The Customer:
A leading U.S.-based importer, specializing in sourcing unfinished materials globally to supply U.S. manufacturers of premium, brand-name consumer home goods nationwide.
The Challenge:
The importer faced a high-stakes challenge: a critical product launch with tight factory deadlines. A major shipment was delayed by 10 days due to extended ocean freight lead times, threatening to miss the in-factory deadlines. This posed a serious risk of penalties and lost sales. The situation was further complicated by the upcoming 4th of July U.S. holiday, during which many factories would be closed, making timely deliveries even more difficult.
The Solution:
ASF Air's dedicated Account Management Team devised a comprehensive strategy to overcome the delay and meet every factory deadline.The solution utilized ASF Air Service Levels—distinct offerings developed through customer research to address varying needs. There are four service levels, with key differences in handling, velocity, and cost. For this situation, ASF Air Priority and ASF Air Express were chosen.
ASF AirPriority: A high-speed service with an average 1-3 day transit from airport to airport. This service was deployed to factories with tighter deadlines and more challenging locations.
ASF AirExpress: A more cost-effective solution offering 3-5 days transit from airportto airport, used for factories closer to major hubs where deadlines were more flexible and savings could be leveraged.
This dual approach ensured timely delivery while avoiding factory closures due to the holiday. Final-mile deliveries were meticulously planned to meet all deadlines without fail, ensuring the product launch proceeded smoothly.
The ASF team worked late into the evenings, driven by an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, orchestrating the entire process seamlessly to exceed expectations.
The Benefits:
The strategic coordination ensured that materials reached each regional factory on time, allowing the importer to launch one of the most successful product rollouts in the company’s history. There were no delays, no penalties, and no loss of sales. The importer was even awarded the Top-Tier Supplier of the Year award from their customer, resulting in a substantial sales boost.
Through ASF’s dedication to excellence and The Human Standard in Global Logistics, the customer experienced a flawless, on-time delivery that surpassed their expectations.
