International Business Consulting
An increasing number of organisations are searching for ways to expand globally. Doing business internationally calls for special insight. Especially when navigating the often-complex world of international regulations and requirements. When entering new overseas markets, businesses, companies, and entrepreneurs must take numerous factors into account. Variations in business establishment requirements, customs laws, tax legislation, and business representation produce a very diverse set of business challenges.
When conducting business overseas, organisations and entrepreneurs seeking to grow into overseas markets will need resilient support from an international business consultant to acquire the necessary information and expertise in a variety of areas. Golden biz consultancy , we have the experience, knowledge, and relationships to guide clients through the diverse complexities of international jurisdictions.
International Business Solutions
We collaborate closely with our customers to comprehend their specific objectives and create tailored solutions. We believe that the secret to success is good communication and collaboration, which is why our global trade consultancy delivers both.
We offer solutions that are designed to help businesses capitalise on increasingly global supply chain improvements and sales opportunities. By acquiring a deeper understanding of the requirements for international trade, you might be able to better control the risk of doing business with foreign partners with the help of our international business consulting services. This would give you greater assurance when venturing into other markets, thereby enabling you to reduce inventory costs and offer more competitive pricing.
Our solutions will minimise costs, ensure compliance, avoid fines and penalties, ensure payment solutions, and provide customer satisfaction.
International Business Consulting Process
Our consulting services provide an excellent way for businesses to obtain professional help to expand internationally. We offer the support and services you need as you start your international business journey, irrespective of your company's size or degree of import and export experience. In addition to offering the services listed below, our consulting process is available to assist you at every stage.
Step 1 - Consultation
The client books a free initial 30-minute consultation.
Step 2 - Define Business Goals
We reviewed the details discussed and agree the next steps with the client.
Step 3 - Business Case
We work with the client to identify business opportunities and define the project scope.
Step 4 - Define Scope
We agree on a business case and project plan to accomplish the agreed-upon business goals.
Step 5 - Execution
We implement and deliver the project plan and identify any issues or risks.
Step 6 - Control and Monitoring
We track progress and prevent any risk of disruption to the client's business.
Step 7 - Project Completion
We review the project deliverables and produce a detailed report that covers every aspect.
Step 8 - Continuing Support
We continue to provide support to help clients grow within international markets.
Reduce Risks
Reduce Risks
As the international trade climate changes, we assist clients in identifying and putting into practise a defined set of proactive steps to reduce risk and gain a competitive edge.
Business Costs
Business Costs
Provide information and advice about sales taxes, customs duties, and business establishment requirements.
Trade Solutions
Trade Solutions
As international business consultants and import/export specialists, we work with many organisations to find them international trade solutions.
Business Strategy
Business Strategy
We assisted our clients through the process of planning and helped them develop an international business strategy.
Business Operations
Business Operations
As consultants we work with clients to ensure proper operations when entering a new foreign market. We assist with shipping, logistics, customs formalities, duty and tax payments to ensure cost effective movement of goods across international borders.
Business Growth
Business Growth
As consultants, we assist clients with their expansion into foreign markets while managing important objectives to guarantee profitable outcomes.
International Business Consulting Services
International Consulting
Case Studies
Our sample case studies give a thorough insight into the various projects we have worked on. We take great pride in our work and our partnerships with clients. We have extensive experience in a wide range of industries and businesses, which has given us a unique perspective on international business.
Telecommunications
networking
The Client was a telecommunications company that designed, built, and supported digital infrastructure for their customers.
The client was experiencing difficulties supplying telecommunication equipment internationally and required a Golden biz consultancy which would meet future operating requirements, optimise worldwide distribution locations and provide necessary network configuration to service customers.
During the gap analysis, it was evident that the client required a clearly defined business model to cover their international logistics service offering for customers. The business had a fragmented approach for managing the transportation of products across international borders. The business was missing the necessary day-to-day expertise to cover international customer activities and service requests. Additionally, the gap analysis identified global supply chain inefficiencies and procedures that were not compliant with customs regulations. Therefore, the client had an exposure to business risks and financial penalties due to non-compliance with import / export and tax regulations.
Importer of Wines
The Challenge
The Client was an award-winning specialist importer of wines from Argentina, France and Spain, and was established by ex-Board Directors of Safeway Plc. The Client supplied wines to most of the UK grocery industry and several retail organisations within Europe.
The Client required end-to-end international supply chain solutions from the wine producers in Argentina to their end customers in the UK and Europe.
The Solution
Solution
Golden biz consultancy limited provided guidance and training to ensure that the logistics team had a comprehensive understanding of the complex regulations and requirements, which need to be followed when exporting telecommunications equipment globally. The team gained an understanding of key customs and trade processes to further develop the international business, whilst ensuring that all activities were fully trade compliant.
Procedures were developed to ensure due diligence with import / export regulations and compliance programs. These were documented within an import / export manual. The purpose of this manual was to define the logistics operations and responsibilities, while serving as a training resource and practical procedure guide for the logistics team.
Ian Simmonds was engaged by the client as the Interim Head of Logistics on a 10-month contract. Ian was responsible for leading the strategic direction of spares management and logistics across the Globe. He was accountable for setting the strategic direction by defining and leading the delivery of the clients Logistics and Spares Services including warehousing, storage, forward stock locations, freight forwarding, spares management (including RMAs), Fleet Management, customs documentation and trade compliance across all locations globally.
The Required Solution
Solution
Golden biz consultancy limited designed a multi-channel global distribution solution, which included international sea freight, sea container optimisation, import / export customs clearance, duty and tax management, bonded warehousing solutions and local truck deliveries to the end customer.
Brexit Readiness for Food Producer
Brexit
Brexit Readiness
Background
The client was a leading food producer with multiple manufacturing plants in the European Union (EU) and the UK.
At the start of 2020, the client (like many UK/EU companies) found preparation for Brexit complicated by the fact that there was no clear indication of what the outcome would be at the end of the transitional period. A Brexit withdrawal agreement was ratified and came into force on 1 February 2020. At this point companies, such as the client, should have commenced Brexit planning and restructuring of their business models to account for the UK no longer being in the EU.
The client identified that they needed an Interim Supply Chain Director to pull the requirements together and implement workable solutions for each international supply chain.
By November 2020, only 3.5 percent of businesses in the food and drink sector said they were fully prepared for Brexit. The main reason given for lack of preparedness was Covid-19, which took business attention away from Brexit and resulted in far fewer resources to focus on planning.
It was clear that the UK-based hauliers were not totally prepared for the new UK-EU trading arrangements. This was confirmed at the beginning of December 2020 by the Haulage Exchange survey that stated only 3% of hauliers had confirmed that their firms “were totally prepared” for the new UK-EU trading arrangements – with 84% requiring more clarity from government on border legislation changes.
The client did not have clearly defined export / import processes between the EU and UK which caused unnecessary documentation issues, resulting in long delays at the ports.
The client’s approach to Brexit was very fluid in nature and was lacking business controls. Certain parts of the client’s business were not focused on the priorities and the required deliverables for the 1 January 2021 deadline.
Importing Vaccines into the USA
Executive Summary
The Client was one of the world’s largest vaccine companies.
The Client was importing vaccines into the USA for further processing, filling into syringes, labelling, packing and warehouse storage prior to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) annual strain change approval. The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and the FDA were insisting that the Client complied with two different import processes, which resulted in up to 30 days of production delays. These delays were impacting sales into the U.S. market, due to late release of products following the annual strain change approval.
The Solution
Solution
Working as the Interim Supply Chain Director, John from Golden biz consultancy conducted a detailed audit of all contracted haulage companies, to identify their readiness for post-Brexit shipping. The audit identified that most of the primary haulage companies had little or no arrangements in place and many were confused about their responsibilities within an international supply chain. The audit did identify that several of the secondary hauliers had more developed post-Brexit solutions in place and had been developing their services accordingly. A strategy to use a mix of different primary and secondary hauliers to service the client’s shipments after Brexit was implemented. In addition, new routings were added to utilise post-Brexit solutions.
Appropriate project documents were created to record the deliverables, identify risks and issues, benefits, goals and actions.
A weekly Brexit project team meeting was implemented, which identified and managed the operational issues. An Issue Register was created to identify issues and record them, so that these could be managed and progress tracked. Clear ownership was identified, and that person was tasked with managing, tracking, and closing each issue.
The most appropriate Incoterms were identified for each supply chain based on several factors, such as business registration, risks, transportation, destinations, customs formalities, and costs.
An Operations Manual was produced, this document mapped out the end-to-end export processes and the steps required post-Brexit.
The Solution
health
We prepared and submitted a detailed argument to challenge the FDA and CBER import requirements, which were contradictory and not in accordance with the regulations stated in the U.S. Federal Register.
The importer is required to make an application for ‘Request for Authorization to Relabel or Perform Other Acts’ by either letter or by the FDA Form 766 process under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Food and Drugs, Chapter l, Part 1, Subpart E – Import and Exports. Therefore, as the Client had a CBER response to their letter stating that CBER did not object to the importation of vaccine, there was no requirement to follow the lengthy FDA Form 766 process which delayed production by up to 30 days.
Import / Export Trade Compliance & Offshore Own Brand Development Project
Project Executive Summary
Project Executive Summary
Scope Analysis
scope
The Client was a leading global distributor of plumbing and building materials.
Following their Own Brand Sourcing workshop, the Client requested a high-level project scoping document covering the logistics and trade compliance processes required to support their growth of Own Brand products sourced from overseas suppliers. It was agreed that the scoping document would be supplied within an agreed period and would be a comprehensive overview of the Client’s current logistics and trade compliance processes.
Solution
Phase One - Interim Executive
To support the growth of Own Brand products sourced from overseas suppliers, Ian Simmonds engaged as an interim executive on a 6-month contract to manage the Logistics and Trade Compliance Project. The interim role enabled the Client to access the necessary experience and talent without adding to permanent headcount. Ian Simmonds quickly implemented international trade solutions and benefits for the Client, whilst working alongside the existing teams.
Phase Two - Import Team
Managed the creation of an International Logistics and Trade Compliance Department to provide support and management of import / export activities, whilst contributing to inventory availability and on-time deliveries to customers. The team were engaged to manage worldwide inbound and outbound inventories (by Road, Rail, Sea, Air), whilst following documented legally compliant processes.
Phase Three – In-house training
Ian Simmonds provided training and guidance for all employees involved in transactions with overseas suppliers and customers. Providing the Sourcing team with the necessary support to develop Own Brand Label initiatives from factories in Asia and Europe.
During the high-level project scope analysis, it was evident that there was no business owner for the current import / export activities, the business had disjointed manual procedures across all departments, with no coherent strategy and no integrated processes to manage importing or exporting. The business was missing the necessary resources and expertise to cover their current international business activities. Therefore, the Client was exposed to risks and financial penalties due to non-compliance with import and export regulations. The Client’s current business situation was subsequently not able to support the planned growth of offshore Own Brand sourcing.
Deliverables
Deliverables
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Implemented an Import and Export Business Model highlighting the margin and cost benefits.
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Mapped and documented end-to-end processes within an Import Manual and a Supplier Manual.
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Develop ‘state of the art’ international supply chain services for the business to support import and export requirements.
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Provided cost efficiencies by leveraging import and export volumes with supply chain partners.
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Minimised exposure to HM Revenue and Customs audits and penalties.
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Provided cost-effective shipping, warehousing, freight forwarding and brokerage services for the business.
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Provided Customer Service Improvements.
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Reduce lead-times and reduced inventory.
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Improve container fill rates to reduce shipping costs and increase margins.
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Ensured trade compliance and implemented management of Duty / VAT exposure.