As an independent player in the freight forwarding industry, your primary goal should be to expand your outreach by teaming up with the most dependable agents from around the globe. Networking is one of the key aspects that can help independent freight forwarders to explore new business opportunities and build their brand. Most importantly, active networking helps to bring many new projects your way from your international network partners. As we are getting ready for Globalia Logistics Network’s 4th Annual Meeting that will take place from 15th to 17th March 2023 in Phuket, Thailand, it is time to glance through some of the major benefits of in-person meetings for independent freight forwarders.
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How independent freight forwarders can benefit from one-to-one meetings
Relationship building is the cornerstone for the success of a freight forwarding company and this is exactly what face-to-face meetings will help you achieve. While new digital communication methods like emails, video calls and text messages have considerably advanced in the last few years, in-person meetings still form a crucial component for building a culture of trust, fostering rapport with your partners and connecting with them on a deeper level.
When it comes to establishing profitable long-term relationships with your international logistics partners, the human element can never fully be replaced. In-person meetings allow forwarders to ask pertinent questions, sense body language and gauge responses and create a personalized touch that makes way for a lasting and fruitful partnership. Furthermore, technology-enabled communications often result in miscommunications and misinterpretations. This is one vital reason why one-to-one meetings at least once a year are important for freight forwarding companies.
Moreover, in the last two years, not just our members but the entire industry had to forego face-to-face meetings because of travel restrictions and safety concerns. Therefore, now after a long wait, Globalia members are getting ready to meet face-to-face to facilitate better networking and foster engagement and relationship building.
Benefits of in-person meetings for the freight forwarding companies
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Faster decision making
Face-to-face meetings more often than not result in quicker decision-making. Instead of spending weeks sending emails and making phone calls, it is always a better idea to meet in person once a year and hash out the details of the upcoming projects. Face-to-face meetings also give you the ability to visually illustrate your ideas on paper to ensure that your partners understand your vision. For the remaining follow-ups, the phone calls and emails are always there.
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Helps with relationship building
As per a survey by Forbes, 85% of business executives prefer face-to-face conferences as they lead to stronger and more meaningful business relationships. Moreover, in-person conferences also come with several group activities that further help in the strengthening of social bonds. For example, during Globalia’s Annual Meetings apart from the business meetings, members also get the chance to meet and interact under less formal circumstances. The cocktail reception, the dinner party and the day trip are some of the informal activities that are also vital for strengthening the ties among the network members.
There’s more to a business meeting than closing the deal. The advantages of in-person social interaction with your logistics partners help to cement a lasting partnership that will prove invaluable in the coming days. In other words, face-to-face conferences are not just about meetings- they are more about making lasting connections.
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Interpret the non-verbal cues
Having an in-person meeting allows you to interpret nonverbal cues like the facial expressions, gestures, and body language of your partners. This in turn allows you to gauge if the other person is really interested in the meeting and if they are likely to entrust a project to your company. For example, if the partner you are meeting constantly looks in the other direction or keeps checking their watch then you should consider recapturing their attention. Interpretation of gestures and the ability to ask questions directly minimizes the likelihood of misinterpretation.
Attend Globalia’s 4th Annual Meeting to give a perfect start to your business in 2023
Sitting one-to-one with your partners makes the process of information exchange, negotiation, and problem-solving more straightforward and effortless. The main objective of Globalia’s 4th Annual Meeting is to assist the members with finding new businesses by touching base with trustworthy network partners. In the last two years, Globalia Logistics Network has considerably increased its coverage with many new members from around the world. While it is crucial for the new members to attend this conference and get acquainted with their partners, it is equally important for the old members to sit face-to-face with their new and existing partners and discuss the prospects for upcoming collaborations.
Additionally, this year Globalia’s Annual Meeting also includes an optional Corporate Group Tour to cement the networking ties among members and make way for lasting partnerships. This day trip will incorporate a lot of fun and frolic into the business meeting while giving you a chance to explore the marvels around Phuket. Your attendance at Globalia’s 4th Annual Meeting is crucial if you are trying to secure new lucrative projects within the network and making the most of your membership.