Reducing Customs Delays for Time-Sensitive Biopharma Shipments
Challenge: Avoiding Costly Delays in Clinical Study Logistics
A leading provider of Central Laboratory Services for clinical studies ships biological testing kits to hospitals and clinics across North America. These kits include return labels, allowing healthcare providers to send collected samples back to the company's laboratory for processing. Since many shipments cross the U.S.-Canada border, customs clearance delays—often caused by missing or incorrect paperwork—posed a serious challenge.
Because biological samples have a limited viability window, any disruption in transit risks making them unusable,ultimately delaying critical clinical trials and drug development timelines. The company needed a real-time tracking solution to identify potential bottlenecks and proactively resolve customs issues before they impacted their operations.
Solution: Near Real-Time Advanced Integrated Visibility with Webhooks
To address this challenge, the company implemented FedEx Advanced Integrated Visibility Webhooks,which provides near real-time tracking updates on each shipment. By integrating webhook updates into their logistics system, the company can now:
- Monitor all outgoing and returning test kit shipments in near real time.
- Identify shipments delayed at U.S. Customs and proactively engage with customs authorities to resolve missing paperwork or other issues.
- Ensure biological samples arrive on time by reducing preventable delays.
- Improve communication with hospitals and clinics, by providing them notifications and accurate tracking updates for their returning test kits.
Impact: Faster Resolutions, Fewer Delays, Better Outcomes
With webhook-driven tracking data, the company can now respond to shipment delays before they become critical. Near real-time alerts allow them to act immediately when customs clearance issues arise, reducing the risk of samples being delayed beyond usability. This ensures that clinical trials stay on schedule,supporting faster drug development and improved patient care.
By leveraging webhooks for shipment visibility, the company has strengthened its supply chain efficiency, minimized disruptions, and reinforced its role as a trusted partner in the biopharmaceutical industry.
