"Using Yamato Global Direct, we can provide our 3 days service from on-site factories in Shanghai to destinations within Japan. We can also help to greatly reduce logistics costs," proudly asserts General Manager Masahiro Segawa with Global Customer Solutions "Yamato Global Direct" Promotion Business Development Sales of Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. Goods imported into Japan from overseas are ordinarily transported to and stored in distribution warehouses before being delivered to their final destination. The advantage offered by "Yamato Global Direct" is the ability to directly deliver products right after they pass customs from TA-Q-BIN centers to destinations without using warehouses or distribution centers in Japan. TA-Q-BIN connote labels are affixed at the plants of origin or at Yamato Transport's distribution center. Segawa says, "This dramatically lowers costs because domestic distribution centers are no longer necessary. Until now, a uniform manufacturer in China leased temporary warehouses whenever demand increased seasonally, but after the Yamato Global Direct Solution was implemented, temporary warehouses are no longer required and, as such, the company's total logistics costs have been reduced by 30%."

The Yamato Group also uses bonded zones called "Bonded Logistics Zones (BLZ)" for Japanese businesses importing from China. Multiple products from multiple Chinese vendors are collected together at BLZ and are after undergoing logistics-related processing such as kitting and assortment packing shipped to Japanese stores. Through this solution, all products are directly delivered to each store without sorting and kitting upon arrival in Japan.

*For a case study on the utilization of BLZ, please see the page on ASICS entitled "Standardized Brand Globally Using Retail Store Fixtures & Furnishings" in the "At the Forefront of Logistics" section.