Trade-only airfreight and express wholesaler AMI has launched an express import service to South Africa.
Click2ship Express Imports is the counterpart to the click2ship Express Exports launched in the country in 2014.
It provides online quotes and bookings for imports from any location in the world. Prices include collection at origin, export customs entries, freight, customs clearance on arrival and local delivery from airport to agent or consignee.
The new service is aimed both at freight agents at point of origin and in South Africa and aims to simplify and speed up the importing process, as well as providing agents and offer faster responses to customer enquiries.
AMI's vice president Africa, Milton French comments: "Imports currently accounts for some 20% of AMI's turnover in South Africa, so the potential to grow imports business is considerable.”
He expects click2ship Express Imports to echo the success of its exports counterpart, which now handles around 10% of AMI's exports business.
He continues: "Click2ship Express Exports was a revolutionary concept for South Africa, and the market took a while to understand and accept it. But, now that agents recognise the savings in time and cost which it provides, the take-up is improving all the time. We expect a similar experience with the new Imports version, and have great optimism for its longer-term prospects."
The Express Imports portal is based closely on the exports site, so that existing customers will find it familiar and easy to use. click2ship Express Imports provides global coverage, and is available for all commodities except hazardous cargo.
Click2ship Express Imports was recently launched in AMI's UK operation, and has also been active in the US (trading as Quick2Ship) for some time.
