internet users worldwide have purchased items online. With so many people turning to online stores, the eCommerce market is rapidly expanding: about 23% every year. Which is not surprising considering the fact that 54% of millennials have a desire to start or already have started their own business.

     

    Marketplaces

    Several marketplace sites are popping up that make it easier to sell merchandise online, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, Magneto, YoKart and Big Cartel. You also have other sites like Etsy which boasts over 25 million shoppers, 35 million products and nearly $2.4 billion in annual gross merchandise sales.

     

    Challenges to eCommerce:

    There are several challenges for eCommerce businesses, competition, and conversion, just to name a few. While competition is a part of every business and requires creative thinking in order to stand out, conversion can be improved by making certain business decisions. The three biggest factors that will affect whether or not someone buys from your online store are prices, shipping cost, and discounts. In other words, online shoppers want to get the biggest bang for their buck.

     

    Making money in eCommerce:

    The biggest cost savings in eCommerce is the lack of a brick and mortar location. That is what allows many eCommerce businesses to sell merchandise at lower costs. The more money eCommerce business saves, the lower they can price their products while still turning a profit. It will also allow them to offer more discounts to incentivize shoppers.

     

    Shipping Costs:

    Shipping is a big cost and the second largest deterring factor for shoppers. 80% of online shoppers will not purchase if the shipping takes too long or the cost of shipping is too high. Luckily, for eCommerce businesses, there are shipping solutions that offer significant discounts on expedited shipping.

     

    eShipGlobal’s eCommerce Product

    Our eCommerce product allows eCommerce businesses to ship their merchandise all over the world at discounted rates. It also gives businesses the ability to rate shop different carriers and compare the different shipping methods: overnight, 2-day, etc. This will help online businesses save money on shipping expedited, which can help them attract more customers.

     

    Start Today!

    It is now easier than ever to start your own online business. There are many tools and services that will help maximize your eCommerce business while saving you time and money. eShipGlobal is happy to be one of the services that help entrepreneurs and businesses to grow and expand. Our services are designed with you in mind.

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Let Your Loved One Know How Much You Care

    Let Your Loved One Know How Much You Care

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    Valentine’s day is a day for letting your loved ones know how much you care. It doesn’t matter how far away, the tokens of affection that are sent carry a great meaning: you are important to me. It is no wonder why this is the second largest card-sending holiday, followed only by Christmas. So how can you let the person you love know how much you love them?

     

    The typical thing most people send is a card. However, if you really want them to know you care, send them a little something extra. Chocolates are a great Valentine’s day go-to gift. Stores all over will be carrying chocolates in beautifully wrapped heart-shaped packages. However, nothing says “I love you” more than homemade chocolates. There are several great recipes you can find on the internet and many are not that complicated.  

     

    Flowers are another great gift idea. Roses are the staple flower for the holiday, but there are many great flowers that have the meaning of love. Carnations, for example, depending on the color, can mean “my heart aches for you” and “wish I could be with you.” Orchids and tulips also can represent love.

     

    If you want to go even bigger, gifts are another great choice to send. Personal gifts, gifts you chose, can show the receiver how much you know them. A well-chosen gift can bring smile and tears to their eyes. Handmade gifts can allow you to add touches of your personality and or the receiver’s personality. Personal or handmade gifts can also symbolize or represent of a memory you share. This personal touch will only make the gift that much more special and meaningful.

     

    Unfortunately, for many of us we have loved ones that are fairly far away; perhaps it is a mom out-of-state, a child off at college, or a husband currently somewhere else. Just because they are far away does not mean we can not send them our love. There are many ways to ship items and/or letters to them.

     

    If you are wanting to send them a small package, eShipNOW is a personal shipping tool that can help you save money on your shipment. You can compare carrier rates and ship at discounted prices. The best part is that the tool is completely free, no downloading required. The only thing you pay for is the shipping.

     

    Imagine the smile on their face when they receive the Valentine’s day gift you sent containing the tokens of affection you thought would express your love. Nothing can beat that loving feeling.

     

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Time is critical when applying for optional practical training

    Time is critical when applying for optional practical training

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    Studying in the US is a wonderful thing. The country boasts some of the top universities in the world, which has attracted many students. In 2016, over one million international students were studying in the US, which is 40% higher than it was a decade prior.

     

    These students come from all over the world, with the highest concentration of them coming from India and China. These students are entering various majors, ranging from STEM majors to business majors. For the next four or so years, the United States of America will be their new home.

     

    After graduating, however, international students only have 60 days before they must return back to their home country. The only way they can stay is if they obtain a skilled worker visa from a sponsor or they can apply to Optional Practical Training (OPT), a 12-month working period granted to F-1 students who have been studying in the US for nine or more months.

     

    OPT provides great experiences and sometimes it can be a gateway to obtaining an H1B working visa and eventually a green card, though the chances are slim. Students can complete OPT either before graduation or after, but they only have a total of 12 authorized months that they can complete. Students can apply for OPT up to 90 days prior to graduating for a post-graduation OPT.

     

    Those in STEM fields have are in an approved OPT program based on their designated STEM degree can apply for a STEM extension. This will provide an additional 17 month OPT period. It is recommended that you apply for the STEM extension 90 days before your OPT program ends.

     

    So, how do you apply for OPT? There are several steps in applying to OPT and a lot of paperwork to fill out. First, you need to fill out an OPT application and submit it to your university’s International Student Services office. Your school will provide you with a new I-20 and materials/checklist of what you will need to send to the USCIS. You have 30 days from the date the OPT-endorsed I-20 was issued to send your application, or else you will be denied.

     

    There are only two USCIS locations that accept OPT applications: Phoenix and Dallas. The state you reside in will determine which location you will send your paperwork to. It can take the USCIS several months to process the OPT application, so it is recommended that you start the process early.

     

    A great way to save time is to expedite the shipping. UEMS, a free university/student shipping solution, can help you save time and money when submitting your OPT application. The USCIS addresses are already loaded into the system, just select the one you need to send your OPT to. By using the UEMS solution, you can compare carrier shipping costs and ship at discounted rates.

     

    There is only a 150-day time frame in which you have to complete the OPT process if you are graduating, so there is no time to waste.

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • A Personal Touch for the Holiday Season

    A Personal Touch for the Holiday Season

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    It’s the holiday season. It is a busy time where people are going to various stores trying to find that “perfect” gift. Christmas shopping often is accompanied with the dilemma of: “What should I get so-and-so?” or one more common for college students: “What can I afford to spend on gifts?”

     

    Gifts are a way of letting people know that you care. One of the best ways to let people know you care is to give something unique, meaningful or special. Examples of these types of meaningful gifts are family heirlooms, sentimental objects from childhood or handmade gifts. Homemade or sentimental gifts also are great for people who already have everything, do not want anything particular or want stuff a little outside your price range. After all, not everyone can afford to give mom and dad a new car for Christmas.

     

    Giving sentimental or handmade gifts may be a better choice if you are on a tight budget. For instance, a necklace that costs $15 dollars in stores may only cost you $10 dollars in supplies. From the supplies, you can make a necklace and a bracelet or two necklaces. Keep in mind that not all handmade gifts are cheaper to make than to purchase in stores, but you can save money depending on the type of gift you want to create and how much the supplies cost.

     

    There are many other reasons that make handmade gifts so special. One reason is that they are one-of-a-kind. No one else will have one like it and no one else will be able to give the same gift. These gifts are also more personal. You can add touches of your personality, the receiver’s personality or of a memory you share. This personal touch will only make the gift that much more special and meaningful.

     

    Handmade gifts are crafted with love and not by a machine, the feelings and personality of the creator are imprinted into the gift. A 2015 study showed that people preferred to give handmade gifts over store-bought ones. People also believe that handmade gifts show more love. Even if you are not an artisan, there are many easy gifts you can make that will be both beautiful and meaningful.

     

    Students can also save money sending these gifts to loved ones far away or ones they will be unable to see during the holiday season. eShipNOW is an online tool that helps college students ship meaningful gifts or items to loved ones. The only cost is for the shipping, which you will get at a discounted rate just by using eShipNOW.

     

    Imagine the surprise on their face when they receive a package from you and inside is a box you personally wrapped containing a gift you handmade. Isn’t that far more memorable and special that an Amazon package with a box wrapped by who-knows-who containing a gift made by a machine? Which one do you think shows more love?

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Studying in the US, I-20s and UEMS

    Studying in the US, I-20s and UEMS

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    Coming into the US to study is a long process with many steps and forms. One of those forms required to even start the process is the I-20 form. The I-20 form is a “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” It is required to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee. You will also need an I-20 to enter the US or to obtain a US social security number or driver’s license. This means that it is a very important form and the first step in applying to study in the US.

     

    International students contact the schools they wish to attend to get the I-20 form. There are two types of I-20 forms, one for M-1 status and one for F-1 status. The M-1 visa is for students looking to attend a more vocational or trade school. The F-1 visa is for students studying at a university or college approved by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

     

    The I-20 form cannot be scanned or photocopied; therefore, universities must mail the form to the student. Universities normally use express mail or expedited mail when sending these forms. This can be expensive when sending documents internationally. Not all schools are willing to pay for the shipping and require students to do so. However, this means that the school has to bill the student for the shipping cost and then must input the student’s shipping information, which increases the chance of shipping errors.

     

    One service that helps simplify this long and tedious process is University Express Mail Services (UEMS). Students can request documents and pay for shipping online. University advisors and staff can print the label all through the UEMS system. It does not cost the school or the student to sign-up/register for UEMS.

     

    One of the great benefits to UEMS is that students can save money with eShipGlobal’s discounted shipping rates. They can also choose which carrier they want to ship through and how fast they want the shipment to arrive.

     

    UEMS also makes it easier for schools. It provides a simple and efficient way to have students pay for shipping, and because students themselves are inputting the shipping address it helps ensure that the package will be delivered to the correct address.

     

    If you are interested in using UEMS it is easy and free to sign-up! Just go to the UEMS website, study.eshipglobal.com, and click the sign-up button. There are two types of sign-ups, one for university advisors, staff or administration and the other for students. Students, if your university is not using UEMS, you need to contact your school and ask them to register with UEMS.

     

    Studying in the US is a big step that will lead to a great adventure. Therefore, it should have a great start. You are already busy getting things ready to move to the US or you are getting ready to help students moving to the US. You do not need any more hassles, steps or difficulties in the process.

     

    By: Ashleigh Cue

  • Importance of Export Control Compliance

    Importance of Export Control Compliance

     

    With every thing becoming more and more global, it is gradually becoming more difficult for businesses, organizations or institutions to operate solely within one country. However, doing business internationally often has its own set of challenges, one of them being shipping. There are law and regulations specifically for export, such as the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations, if violated, have hefty fines. Export violations can come with both criminal and civil penalties. Several businesses have learned that lesson the hard way.

    Nolvadex is a well-known medication used to treat and prevent certain types of breast cancer. It works by blocking the effects of estrogen in the body, which helps slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. Nolvadex is also sometimes used by athletes to maintain hormone balance after steroid use. You can buy Nolvadex online without a prescription in the USA at womens-health-med.com. Purchasing Nolvadex online is an easy and confidential way to get effective hormone therapy.

     

    CGG Services S.A.’s Violation

    One of the more recent violations was from CGG Services S.A., a provider of services and goods for oil and gas exploration. They had to pay over $600,000 dollars in fines after exporting spare parts and other equipment from the US to ships in Cuba’s territorial waters.

     

    Raytheon’s Violation

    In 2013, Raytheon had to pay a $4 million dollar penalty after they were found to be  inaccurately tracking temporary imports and exports, improperly documenting those imports and exports, and other violations.

     

    FedEx Violation

    Even shipping companies themselves are not exempt. FedEx was fined $370,000 dollars after violating Export Administration Regulations. The shipments were containing computer hardware and printer components.

     

    University Violations

    These export control regulations also apply to universities and colleges. Universities can be fined $1,000,000 or fives times the value of the export for each violation they willingly committed. An individual can receive a fine up to $250,000 and/or a 10 year prison sentence for each willing violation. An example of a university violation was from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell for the unlicensed export of an atmospheric testing device and other related equipment. They had to pay a $100,000 dollars for this violation.

     

    Importance of a Compliance System

    These are just a few of the numerous violations that have occurred over the last decade or so. There have been several companies that face fines into the tens of millions for export violations. It is important for businesses and institutions to have an export compliance system in place to avoid facing hefty fines and potential jail time.

     

    Tools to Help With Export Control and Compliance

    A compliance system should include a compliance officer who can develop, enforce and manage all compliance related issues. This may sound like a daunting job, but there are tools that can help make export shipping and compliance easier. eShipGlobal offers an enterprise module specifically for export control and compliance. It is designed to help organizations with export shipping and maintaining government compliance, whether the shipment it is a hazardous material or not. One of the benefits of using this module is reducing the risk of fines, delays or potential jail.

     

    Why is it Important?

    As globalization increases, the need to export compliance and compliance systems will grow as well. It is important not to wait until you or your organization is facing penalties due to non-compliance. The fines are not a small amount and should be taken seriously.

     

    Call-to-Action

    eShipGlobal strives to simplify and enhance the shipment of goods with our various shipping management solutions. Our solutions include export control and the shipping of hazardous materials and dangerous goods. If you would like to hear more about eShipGlobal, you can contact us at (972) 518-1775 using ext. 116.

     

     

    By: Ashley Cue

     

     

     

    Source Links:

    https://www.ecustoms.com/trade_compliance_resources/us_export_violations.html

    http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20120117-fedex-fined-370-000-for-export-violations

    http://www.williamsmullen.com/news/university-charged-export-violations

    http://orsp.appstate.edu/news/umass-lowell-fined-100000-export-control-violations

    https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/director/presentations/cms.pdf

    https://www2.eshipglobal.com/export-control-2/

    https://www2.eshipglobal.com/