How Freight Forwarding Works from Start to Finish

Step 1: Onboarding & Discovery

Our process starts with understanding your needs and pain points. When you come onboard with Navia, we work closely with your team to gain visibility into your current operations, identify inefficiencies, and configure the right freight solution. What we do:

• Assign a dedicated account manager
• Understand your product, supply chain and shipping cadence
• Evaluate documentation and customs needs
• Configure NaviaHub or set up API integrations

Step 2: Carrier Selection & Booking

Backed by longstanding relationships with leading carriers, Navia gives you access to global networks across air and sea. Our team leverages market knowledge and tech to find the right service at the right cost, without compromising reliability.  We handle:

• Sea Freight (FCL & LCL): We move tens of thousands of containers annually with global shipping lines.
• Air Freight (Standard, Express, and Time-Critical): For time-sensitive cargo or urgent replenishment needs.
• Temperature-Controlled or Sensitive Cargo: Whether it’s pharmaceuticals, perishable food, or high-value items.

Once booked, shipment data is loaded into NaviaHub, giving you full visibility from Day One.

Step 3: Cargo Pickup & Origin Handling

We coordinate directly with your suppliers to collect the goods and manage all necessary steps prior to departure.  Origin services may include:

• Carton labelling, palletising, or container loading
• Export clearance and documentation preparation
• Bookings and compliance checks
• Transfer to bonded warehouses or airline terminals

Step 4: Documentation & Customs Compliance

Freight forwarding is only as good as its documentation. Navia handles this seamlessly, making sure you’re protected against costly errors, compliance risks, or delays.  We manage:

• Bills of lading (ocean/air)
• Commercial invoices
• Certificates of origin
• Packing declarations
• Fumigation and phytosanitary certificates (if applicable)

As an Australian Trusted Trader, we also perform in-house customs clearance, allowing for faster release and less red tape.

Step 5: Real-Time Tracking & Exception Management

With NaviaHub, you’re never left in the dark. Every shipment is monitored and tracked in real-time, with up to 50 on-demand reports available at your fingertips.  Milestone notifications, exception alerts, and custom dashboards ensure that any delays or risks are flagged and actioned before they become problems.  Our clients can:

• Track shipments by PO, SKU, any identifier or carrier
• Set alerts based on performance SLAs
• Monitor carbon emissions and opt for offsetting
• Get updates via platform, email, or SMS

And for more complex issues? You can still pick up the phone and speak with your account manager. No chatbots. No black boxes.

Step 6: Arrival, Clearance & Destination Handling

Once the goods arrive, Navia coordinates destination-side logistics including:

• Deconsolidation (for LCL or air cargo)
• Import clearance and duty payment
• Inspection and compliance checks
• Transfer to warehouse or final-mile carrier

Thanks to our bonded warehouse capabilities (like our new facility in Melbourne), we can hold, inspect, and dispatch goods all from one location, cutting lead times and handling fees.

Step 7: Warehousing, Fulfilment & Delivery

Navia doesn’t stop at the port or airport. As a full-service logistics partner, we offer integrated 3PL services, including:

• Real-time inventory management
• Pick & pack
• Kitting and custom packaging
• Returns processing
• B2B or eCommerce fulfilment
• Same-day dispatch with 99.99% accuracy

Whether your cargo needs short-term storage or full end-to-end fulfilment, we’ve got the tech and teams to make it seamless.