Exporting with UPS helps small businesses compete with big ones

Paper is a pain: Small businesses miss huge growth opportunities because international shipping can be intimidating at first. Trade rules, tariffs, duties, and taxes are different in many countries – and all require accurate documentation. At UPS, we have cut paper documents out of the equation and made exporting easier – and small businesses are benefiting.

‘Many customers are surprised to learn that exporting something like a tea kettle can require a four-page customs form’, said Chris Rubio, UPS Global Head of Customs Brokerage Strategy. ‘Manual paperwork can be confusing and adds costs and time that keep many small businesses from exporting at all.’

A better way: UPS Paperless Invoice solves two big problems for our customers – time and accuracy. And it is one of several UPS tools that make international shipping easy. Less manual processing and fewer paper documents cut errors … and customs holds.

‘With UPS, importing and exporting can be as simple as shipping domestically‘, said Chris. ‘Cross-border e-commerce will surpass $1 trillion and small businesses have plenty of export opportunities.’

The big picture: If all trade documents went fully digital, the transition could save $6.5 billion in direct costs and unlock $40 billion in global trade*.  Cutting cumbersome paper and going digital helps small businesses compete on a more level playing field with larger companies.

Export with ease: While Paperless Invoice helps our customers save time and reduce errors, they sometimes still need help. UPS Export Assure offers AI-powered assistance to create accurate export documentation. UPS Global Checkout simplifies cross-border e-commerce. It offers a guaranteed landed cost – covering all duties, taxes and fees – right at checkout. This transparency allows online shoppers to shop confidently, free from unexpected delivery charges.

_{*McKinsey & Company}