For health care and medtech companies, shipping can be exceptionally tricky — and expensive. From protective packaging to affordable warehousing and accident-free deliveries, there’s a whole lot more that goes into it than sending a box. Not to mention, lives depend on a safe and timely delivery.

As Founder and CEO of Preferred Depot, the world’s premier white label operations management organization — my team has offered seamless operations management and third party logistics services for some of the largest medical and health technology companies throughout their launch and growth in the US market. 

So, to help you learn the best ways to get your innovations in the hands of those who need them, let’s walk through the behind the scenes processes of health care and medical device logistics — plus, how to achieve affordable, worry-free shipping for your business.

Preparing

Successful medtech companies know that saving time, money, and avoiding risks all starts before the product ships. That’s why they work with an operations management and consulting team who can advise on the most cost effective and protective packaging designs and ensure that all rules and regulations are followed to maintain compliance. They proactively avoid products being returned to the sender by always being prepared with the proper documentation — no easy feat!

Importing

For international companies, importation can create serious time delays and significant additional costs. Without the proper documentation, inventory management, and regulatory compliance, products can be held by the FDA, returned to sender, or charged for storage. That’s why international medical device companies typically mitigate risks by working with a licensed customs broker — a person or business that acts as an intermediary between their company and US Customs and Border Protection. Customs brokers oversee and speed up the importation process by handling paperwork, duty payments, and avoiding regulatory compliance concerns.

Storing

Before products arrive in the US, experienced companies will have attended to HS codes, or harmonized system codes, a standardized process of classifying traded products, in a timely manner. As a result, they avoid paying costly storage fees. If they need warehousing, they work with an operations management company with the technical experience and expertise to safely store their items at the best price.

Delivering

One of the best kept secrets in 3PL is how to slash shipping costs. We’ll let you in on it. The most experienced and successful medtech organizations work with a 3PL provider that can offer them a discounted rate with shipping companies. With the right partnership, they can rest assured that their products are in trustworthy hands. The companies can then return their focus to creating more life-saving innovations while their 3PL team monitors the product’s delivery to ensure safe and timely arrival — so each product lands in the right hands, damage and worry-free. 

At Preferred Depot, we have built our reputation on being a global leader in operations management  — helping health care and medtech businesses make smarter, risk-mitigating and cost-saving decisions when launching and growing in the US. To learn more about Preferred Depot’s white label medtech and healthcare logistics services, visit us at https://www.preferreddepot.com/.