Here's how you can navigate unexpected changes or disruptions in import/export operations.

Develop Contingency Plans: Based on your risk assessment, develop detailed contingency plans for each identified risk scenario. These plans should outline specific actions to mitigate disruptions, such as alternative sourcing options, emergency logistics arrangements, or diversified supplier networks.

Sometimes we overlooked strategy is diversifying suppliers and logistics routes. For example, if a primary supplier or shipping route becomes unavailable due to geopolitical, social issues or natural disasters, having alternative options can mitigate disruptions while ensuring import/export continuity. In January 2022, when Mali faced ECOWAS sanctions that restricted imports (excluding essential items such as food and pharmaceuticals) from neighboring ECOWAS countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast, we quickly implemented a contingency plan. This plan involved redirecting non-essential goods through Mauritania. This corridor shift led to several other changes, from which valuable lessons were learned…

To navigate unexpected changes or disruptions in import/export operations, it's crucial to assess risks systematically. Begin by identifying potential disruptions such as political instability, natural disasters, or supply chain issues. Evaluate the likelihood and impact of these risks on your operations. Conduct a SWOT analysis to understand strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Use historical data and predictive analytics to foresee possible disruptions. Consider financial, operational, and reputational impacts. Engage with stakeholders, including suppliers and logistics partners, to gather insights. Regularly update risk assessments to reflect current conditions and new information, ensuring proactive risk management.

From my point of view it is very important to have a secondary plan. Different ways or shapes, as soon as possible. At the logistic level or sociopolitical change of entry or exit of goods from a country the key its a plan B. The communication and the strategic plan must be very clear and concise and have the logistics tools at hand. A risk assessment is also important to have and minimize these risks.

Start by reviewing and revising your business continuity plan regularly to address new risks and changing market conditions. Integrate flexibility into your supply chain by diversifying suppliers and logistical routes to avoid dependence on a single source. Implement real-time monitoring systems for tracking shipments and potential disruptions. Establish contingency protocols for different disruption scenarios, including alternative transportation and storage options. Collaborate with industry partners and governmental agencies to stay informed about regulatory changes. Ensure your updated plans include communication strategies for promptly informing stakeholders about disruptions and the steps being taken to mitigate them.

Após mapear e entender o seu processo, você estará mais preparado para antecipar eventuais alterações ou interrupções na sua operação. Com isso, poderá agir de forma eficiente para contornar imprevistos ou até mesmo manejar de forma programada, evitando prejuízos desnecessários. Um exemplo prático disso pode ser aplicado na redação do contrato comercial que amparará a sua operação. Conhecendo os riscos e sabendo quais planos podem ser utilizados, sua proposta comercial será mais abrangente e realista, de acordo com a operação que está sendo negociada. Informar como sua empresa irá agir demonstra conhecimento especializado e um nível profissional elevado, o que ajuda a conquistar a confiança do cliente e a fechar a negociação.

Se você se antecipa, você tem o tempo necessário de corrigir a falha bem como encontrar várias alternativas para que a correção seja eficaz.

Regularly updating your SOPs and SLAs will keep you agile and responsive to disruptions. This proactive strategy enables you to rapidly adapt new initiatives, eliminate risks, and ensure operational continuity. By continuously refining your processes, your team's ability to handle any situation improves, providing seamless and efficient global trade operations in the face of volatility.

The diversification of logistics and transport is the key. Efficient and real-time communication and updated storage is also important. Work on truthful information on social and political changes in international trade strategy.

Implement real-time data analytics to track market dynamics, political developments, and environmental changes. Use tools like AI and machine learning to predict potential disruptions by analyzing historical data and current patterns. Stay updated with global trade news, economic reports, and regulatory changes through reliable sources. Engage with industry associations and attend trade forums to gain insights on emerging trends and best practices. Regularly review performance metrics and customer feedback to identify early signs of issues. Develop a network of local contacts in key markets to receive timely information on ground-level changes. Continuously adjust your monitoring tools

Antecipar é a chave do sucesso. Quando você antecipa, você planeja primeiro que o seu concorrente e consegue encantar seu cliente. Cliente encantado recompra garantida.

La información es la base de cualquier toma de decisión. El monitoreo correcto del contexto global, local, e incluso de la propia empresa puede permitir preveer problemas. La correcta bajada a los diferentes equipos de esta clase de información es de vital importancia para que el impacto sea el menor posible.

Atuar na comercialização de produtos exportados ou importados requer estudo constante sobre o mercado de atuação. Por isso, é essencial conhecer os indicadores mais importantes do seu mercado, entender as sazonalidades, os riscos externos e as tendências globais. Em um mundo globalizado, onde a informação chega mais rápido que o pensamento, é primordial estar constantemente atualizado com as notícias e informações relevantes. Adotando essas práticas, você estará melhor preparado para responder rapidamente a mudanças no mercado e garantir que suas operações de importação e exportação permaneçam competitivas e eficientes.

Clear and open communication is vital during disruptions. Keeping all stakeholders informed helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that everyone is aligned in their efforts to resolve the issue. This transparency builds trust and fosters a collaborative approach to problem-solving. Demonstrating effective communication skills highlights your ability to lead and manage complex situations, ensuring that your organization can navigate disruptions smoothly and effectively.

Clareza e transparência são vitais para correção de rota nas interrupções do processo. Ter seu fornecedor e seu cliente bem informados facilitam o entendimento deles, com isso você terá mais elasticidade na solução do problema.

Proper communication is crucial during disruptions. Keep your partners updated with every change during the operation. Maintaining open lines of communication can lead to collaborative solutions that benefit all parties involved in your import/export process.

Cuando se trata de prevenir y/o solucionar problemas en las operaciones, la comunicación es uno de los puntos clave. No es posible que los procesos de prevención o solución fluyan en la dirección correcta sin claridad respecto de las situaciones que se presentan, el impacto en los diversos sectores, las responsabilidades y tareas necesarias para la solución que atañen a cada involucrado, y desde ya una comunicación franca con el cliente, ya sea interno o externo, en pos de proporcionar la mejor experiencia posible, y fortalecer la relación. Poder solucionar una situación inesperada satisfactoriamente puede implicar una buena experiencia para el cliente si se la comunica de manera correcta.

A logística é uma parte vital da operação de importação e exportação, e a comunicação é essencial para que o negócio se concretize. A barreira cultural e de linguagem é o primeiro obstáculo a ser superado para que uma operação comercial seja realizada com sucesso. Não basta apenas se comunicar dizendo o que você pensa; às vezes, é necessário entender como a outra parte se comunica para que você realmente possa ser compreendido. Investir tempo em entender e adaptar sua comunicação pode fazer toda a diferença na concretização de negócios internacionais, evitando mal-entendidos e garantindo que todas as partes estejam alinhadas.

A tecnologia é imprescindível quando você precisa planejar. A tecnologia vai te ajudar a identificar os gargalos proporcionando o planejamento correto e a antecipação da correção das rupturas quando houver.

A vantagem que temos hoje é que a tecnologia está a nosso favor para ajudar na concretização de cada etapa descrita neste artigo. A tecnologia facilita o monitoramento, a comunicação e a gestão das suas operações. Hoje, temos conhecimento em tempo real das rotas marítimas e aéreas, a cotação da moeda estrangeira está disponível no celular para fechamento de câmbio financeiro, a comunicação instantânea por aplicativos de chat nos permite saber em tempo real sobre cada acontecimento, e a possibilidade de envio de fotos, vídeos e material pelo celular encurta qualquer distância. Não se esqueça de que todos podem ter acesso à tecnologia e que esta ferramenta é um diferencial competitivo para a sua operação para garantir a satisfação do cliente.

Leveraging technology for real-time monitoring enhances your ability to respond quickly to disruptions. Real-time data provides valuable insights into the status of your shipments, allowing you to take immediate corrective actions when necessary. This proactive approach minimizes delays and ensures that you can address problems before they escalate. Technology-driven monitoring not only improves operational efficiency but also demonstrates your commitment to leveraging innovation to enhance reliability and customer satisfaction.

In my experience, making the most of technology is essential for handling unforeseen shifts. Shipment visibility and control are improved by sophisticated software and real-time tracking systems, which enable quick modifications in the event of disruptions. Automation expedites reaction times, lowers error rates, and streamlines procedures. Adopting technology will keep your operations flexible and robust, guaranteeing that you can meet any obstacle and continue to conduct effective international trade even in the face of unanticipated circumstances.

A well-trained and adaptable team is crucial for managing unexpected changes. By investing in regular training and preparedness drills, you ensure that your team is equipped to handle disruptions confidently and efficiently. This proactive approach builds a culture of resilience and readiness within your organization, making it better prepared to navigate challenges. Demonstrating your commitment to team development and preparedness showcases your leadership skills and your ability to foster a resilient work environment.

I've discovered that training is essential for dealing with unforeseen changes or disruptions. Well-trained team members thoroughly grasp procedures, allowing them to respond swiftly and efficiently to any scenario. Continuous training strengthens resilience, improves problem-solving abilities, and promotes a proactive mindset. This preparedness ensures that, even during disruptions, we can maintain seamless operations and meet our worldwide trade responsibilities. Regular training is our best defence against the unpredictability of international logistics.

La capacitación de los equipos constituye uno de los puntos centrales. Las empresas deben capacitar a su personal respecto de cuáles son las acciones a tomar en las diferentes incidencias que puedan presentarse. Un personal capacitado dará respuestas más rápidas y efectivas para la resolución de las situaciones.

En mi experiencia algo que siempre funciona es asignar temas de interes a distintas personas para que lo expongan y asi todos contribuyen en la capacitcion del grupo. Si todos contribuyen al crecimiento profesional el compromiso es mayor

Be proactive rather than reactive. Understandably no one can predict future, sanctions, changes in regulations etc but it’s important to monitor change, connect with your professional network, subscribe to bulletins, newsletter etc. Once changes are announced, do an impact assessment and understand how to overcome the change, then the communication is key, boiled down actionable information is what matters.

I think it is quite important to anticipate the potential failures of a plan. In such a case having prepared a contengency plan can help to answer to each emergency. " if there is a problem like this we can react like this..." " if there is a problem like that we can react like that..." If you have the sufficient human ressources it is better to have a team dedicated to this task... Anticipation...I say

Try to learn from the past. In the event of disruptions, the danger is to move on when the situation returns to normal. You need to learn lessons and change your organisational model if it has shown deep weaknesses. No matter who your service provider is, if it doesn't work, change it. If your organisation suffers with every upheaval, modify it. Yes, it's easy to say in a constantly changing environment. That's when the role of the leader becomes fundamental—to initiate change.

Considero que ésto es lo más importante: La MOTIVACIÓN es el combustible de TODO. Eso no se puede perder de vista jamás. No hay posibilidad de aplicar ninguno de los puntos anteriores de la manera más eficiente posible, si los equipos no están motivados. Si queremos dar las mejores soluciones a los imprevistos que surgen, es necesario que el personal se sienta parte de la empresa.