3PL's import/export trading platform eases transactions between U.S. and China

Recent progress among major trade partners—particularly China—to align international standards for electronic signatures and payment is yielding a platform for e-commerce payment systems. B2X Corp., a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, offers services that optimize the import/export process, including customer acquisition, shipping, insurance, inspection, customs clearance, and payment.

The goal of the B2X platform is to make global trade economically feasible for companies of all sizes, particularly the small and midsize business (SMB) market.

“Businesses in the range of $50 million to $1 billion aren't playing the international trading game as much as they should,” asserts Kevin Dorry, CEO. When the B2X e-commerce platform is released later this year, it will ease transactions between China and the U.S. by simplifying the trading process and opening up marketing opportunities for buyers and manufacturers. With the system, users can find products, locate new suppliers, and manage freight forwarding, customs brokering, warehousing, and shipping. “We want to help establish new trade relationships between nations that may have not done business before,” says Dorry.

The solution includes a search process and classification system for products that allows users to cross sell and upsell. For example, a search for “coffee” will offer up a list of related items such as coffee bags, filters, and spoons. “Buyers can find a product, input how much they need, and when they want it delivered, and the system will give them a total landed cost,” says Dorry.

After hearing companies complain about the lack of quality suppliers, B2X plans to implement standards for manufacturers to follow, and establish a China-based sourcing team to oversee and manage suppliers.

“We are careful about the suppliers we use,” says Dorry. “We prefer to start slow and be sure about the manufacturers we get.” In particular, the company will start by concentrating on a few verticals: furniture, textiles, appliances, and electronics.

As a full-service 3PL, B2X also plans to step in and manage faulty sales transactions.

“We want to help negotiate if there is a problem, and hopefully prevent problems from occurring,” says Dorry. “A classic story is from a buyer who orders 50,000 of a certain item with no problems. However, when the buyer orders it again, they don't get it, or the quality is poor. Companies burned in the past are looking for ways to reduce their risks.”

New York City-based Adorama Photo is hoping to outsource its e-commerce and international logistics processes to B2X to not only locate smaller-volume manufacturers, but allow the photography retailer to focus on its core competencies. One challenge for the supplier, which caters to professional and advanced amateur photographers, is meeting minimum required amounts from manufacturers.

“There's a limited amount of products we can buy at one time because we only need 50 or 100 of an item instead of 1,500, which is required by many suppliers,” says Eugene Mendlowits, CEO. “We can't import some items because our margins are lower.”

Mendlowits would like to find suppliers to meet the company's specific needs, but he doesn't have the time or technology to find them. This is where he hopes B2X can help.

“At the end of the day, I want to use the system to see what my costs will be, to make more informed decisions,” he says. “We also will be able to see our duty and freight costs, and possibly lower our costs through negotiation.”